A Closer Look Into Chinese Schools In Budapest
- 10 Jul 2013 9:00 AM
Since the beginning of the 20th century, Budapest has seen exponential increase in its Chinese community. These groups of people, many of whom have come to form families and settle down in the capital city, face a multitude of problems, a leading problem being that their child must master the local language, English, but also their mother tongue, Chinese. In order to pass on the language and also give other communities the chance to learn, Chinese schools have opened in Budapest.
This article looks into three specific Chinese schools: GuangHua, ZhongJia, and the Magyar-Kinai Ket Tanitasi Nyelvu Altalanos Iskola.
GuangHua
This was the first Chinese school in Budapest, which opened in 1998 to serve the Chinese community. This school operates in a non-traditional way as a language school, welcoming children on the weekends during their school term and throughout the week during Hungarian and international school holidays.
GuangHua School offers all the basic classes, including literature, math, geography, biology etc. all in Chinese. Additionally, GuangHua has recently introduced dancing, kung Fu, calligraphy and football lessons.
Canada Chinese - English Double language School (ZhongJia)
Though the name is a bit confusing to the foreign eye, ZhongJia is a new school focuses on teaching students Chinese, English or Hungarian, and operates mainly as a language school. It is unique in that it welcomes students from all ages, and native Hungarians teach some Hungarian lessons for free.
Hungarian - Chinese Double Language Elementary School (Magyar-Kinai Ket Tanitasi Nyelvu Altalanos Iskola)
This double language elementary school opened in 2004 and is the first public school that includes Chinese teaching. It integrates the Hungarian Education system, with Chinese language, literature and culture to form a new and unique environment for students interested in learning both languages.
Unlike other Chinese schools in Budapest that operate during Hungarian and international school holidays, this elementary school serves as a Hungarian school but offers some lessons taught in Chinese. Additionally, students have the opportunity to study English.
The Language Schools listed above are not confined to the Chinese community but are open to those interested in learning the Chinese language.
Zhongjia is recommended for those who are interested in focusing on the Chinese language.
Addresses of Chinese Schools in Budapest:
GuangHua: 1101 Budapest, Hungária körút 5-7,3/2 (opposite side)
Canada Chinese-English Double language School (ZhongJia): 1107 Budapest, Szállás u.17/M17
Hungarian-Chinese Double Language Elementary School (Magyar-Kinai Ket Tanitasi Nyelvu Altalanos Iskola): 1157. Budapest, Kavicsos Koz 2-4
Words by ShuanDan Lin for XpatLoop.com
Intern Editor: Réka Lodinsky
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