SEES0021 MA Intermediate Language: Hungarian

Summative Assessment

3 hour written examination (70%), oral examination (30)

Formative Assessment

Progress is carefully monitored in class throughout the course. A number of formative assessment tasks (reading and translating in class, writing and delivering presentations) and homework exercises will be set regularly.

Module Outline

This course aims to develop a range of language skills primarily for the purposes of conducting research: to support master's dissertation work, for PhD research and for use in other contexts where advanced reading skills, along with a range of further language skills, are required. The course builds on the readings skills for research developed during the course entitled New Language: Hungarian and is also appropriate for students with some prior knowledge; e.g. they completed a unit of language at university. The course develops reading skills for research to an advanced level, in particular in relation to the students' specific disciplinary/research topic interests; at the same time the course acquaints the students with a range of discourses and materials in order to develop a broader base for the comprehension of written texts. The course also consolidates command of the grammar of the language and develops productive skills of speaking and writing, in particular in relation to the students' specific disciplinary/research interests, but also with a view to developing communication skills for use in practical situations.

Expected Outcomes

By the end of the course students will be well equipped to read written material for research purposes, and will also be able to talk and write about their research interest/topic, as well as having developed a more general competence across the range of productive and receptive skills covered on the course. On the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) scale, students will have reached level C1 in reading skills and level B1+ in all other skills (speaking, writing, listening).

Students will improve their intercultural understanding and communication skills, independent study skills, analytical, and translation skills.

Key Reference Texts

Course materials produced by the teacher will be provided.

Core learning materials:

Szita, Sz., Görbe, T. 2009 (2010). Gyakorló magyar nyelvtan. A Practical Hungarian Grammar. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó. (Grammar notes and many hands-on practice exercises to consolidate and clarify grammar.)

Reading Strategies: A Graded Reader of Hungarian for Research-focused Learners (CEELBAS Language Repository; teacher's own material), especially from Unit 6 to Unit 10.

A range of texts (expository and literary prose passages, possibly poetry) will be discussed in class; these will be provided either by the teacher or by the students, depending on students' interests.

Material from the following will also be provided in class or may be used independently:

Kiss, G., Molnár, I. 2009. Jó szórakozást magyarul! Fun Reading Exercises. Olvasókönyv magyarul tanulóknak. Budapest: Molilla Könyv.

The more advanced volumes of the Hungarolingua series, e.g. Nemcsak novellák, Szemezgető, Fülelő. These are useful in particular for independent practice in the first term and prior to the start of the course.

Kovácsi, M. 2001 (1993). Itt magyarul beszélnek. Vol. 2-4. Budapest: Nemzeti Tankönyvkiadó. (Texts of socio-cultural interest adapted slightly for learners' need, comprehension exercises and abundant grammar practice.)

Rounds, Carol H. 2001 (2003, 2004, 2006). An Essential Grammar: Hungarian. London: Routledge. (Grammar overview and revision.)

Sherwood, P. 1996. Concise Introduction to Hungarian. SSEES, University of London publications. (Grammar practice exercises, especially through English-Hungarian translation).

Szita, Sz., Pelcz, K. 2013. MagyarOK I. A textbook for beginners (to level A1+). Pécs. (A rich collection of dialogues, reading, and grammar exercises, with a wealth of additional materials available online. It is recommended for independent study; all audio recordings, grammar explanations, word lists, and solutions to exercises are available online, also in English.)