I’m Lisa Böhm and I come from the westernmost part of Austria (Vorarlberg) in a small village called Koblach. I have lived in Koblach my entire life and attended primary and secondary school there. I then moved to the state capital Bregenz for my high school graduation. There I decided to attend a economic high school (Handelsakademie Bregenz). I’ve always dreamed of living abroad for a while, but I never knew where to go or what to do abroad.
My mother was the one who told me about the various ESC projects. I was immediately fascinated by the many different possibilities that the ESC offers. So I immediately set about finding the right project for me. Since I have always been very interested in the teaching profession, the project at the Köz-Pont Ifjúsági Egyesület immediately caught my eye. In this project I have the opportunity to teach German to children at high schools. As well as adults in the weekly German Conversation Club. I really love working at different high schools and the time in the office is always nice and fun.
When I arrived I was a bit shy at first because everything is new and I don’t speak the Hungarian language, which makes some things more difficult. But I was welcomed with open arms by everyone and that significantly helped me to feel welcome in this new country. I am very open and look forward to all the future adventures that I will experience here in Debrecen in the next four months. I also hope to expand my confidence, independence and experiences.
My name is Tanahis Buzo, I’m 18 and I’m both French and Spanish. I was born in France, on the Côte d’Azur, where I spent the first 5 years of my life. Then I moved to the Aude region, before completely changing countries and moving to the Spanish Basque Country with my mother. I was 11 at the time. And I can tell you that it’s really strange and difficult to lose all your landmarks at once. Especially when you’re just 11 and about to start secondary school. A new culture, new people and a new language, which isn’t really that new because my family has always spoken to me in Spanish since I was a little girl. I found it hard, really hard, to adapt. And you’re probably wondering: why did I go back to a new country, even more different than France or Spain, if my experience of this kind of change is so bad? The truth is, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed all these difficulties, they made me feel stronger, more intelligent, more open… This sudden change had simply made me better. So I promised myself that it wouldn’t be the last time, and so here I am on a gap year in Hungary, in an environment completely outside my comfort zone. What I wanted was to travel, learn to adapt and become more independent, while being supervised and having a humanly and culturally enriching experience. And I really hit the nail on the head! What attracted me to this volunteering project was the idea of putting my bilingualism to good use and discovering a whole new culture that I know absolutely nothing about. And when it came to teaching pupils, I wasn’t that interested. But this year I wanted to do something that I wouldn’t normally do and that I don’t think I’d like, because maybe if I tried it I’d realise it was better than I thought. I arrived on 30 October, worried, shy and a bit lost, and I was immediately surprised by the warm welcome I received from the people at the association. I’ve been here for 12 days now and I can’t wait to find out more.
Stepping foot into Hungary, little did I know that this country, steeped in history and rich in culture, would become an unforgettable chapter in my life’s story. Nestled in the heart of this enchanting country, my 11-month volunteering stint in Debrecen became an odyssey of discovery, learning, and heartfelt connections that have left an indelible mark on my life’s tapestry.
Hungary, a gem sparkling with a rich tapestry of traditions and histories, unveiled its splendor before my eyes. From its mesmerizing landscapes to its vibrant cultural tapestry, every moment unfolded as a kaleidoscope of beauty. The nuances of Hungarian culture, the resonance of its history, and the tantalizing flavors of its cuisine became an integral part of my daily existence, painting a vivid portrait of a country brimming with soul-stirring experiences.
One of the greatest privileges of my volunteering escapade was the opportunity to traverse the length and breadth of Hungary. From the bustling urban allure of the cities to the quaint charm of rural villages, each destination unveiled a unique facet of Hungarian life. Yet, my journey extended beyond borders, allowing me to traverse neighboring lands like the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Croatia, each contributing a distinct chapter to my wanderlust-filled saga.
Central to this transformative journey were the people I encountered – an eclectic mix of extraordinary souls hailing from diverse backgrounds. Whether Hungarian locals or fellow global citizens, each interaction was a mosaic of stories, perspectives, and shared moments, enriching my worldview and fostering friendships that transcend boundaries.
Engaging in teaching French as a foreign language was a revelation, an avenue where learning merged seamlessly with the joy of sharing. The classrooms became a melting pot of cultural exchange, where I imbibed wisdom from insightful educators while imparting the essence of my language and heritage to bright-eyed high school students. It was a humbling experience, witnessing the universal language of learning bridge gaps and forge connections beyond words.
Moreover, navigating the labyrinth of organizing, promoting, and orchestrating cultural events in multilingual settings honed not just my professional acumen but also nurtured my linguistic skills. Each event was a canvas where diverse tongues painted stories, fostering an environment of cultural celebration and mutual understanding.
