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Posts by kb2011  

Joined: 30 Aug 2011 / Female ♀
Last Post: 13 Sep 2011
Threads: 1
Posts: 14
From: Hungary
Speaks Polish?: no

Displayed posts: 15
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kb2011   
12 Sep 2011
Work / Job opportunities with Hungarian-Swedish-English languages in Poland? [51]

This is what English language as 'interface' language has developed into..

Native speakers of English don't teach in Hungarian schools because of the the low salary level. They
usually teach in language schools or private schools and some of them might not even have a degree in English.
The most extreme case I once heard was that someone made a living of being British (!) living in Hungary socializing
with expats, connecting people etc.
kb2011   
10 Sep 2011
Work / Job opportunities with Hungarian-Swedish-English languages in Poland? [51]

There is a link between musical skills and language skills I think and probably that's the reason why he did the perfect lip synch.

High standards for your native language? It is absolutely normal.

I was thinking about where I could imagine Esperanto as an official language and came up with the EU headquarters. Still, I don't think

anyone speaks Esperanto there..

I am glad I registered to this forum, I am learning a lot from reading the threads, many topics are so different from what is discussed

in Hungary.
kb2011   
10 Sep 2011
Work / Job opportunities with Hungarian-Swedish-English languages in Poland? [51]

No really, your Hungarian sentence is correct, no plural needed, there are only two minor things I would change: the word order at the beginning of the sentence, 'Voltam Magyarországon' and maybe you could use 'jártam' instead of 'voltam'.

The sentence "Pista bácsi vidékben" would be "vidéken" ('down the countryside') but is it is such a minor grammatical thing that it would not be worth

mentioning and the correct form becomes automatic when someone is interacting with Hungarians. The fact that someone without Hungarian background speaks
this much Hungarian is something I appreciate when I hear it, it is not an easy language to learn.

No, I can not imagine someone teaching Hungarian who is not a native speaker.
kb2011   
7 Sep 2011
Work / Job opportunities with Hungarian-Swedish-English languages in Poland? [51]

Your Hungarian is good :). Yes, German is very popular, there are a lot of German/Austrian companies in Hungary,
I also learned German in high school but was never too interested then. I watch a few German TV-channels
(they are very high quality, by the way) and understand about 80%.

On you being snobbish, I was thinking exactly the same thing, that the man in the library most probably
thought you were a snob. Not only do you speak English, ON TOP OF IT you learn Polish.

Also, it would be unfair if I did not mention that I met quite a few nice people from the US but they were
mostly artists and/or were interested in Hungary or were married with a Hungarian or ran a long-term
business in the country.

Yes, it is quite surprising that someone who actually would need to learn a language teaches it to others.
kb2011   
6 Sep 2011
Work / Job opportunities with Hungarian-Swedish-English languages in Poland? [51]

Most Yankee-Doodle Americans wouldn't know a foreign tongue if they tripped and fell over it

But Spanish is a popular language in the States?

I had an boss from North America, who, after spending two years in Hungary was not able show Budapest on the Hungary map and,
Hungary is not a big country so the map of Hungary is not big and the capital city is usually the biggest dark spot on every map :). Anyway.

He did not remember my last name after I have worked for him for months...I was thinking of a nice long swearing afterwards- something

Hungarian language is exceptionally rich in.

"Fine, sir? So when d'you want to start learning it?"

:)

The answer's of course a resounding YES!

I agree, and this is the reason why I don't mind if Pista bácsi (uncle Stephen) in the countryside
does not speak English.
kb2011   
5 Sep 2011
Work / Job opportunities with Hungarian-Swedish-English languages in Poland? [51]

language (not merely English) is no longer at the premium it once was

I agree 100%

Is this really desirable, even in the name of business??!

No, it isn't but that's life-in the global world :). I agree that every language should preserve its uniqueness. There are
things you are able to express in one language that can not be interpreted to another.

In general, I think the globalisation's influence on the language affects people who take part in the global communication. Many people in Hungary, for example,

don't speak any foreign language at all. It is mostly the younger generation that uses globish but I don't see it as something threatening everyday language, do you? I think globish is mainly limited to business context. One thing that does influence everyday language, however, is the media.

And in Sweden, for example, the Language Council (Språkrådet) issues a list of the most popular newly created Swedish words annually.
kb2011   
4 Sep 2011
Work / Job opportunities with Hungarian-Swedish-English languages in Poland? [51]

Like the Swedish third person address, it's going the way of the horse-drawn carriage

Yes and part of the simplicitiy and directness - and by that I don't mean rudeness at all- is due to the fact that many things have gone the way of the horse drawn carriage and this saves at lot of energy when communicating.

Obviously, when you use the communication codes and rules of your native language in English, it will not necessarily be popular for others with a different cultural background, but this applies to other nationalities as well, not only Swedes.

Another thing that came to my mind reading that you were told to say Kezitcsókolom is the many 'rules' -and myths- foreigners are told by which they should behave in Hungary which actually don't apply..
kb2011   
3 Sep 2011
Work / Job opportunities with Hungarian-Swedish-English languages in Poland? [51]

Yes, it seems that a simple Good evening won't get you too far in certain areas of Hungary, this is great :)). Ok. but when was this, in the 80s? Even then, it was not obligatory to use this greeting. Maybe in that particular case it was beneficial from the business point of view, but it is not a rule. Earlier, this was a complimentary way of greeting women. It comes from German "Kisstihand" which was actually used in the German form until about WWII.

Today, from a young person saying this to me it is a sign of being slightly artificial, I was greeted with Kézcsók-abbrievated form of Kezitcsókolom! by a business partner about 6 month ago but I told him to switch to casual because we were approximately the same age. Maybe for someone who is older it is a compliment.

As for the Swedish ignorance, I don't think you can generalize, but I think there is a relieving simplicity and directness in communication between people (no kisstihands).

What I meant by being polite is I think it is important to show politeness towards the locals when you are from another country.
kb2011   
30 Aug 2011
Work / Job opportunities with Hungarian-Swedish-English languages in Poland? [51]

I am seriously considering to work in Poland and wonder if you think
I have any chances finding a job with Hungarian, Swedish and English
language skills. I am a Hungarian resident but would be willing to relocate.

Where would you start?

Thanks in advance for any advice.