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superturbo
Joined: 03 Mar 2009
Posts: 44
Location: UK
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 Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 7:09 am Post subject: Life and teaching in Hungary |
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I had IH Budapest as one of my possible places to do my CELTA course and they got in touch as well as provided me a reference.
I'd like to get an independent opinion of life and teaching in Hungary. Has anyone taught there? What were your experiences of working there/living there/Hungarian culture and people?
Many thanks for your help! |
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Glenlivet
Joined: 21 Mar 2009
Posts: 179
Location: Poland
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| Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 8:41 am Post subject: |
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| I lived and worked in Hungary in 2003/4 (not as a teacher, in a "previous life") and loved it. Although I was based in Budapest I spent a lot of time travelling to and staying in the different cities. I've been back many times since and wouold love to teach there but salaries are extremely low from what I have seen advertised - IH is advertising the equivilent of 500UKp per month. It would be very difficult to live on this in BP. Much as I love BP I would prefer to live in one of the Southern cities, Pecs or Szeged for example. Pecs has a big university (the oldest in Europe I think) but only a couple of schools I could find on the web. |
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superturbo
Joined: 03 Mar 2009
Posts: 44
Location: UK
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| Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the info! Actually I got in touch with IH Budapest (as well as some others) and they put in touch with an English teacher currently working there. She's been helpful and I guess the only way to survive properly in Budapest is by taking private lessons as well main classes.
I am actually thinking of going to Budapest next week and to visit IH to speak face to face with them - look around and figure out whether there are chances of getting work after completing my course. What do you think of this idea?
Also, how should I present myself? Shirt/Tie etc, or more laid-back T-shirt, jeans? I'm not sure who formal/informal the settings are. Any help, tips would be greatly appreciated! |
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Glenlivet
Joined: 21 Mar 2009
Posts: 179
Location: Poland
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| Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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| superturbo wrote: |
Also, how should I present myself? Shirt/Tie etc, or more laid-back T-shirt, jeans? I'm not sure who formal/informal the settings are. Any help, tips would be greatly appreciated! |
Good idea to go in person. Shirt and tie/suit. If you work in BP the likelyhood is you'll be teaching business people. Hungarians set a lot of store on appearences (most have their initials embroidered onto their shirt pocket). The most common question I was asked when I worked there was how big the engine in my car was (the bigger the engine the more senior the position!). |
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superturbo
Joined: 03 Mar 2009
Posts: 44
Location: UK
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| Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks again for your help! I reckon I might be flying out in a few days and I've contacted the DOS of IH, are there any other schools/places I should make sure to check out? |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, I'll second the advice about formal dress for the whole region...it's just still the norm there for good first impressions at least! But hopefully no interview questions about the size of your engine  Maybe check out engine specs for the type of aircraft you'll fly on? |
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SueH
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
Posts: 1022
Location: Northern Italy
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| Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Glenlivet wrote: |
| The most common question I was asked when I worked there was how big the engine in my car was (the bigger the engine the more senior the position!). |
Surely for English teachers it would be "How many gears has your bicycle got?" |
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Glenlivet
Joined: 21 Mar 2009
Posts: 179
Location: Poland
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| Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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| SueH wrote: |
| Glenlivet wrote: |
| The most common question I was asked when I worked there was how big the engine in my car was (the bigger the engine the more senior the position!). |
Surely for English teachers it would be "How many gears has your bicycle got?" |
Your bike has gears? Show off!  |
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Glenlivet
Joined: 21 Mar 2009
Posts: 179
Location: Poland
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| Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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| superturbo wrote: |
| Thanks again for your help! I reckon I might be flying out in a few days and I've contacted the DOS of IH, are there any other schools/places I should make sure to check out? |
Can't help with specifics I'm afraid. As I said, I didn't teach there, I was working for a finance company. Have a look at http://www.eslbase.com/schools/hungary for a list of schools.
BTW, don't get one of the taxis waiting outside Ferihegy airport. Either ask the school to pick you up or phone City cars/cabs/taxis (I can't remember exactly). Most of the operators speak English and they'll give you a fair price, around 3500HUF if I remember (approx. 12ukp). |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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Can't resist....(apologies).
Just picked up my new Dutch-government-sponsored bike today. 24 gears Hey, we've got 'mountains!' And zero emissions:) |
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Glenlivet
Joined: 21 Mar 2009
Posts: 179
Location: Poland
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| Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 3:11 am Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
Can't resist....(apologies).
Just picked up my new Dutch-government-sponsored bike today. 24 gears Hey, we've got 'mountains!' And zero emissions:) |
 My last bike had 5 gears.
Also an 1100cc engine |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 5:21 am Post subject: |
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Ok, cool.
But I'm personally allergic to private transport involving engines, so I'm not actually jealous in the least:) |
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Glenlivet
Joined: 21 Mar 2009
Posts: 179
Location: Poland
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| Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 7:34 am Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
Ok, cool.
But I'm personally allergic to private transport involving engines, so I'm not actually jealous in the least:) |
I'm allergic to any form of transport involving exercise.
Ditto re. the envy |
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johnnyenglishteacher
Joined: 11 Aug 2006
Posts: 41
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| Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
Can't resist....(apologies).
Just picked up my new Dutch-government-sponsored bike today. 24 gears Hey, we've got 'mountains!' And zero emissions:) |
Cycling in the Netherlands? You might as well get a decent single speed bike. Lots less maintenance to do, and you get a better bike for your money. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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In 'my' part of the Netherlands, we got hills
And, headwinds 
I need those gears!!
Believe me, the government sponsored me a dilly of a bike:) |
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