Introduction to Hungarian Culture I

Time: Wednesday, 14:00-15:40

Place: Room B104

Instructor:

Máté Gergely Balogh (North American Department, Office: Main Building, 120/2.

email:

Office hours: Thursday 15:00-16:00, Friday 13:00-14:00 and by appointment.

Course description

This course is designed to offer incoming foreign students a basic overview of Hungarian culture, politics, and history. It will help students develop a better understanding of life and possible challenges in Hungary. A basic introduction will be followed by overviews of Hungarian geography, politics, and society. The course also covers the major turning points in Hungarian history and provides tips on everyday life in Hungary and Debrecen.

Course goals

The course is designed to offer an overview of Hungarian culture and aims to develop all four basic language skills (speaking, reading, writing, and listening). Some basic Hungarian usage will also be taught, and students will be advised on their individual academic needs.

Course requirements

This is a seminar course, and, according to university regulations, students MAY NOT MISS MORE THAN THREE CLASS SESSIONS under any circumstances. MISSING MORE THAN THREE CLASSES WILL RESULT IN A FAILING GRADE. Note: The course includes two field trips – sightseeing in Debrecen and a day trip to a nearby town – where participation is compulsory. Please, keep in mind that if you do not attend, they also count as missed sessions.

The final grade will be based on:

(1) an individual 7-minute oral presentation on a famous Hungarian or a topic related to Hungarian culture.

NOTE: the end-term exam will include questions based on the presentations. Students are strongly encouraged to prepare a ppt or pptx, or handout to assist fellow students. These should be emailed to the instructor 2 days before the presentation is scheduled. Please, keep in mind that Internet connection in the class room is unreliable.

Presentations must not be copy-pasted from online sources. The content of your talk, the lay-out of the handout or ppt, your performance, and presentation skills will also count toward the final evaluation. Should students be unable to attend the class their presentation is scheduled for, they MUST inform the instructor the day before the session otherwise NO MAKE-UP OPTION will be offered.

(2) class participation

Class participation includes not only attending class (arriving ON time and staying until the end of the session), but also participation in in-class discussions.

(3) in-class exam at the end of the course

ALL are compulsory course requirements and must be met to get a grade. Not meeting ANY of the three course requirements listed above will result in a failing grade.

Students must sign up on the NEPTUN for the course, unregistered students will not be accepted in class or given a grade. NOTE: it is essential that in the NEPTUN you indicate an email you regularly check, otherwise you will not be able to learn of vital course and class information (assignments, room changes, field trip information, etc.). Claiming to have no access to the information sent via Neptun will not be accepted as an excuse.

CODE OF CONDUCT

  • Attend all classes and arrive on time. Students arriving late for class will lose grade points form “class participation.”
  • Using phones, Ipads, or any electronic device during class is strictly forbidden.
  • Pay attention at all times in class, without disrupting the teaching and learning taking place. Having a discussion with fellow students during teaching disrupts the class. Treat all staff and students with respect.
  • Swearing and offensive language is unacceptable.
  • Bullying is unacceptable.

Reading

The course comes with a REQUIRED textbook which is available on the instructor’s website:

Grading policy

Class participation: 30% (NO MAKE-UP OPTION)

Oral presentation: 25% (NO MAKE-UP OPTION)

Exam: 45% (NO MAKE-UP OPTION)

Total: 100%

Grading: jeles (5): 90%; jó (4) 80%; közepes (3) 65%; elégséges (2) 50%; elégtelen (1) below 50%

Date / Assignment / Presentation
09.12. / Orientation
09. 19. / Rescheduled to walking tour of downtown Debrecen, date TBD later.
09.26. / Debrecen and the University
10. 03. / Hungary Basics: discussion of stereotypes of Hungary and Hungarians on the basis of the students’ background; a look at the Hungarian national symbols: flags, anthems, coats of arms, Facts and figures about Hungary, Hungarian geography and climate; famous Hungarians
10. 10. / Hungarian society and minorities: Hungarians and minorities; the Roma question; Slovaks, Rumanians, South Slavs and Germans in Hungary; problems of upward social mobility
10. 17. / Hungarian Culture and Identity: the building blocks of national identity and pride, poetry and music, Hungarians in film and TV history, hungarikumok
10.24. / The Hungarian political system and elections: the 1949 constitution and its revised version of 1989; changes in the form of government in Hungary in the 20th century; the new constitution of 2012; the system of national and local elections, politics at the university in the US and in Hungary / ------
10.31. / FIELD TRIP: Rescheduled to a later date
11. 07. / Turning points in Hungarian history 1: From the House of Árpád to the Turkish Wars: occupation of the Carpathian basin, founding of the Hungarian Kingdom, St. Stephen, the Turkish wars: Nándorfehérvár. Mohács, Eger, the reoccupation.
11. 14. / Turning points in Hungarian history 2: Hungary’s wars for independence: Bocskai, Rákóczi, 1948-49; the Compromise of 1867.
11.21. / Turning points in Hungarian history 3: World War I and Trianon, World War II, the Holocaust in Hungary, 1956, and 1989: a review of key historical events in Hungary in the 20th century
PAPER DUE
11.28. / revision, leftover presentations
12.05. / In-class test
12.12. / Assessment