As I bid adieu to this remarkable chapter, I carry with me a treasure trove of memories and lessons. These eleven months of volunteering have been nothing short of extraordinary, a tapestry woven with threads of growth, cultural immersion, and soul-enriching connections. My heart brims with the urge to implore young minds to seek such missions, to dive into experiences that transcend borders and resonate with the essence of humanity.
Though my physical presence may depart, Hungary etches itself as an integral part of my narrative. It’s not merely a destination; it’s a timeless imprint woven into the fabric of my being, forever coloring my story with its hues of beauty, warmth, and cultural richness. As I embark on new adventures, Hungary remains an ever-present, cherished chapter in the book of my life.
One of the many activities we were able to take part in this summer as part of our volunteer work was the Panyola Feszt festival. We had the pleasure of joining all the young people in the association to help organize this festival.
The village
Panyola is a village in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county, in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Hungary. The village isn’t very big, but it’s very cute and authentic. For some years now, the village has been known for its famous palinka. If you’ve ever been to Hungary, you’ll certainly have seen these famous labels.
Photos credit : KÖZ-Pont Ifjúsági Egyesület, Okolicsanyi Zoltan
The festival
For the seventeenth year running, the village of Panyola is inviting everyone to a colourful programme of events on 4-5-6 August 2023. In addition to the values of the county, they also showed their local heritage to the visiting guests. It was a programme of three days in a fun, authentic and family atmosphere.
In the first week of August the young of the association participated in a Outdoor training in Panyolai, which is held every year for youth leaders. They had a lot of adventures during the 25 hours of training, from hitchhiking, to rain dance walking, to riding at the end of the day.
After the training, the European volunteer team joined them in Panyola and we stayed on to volunteer at the Panyolai Brandy Festival and then had time for some partying. We were divided into different teams and assigned to various booths and posts.
In the morning, in my case for example, we took part in a cultural workshop for children: coloring, musical discoveries and games were on offer.
“Great children’s activities with the Veronaki Orchestra, the Sóstó Museum Village…All children received a gift of Rudi Cottage cheese, thanks to the factory in Matészalka for the donation!”
Photos credit : KÖZ-Pont Ifjúsági Egyesület, PanyolaFeszt
We then had a lunch and rest break. In the afternoon we ran this general knowledge test stand around the life of Hungarian poet Petőfi.
Photos credit : Három Határ Hírei, PanyolaFeszt
After dinner, we lent a hand at various posts as needed, which were different every day.
Finally, after a hard day’s work as part of the festival organization team, we were able to share convivial moments with the entire KOZ PONT team during the final hours of the festival each evening.
My experience
These few days have been a good experience for me.
First of all, being on the other side of a festival set is very enriching and helps to change the way we look at things when we later take part in a festival. We get a better view of the work behind the scenes and the workers who make themselves more or less invisible.
Afterwards, it was an opportunity to really share and get to know the association’s team of young people.
During our volunteer work, we have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of events, in addition to our work in schools. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to take part in an English summer camp for children aged 7 to 12.
The camp took place over a week in the pretty town of Újfehértó, more precisely at the Nonprofit Közösségi Szolgáltató Ház. I was there for one day. I was lucky enough to discover a wonderful group of 8 children, all very kind and energetic. Eszter, the camp organizer, welcomed me with the kindness and enthusiasm that Hungarians are known for.
During the camp, the children had the opportunity to develop their English skills, and I have to say they impressed me.
When I arrived, I met up with the group in a room of the beautiful Nonprofit Közösségi Szolgáltató Ház building. We took turns introducing ourselves, and then I told them more about France: the capital, symbols, viennoiseries and pâtisseries, cheeses and even the geography of this beautiful country. They were very attentive and curious to learn more. Eszter didn’t leave me on my own, but came to complete my talk to these children she had already begun to get to know, which was really very nice.
Afterwards, I was able to attend the rehearsal of a short reading of a play they were planning to present to the parents on Saturday, the last day of camp. Then, after an energizing snack, they gave free rein to their imagination and creativity through free artistic activities. I was honored and delighted to be presented with a beautiful drawing during this time. Before leaving, we shared a meal together.
I arrived in the morning unsure of myself and what to expect, and I left full of gratitude and good memories, thanks to the kindness and good energy of this small group. Volunteering can be full of surprises.
