Center for Academic Writing

Maria Derne Balogh - Hungarian Teacher

Maria has worked for the Hungarian Sports University as a language instructor for 18 years and has taught Hungarian as foreign language since 1993. As the head teacher of Hungarian Language School she has also trained many instructors of Hungarian as foreign language. She has worked for CEU since 1998 and she really enjoys this job. You can contact Maria at writing@ceu.hu

Gabriella Kiss - Hungarian Teacher

Gabi has been teaching Hungarian as a foreign language since 1994, and also has experience as a trainer for teachers of Hungarian. She has worked for CEU since 1998. Her earned her first degree in Hungarian and Russian Literature, and her second degree in European Union Studies. Gabi teaches our higher-level Hungarian courses as well as some lower-level ones.

For information on higher-level Hungarian courses, contact Gabi at kissg@ceu.hu

Ilona Molnár - Hungarian Teacher

Ilona has taught Hungarian for over 20 years, including two years spent teaching in China. She is one of our most experienced teachers and joined CEU in 1999.

Ilona is responsible for placement testing for non-beginner Hungarian. You can contact her via molnari@ceu.hu

Boglarka Balogh - German Teacher

MAs in German and History.

For information on German courses, contact Bogi at:baloghb@ceu.hu

Erzsebet Magyar - French Teacher

MAs in French Language and Literature, History and Central European History at CEU.

For information on French courses, contact Erzsi at: magyar@ceu.hu

Susana Cerda - Spanish Teacher

Susana gained her first degree in Hispanic Language and Literature at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. She received her MA and PhD in Comparative Literature at the University of Warwick, UK. Her interests cover a range of topics: Latin American Literature and Cultural Studies, Travel Writing, Journalism, Sense of Place, and Foreign Language Acquisition. She loves the thrill of teaching and learning a foreign language, and currently she is studying Hungarian.

For information on Spanish courses, contact Susana at: Here

Hungarian courses

In order to help new students and staff to survive in Budapest outside the university, the Writing Center offers practical courses in basic Hungarian throughout the year. Beginner courses are partially subsidised by the university; elementary, intermediate and higher-level courses are not. Courses run each semester for 11 weeks, 2x90 mins per week. Group size must be minimum 7 participants for non-subsidised courses, and 10 for subsidised courses.

For some basic Hungarian lessons, go to our Foreign Language Self Access Page.

French, German, Russian and Spanish Courses

Besides Hungarian, courses in French, German, Russian and Spanish are also available.These courses are not subsidised by the university, but we believe that the course fees are very competitive with private language schools, and our teachers, who have many years experience at CEU, are better qualified than average.

Why join the foreign language courses?

Lessons on the university premises
Materials designed for the needs of CEU students and is free of charge
Course appears on the transcript (upon registering in Infosys)
Variety of classroom activities, interesting topics, friendly atmosphere
Rapid improvement of your language skills

These courses, which are specially designed for CEU students, enable participants to improve their reading and listening skills, but attention is also paid to speaking. Depending on the level, the courses also concentrate on grammar. The course material is revised and improved each year by the instructors to suit the needs of CEU students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Before the start of the courses, participants of non-beginner courses are asked to take a placement test, so that different level groups can be formed. The test are placed on our web page. Please fill them out and send them back to the relevant teacher as a Word attachment. You can find all information at Foreign Language Announcements.

The length of courses:

Fall Semester: 11 weeks, 44 lessons (2x90 mins. per week)
Winter Semester: 11 weeks, 44 lessons (2x90 mins. per week)
Spring Session: 6 weeks, 24 lessons (2x90 mins. per week)

Group size: 7-15 participants

For current course information, registration, start, fees and timetables, see our Foreign Language Announcements page.

For some basic lessons in these languages, go to our Foreign Language Self Access Page.

Special courses

The start and level of the courses depend on the students. If you have any special further request (e.g. intensive courses, other specialized, thematic courses), please feel free to contact the Writing Center Coordinator.

Last revised: 16 July, 2009 -->