Hungarians do not like to learn foreign languages – why?

Young Hungarians do not have a strong desire to learn foreign languages. At least, this is what a new research showed – according to nepszava.hu. Professionals say that the problem is in the Hungarian education system, not with the language learners.

Lack of willingness, knowledge and bravery

In fact, the European Commission’s Education Directorate General examined the passion to learn new foreign languages and the knowledge of foreign languages among the 18-30 years old Europeans. According to their results,

72% of the young Hungarians can read and write only maximum two languages

including their mother tongue. Not surprisingly, Hungary is at the back end of the list containing the EU-28 with this data.

Young people living in the UK (74%) answered that they are comfortable with speaking only one language (English). They are followed by Hungarians (49%). Furthermore, Hungary is in the third place from the back regarding the number of young people who want to develop their foreign language knowledge.

Commenting the results, Milán Berényi, president of the Professional Association of Language Schools said that there is great need for total change. He added that it would be important to see that the aim of foreign language learning is not to pass an exam but to be able to use a language properly in everyday life.

Thus, schools should not teach languages as subjects, instead they should

implement experience-based language teaching.

Reform is needed in language teaching

However, though there are already very good teachers, most schools teach by using old methods. Furthermore, there are huge differences in this regard, as well.

For sure, the problem is not with the number of language teaching hours. In fact,