Hello! My name is Panna Tuef and I’m an 18 years old girl from Romiania, Tranylvania. I grew up in a small town, in Valea lui Mihai, where 9000people live. I started high school in ,,Colegiul Agricol Nr.1 Valea lui Mihai”, but I changed schools in my third year because even then I was attracted by the hustle and bustle and the bigger city. I started my third year in ,,Liceul Teoretic Ady Endre” in Oradea and this is where I finished school. In Oradea 190.000 people live, so it was way bigger then where I lived before and I loved it. There I learned to adapt to others, since I was in a dorm.
I heard about ESC volunteering and I found a lot of potential in it. First of all, my native language is hungarian, so for me this is a good chance to learn more about my culture, way deeper than I had the opportunity for it. This volunteering is a good way to meet new people, to live among young people and work with them. I can practice my English knowledge because every ESC voluntery is from other country and I can learn about their culture too. I can learn how to be independent because there’s no one who will cook for me, no one who will clean after me, so this is a good chance to ,,grow up”.
I finished school and then I moved to Debrecen. The first day we did paperwork but the next they showed me around the city. I mentioned that I love big cities, in Debrecen more than 200.000 people live. I especially liked how multicultural the city is, everybody is very open minded. My first impression was that everyone is very direct and friendly. What was wierd to me first is that random people smiled at me on the streets, strangers came to me in the shops to help me where I could buy things the cheapest.
I haven’t been here for a long time, but I really enjoy working together with young people and attending events with them. Since they are around my age, I can make new friends. I like being an ESC volunteer because I don’t have to do the same thing all the time,not monotonous work. Also, Debrecen is a very beautiful city with amazing places and I’m glad I found this chance to be and ESC volunteer.
As you’ve probably gathered from our previous articles, we’re volunteers in Hungary, and our mission is to work in schools and high schools to help teach our native language or English.
But what do we do in the summer, when schools are closed? Do we do nothing? Of course not! Everyone does different activities depending on the opportunity presented to them. Today I’m going to tell you about mine.
Being French, it was only natural for us to contact the Alliance Française of Debrecen and offer them my services for the summer. This is a French organization whose aim is to promote the French language and culture outside France. You can find agencies in 128 countries on every continent. In Hungary alone, you can find them in 5 different cities: Debrecen, Györ, Miskolc, Pécs and Szeged.
This summer, I’m leading French workshops at the Alliance Française of Debrecen every Tuesday and Thursday. You can see the poster below, and don’t hesitate to visit us on Facebook (on the accounts @af.debrecen and @volunteersofkozpont ) for more practical information about the details of the workshops.
Who is it for?
For everyone, whatever your age, background or level of French. We really do have all kinds of participants, so don’t be afraid to come and join us. The atmosphere here is one of caring and sharing. I was delighted when one participant confessed to me that when he arrived he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to understand everything and that we’d be talking too fast for him, but that he left happy because he’d been much more able than he’d imagined and that he’d understood and succeeded in expressing himself to enjoy the moment. So do what he did and go for it!
What do we do?
Lots of things: discussions, games, quizzes, watching videos and films, and even handicrafts, for example on July 14th, the French national holiday. My aim is not to explain French grammar, but to take you on a two-hour journey through France. I’d like to introduce you to my culture and my country through real moments of sharing, and at the same time offer you the opportunity to meet other lovers of the French language and practice it together.
I’ll let you have a look at the photos of the workshops held this first mid-July to give you an idea of the great atmosphere at the Alliance française.
And in concrete terms, what do I think of it and what does it mean to me?
I’m not going to lie to you, right from the start I was highly motivated by the idea of this project. Then, when I started getting everything ready, I realized just how big a project I was embarking on, but that didn’t put me off – far from it. Life is very dull if we don’t give ourselves small challenges from time to time. It’s already been two weeks since the workshops started, and I really don’t regret taking the plunge. I’m meeting new people and seeing you enjoy these moments gives me even more energy to offer you different activities this summer.
Don’t speak French?
Don’t worry, stay tuned! English-language events may be coming soon, so make sure you don’t miss out by following us on instagram and facebook.
And don’t hesitate to share this article on your favorite social networks – you may have French-speaking friends or French-speaking apprentices who are interested!
Well, you take the same places, the same trainers-facilitators, almost the same volunteers with a few new ones, a little more capricious weather, but above all the same good energy and you get the 4 great days I spent.
The people
These weeks are first and foremost days of intercultural encounters and sharing. As I said, we weren’t all back: some of our comrades have ESC contracts of less than 6 months, so they couldn’t join us, and we really missed them. Still, it gave us the opportunity to meet other volunteers who joined our group to make sure we had enough people, and once again we had some great encounters. For those I had the opportunity to see again, it was a real pleasure to share new days together.
At the end of our stay, it was hard to imagine that we wouldn’t see each other again, unless we created the opportunities ourselves. As volunteers in the four corners of Hungary, this may not be easy, but we’ll get there, I’m sure, or at least I sincerely hope so.
The activities
Here’s a quick overview of the program we had:
Time to meet and reconnect with each other,
Discussions about the evolution of our motivation over the course of our volunteering,
Sharing how we’ve adapted to each other in our associations and towns,
Reflecting on our successes and challenges,
Group analyses of the conflicts we have or can face,
Practical information about the end of our youthpass volunteering,
As well as presentations of the various options available to us after our volunteering and the sharing of our respective projects.
Our organizers had also planned a nice surprise for us: a boat trip along the Danube. The weather was on our side that day, as we were treated to some beautiful sunshine for the ride. It was a great moment of sharing and calm at the rhythm of the water, surrounded by green hills
The location
I love the setting of the town of Visegrád, which is very different from the large, flat plains of Debrecen. Between the calm of the green countryside, the energy of the Danube’s curves and the mysteries of the town’s historic buildings, I highly recommend a detour if you’re passing through the region.
As our stay was shorter, and the weather wasn’t too kind, we weren’t able to return to the castle to visit it properly. However, I did get the chance to visit the Salamon Lower Castle (Visegrádi alsóvár, Salamon-torony). It’s not very big, and it’s not very far from the hotel, so if you get the chance, go. You’ll find a historical exhibition and, if you climb to the top, you’ll soon have a lovely view of the city. I’ll leave you to admire these photos to give you an idea.
Now the school year 2022/23 in Hungary is over, everybody is relaxing at home, visiting friends and family or going on vacation. And my time as an assisting teacher for the German language is over – time for a little review on the school year, on how Hungarian schools work … and where the differences to German ones are.
Last summer, I finished the German “Gymnasium” (comparable to the English Grammar school and the Hungarian Gimnázium) with the “Abitur”, which is the school closing in Germany with which you can enter university. The Hungarian Érettségi is very similar to that.
My aim is not to explain the Hungarian school system fully or to criticize it to the ground, I want to point out good things and things to be improved, and differences to school in Germany, my home country.
The system
In general I have to say that I was surprised how little differences there are between school in Hungary and school in Germany. The general system is the same: After the kindergarten you go to the primary school at the age of six or seven; afterwards you choose you secondary school: With the closing of the advanced school (Gymnasium/Gimnázium) you are allowed to enter university. If you choose another school, you usually start learning a job afterwards.
A difference is definitely the duration of the primary school: While you spent only four years there in Germany, this part of education takes eight years in Hungary. In Germany we, unfortunately, have to choose our direction very early, that’s one thing I appreciate about Hungary – you have more time to decide which path you want to go. Another difference is the system of grades: In Hungary, the best grade is the 5, for which you usually need at least 80%, and the worst is the 1. On the other hand in Germany, the best grade is the 1 and you need at least 95% for that, the worst one is the 6. I personally prefer the German system a bit, because it rates the performance more detailed. In my opinion there should be a difference between students who have everything correct and students who get 20%, one fifth, are wrong.
Another point about the system are the vacations: In Germany you have a comparably short summer break with six weeks (while Hungary has two and a half months). However, we have more and longer other vacations, for example two weeks of autumn break in October and two weeks of winter break in February, which students in Hungary don’t have. Personally, I like the German system here more, as well. After six weeks of summer break I always wanted to see my friends again – 10 weeks seems way too long for me – and I like the distribution over the year.
Classes
The first thing I noticed was that classrooms are different here. In Germany I think that almost every classroom looks the same, always a similar size and always with two-seat-desks. Here, I teached in basically every kind of rooms – in “normal” classrooms like in Germany, in very small rooms (maybe 8 square meters) with chairs that have small wooden boards for writing, and even in the lunchroom, where they installed a blackboard on the wall.
Hungary (I’m sure this position is not good for the student’s necks 🙂
Germany
In Germany the general duration of one lesson is 45 minutes, but the older you get the more “double lessons” you have, so the same subject for 90 minutes. And, very important in my opinion, the lesson starts with the ring and ends when the teacher says that the lesson is over. Here in Hungary, lessons are mostly 45 minutes by schedule, but when the bell rings, usually the teachers and students start to slowly move to the classroom. And at least three minutes before the end, students often start packing their things so you cannot teach properly anymore. My point is, here you basically have only 35 minutes or even less in which you can teach effectively. This is, from my experience, not enough to learn about a topic to the right extent and to go into detail, because the lesson ends almost right after it started.
On the other hand, I have the feeling that students get more homeworks here and that they are taken more seriously – which could be a consequence of the less productive lessons. Of course you cannot generalize it, but we didn’t get a homework after basically every lesson.
Another point about the lessons, which a German friend noticed and which I partly agree to, is that the Hungarian students are a bit less active in classes. We have the feeling that students in Germany more often raise their hand and that there are more active discussions in the lessons. But that impression could also come from the fact that we teached German, and students in foreign language lessons are generally a bit more shy. I would be a bit scared of mistakes as well, especially if there is a native speaker (Of course they should not be, I don’t bite ;).
Tests
The last point I want to talk about is tests. From my impression, students in Hungary take tests and exams a bit easier than in Germany. I, for example, was always panicking before every kind of performance evaluation. Of course, students here complain as well if there’s a test to come up, but I had the feeling that the tests and their results played a bigger role in Germany than here. But that could also be me, I maybe took things too seriously…
But also the atmosphere while the students write a test is more relaxed here; When we wrote a test in Germany, everything was quite, and except if we asked a question to the teacher, every kind of talking was considered cheating. Here I experienced that students and teachers sometimes talk a bit, often also about other things than the test. It’s not so free as it sounds, but compared to Germany, the atmosphere is very relaxed.
One situation has stayed in my mind: I noticed that one of the students uses their phone during the test and the teacher asked: “Is she using her phone?”. And after I said yes, he just said: “Put your phone away” … That was it. Just that. In Germany, this student would have instantly gotten a 6, I’m sure.
Another thing about tests: If a student is absent here in Hungary during a test, he or she will get the test in the next lesson, and will write it while the others have their class. This way, they get distracted from the test and they miss the content of this lesson. And, of course, a part of the lesson gets lost because the student will have to get the test and questions have to be clarified. In Germany, we have a, in my opinion, way better solution for this: At my school we had one lesson every Wednesday afternoon, in which everybody was writing the tests they missed.
In summary, I would definitely say that you can go to school well in both countries, but that Hungary could also learn a few things from the German school system.
My volunteering project started in September last year and since I joined the English Conversation Club (“ECC”) for the first time in October, there were only a few weeks in which I didn’t participate in an event organized by the American Corner Debrecen.
The American Corner Debrecen – That’s a cultural and educational center located in the city of my voluntary service, which aims to promote American culture, values, and education. It is one of several American Corners throughout Hungary, and is affiliated with the U.S. Embassy in Budapest.
My experiences with the English Conversation Club
I first heard about this in the middle of October 2022, when a friend said that the Conversation Club is a perfect way to meet new people and to practice my English language skills. And as I was still pretty new in town I tried it out and it turned out to be a great decision.
Welcomed very kindly, I learned and we discussed about cyber security the first time I was there. Lovely people and a perfect atmosphere. After this first impression I, of course, joined more often and now, 7 months later, it still is a very common choice that I make my way to the American Corner at 5pm on a Tuesday afternoon. Everytime there are new people to get to know and usually there is an interesting topic of the day. Actually, the AC was the first place where I heard of ChatGPT, that was definitely the most astonishing ECC experience.
In December of last year, I was also asked to lead a Conversation Club on my own, because Zoltán, who usually leads every event, did not have time on that day.
So I took the chance to talk a bit about the World Cup 2022 in Qatar and problems connected to that. Among other things we discussed Human Rights in Qatar, corruption and the impact on climate.
Other events
But the AC does not only offer the ECC, there are multiple other events you can attend… And that for free!! For example, we had a Thanksgiving celebration with lots of food (even a big turkey), board games, conversations and a Kahoot!-quiz. An amazing evening.
The day after the Superbowl, the biggest TV-event in the United States, we watched the extended highlights of the American football match, led by experts who come from America. So now I know at least a bit the rules and understand why there’s such a hype around this event in the United States.
Next to these events that are connected to a certain holiday or event, I also participated in some events that take place on average maybe once a month.
For instance, there have been a couple of board game afternoons with many games and great people.
Sometimes, they also screen movies followed by a discussion. I watched, for example, “Driving Miss Daisy”, a true American classic, which made me learn again a bit about American culture and history.
The American corner is a great place for foreigners like me to meet new people, practice English and have fun! I also made some friends there, in the beginning of May for example, I did a trip with the “Zsuzsi train” together with Bilal, Márton and Balázs. Amazing people, met in the American Corner.
ESC Volunteers 