Debrecen Summer School

Unique among Hungary's similar language institutions, Debrecen Summer School draws upon a great and long-standing tradition. Established in 1927, it has grown to become the biggest Hungarian summer school. Each year more than 1,000 students from 30-40 countries are taught by a team of about 30 experienced instructors who specialize in teaching Hungarian to foreigners.

Debrecen Summer School specializes in teaching Hungarian as a foreign language and diffusing knowledge of Hungarian culture. Its mission is to help its students pursue specific aspects of the Hungarian language and culture in depth. Disseminating the cultural values of any given nation is an inalienable part of teaching that nation’s language. Consequently, the cultural programs offered at Debrecen Summer School’s courses greatly contribute to the success of the primary task, which is teaching Hungarian. That is why most of our courses include events which serve to provide entertainment value as well as information about Hungarian culture and also opportunities to study the language in an informal way.

Exploiting its unique position, DSS aims at taking an increasing role in the training of university students who pursue a career in teaching Hungarian as a foreign language. In accordance with an agreement with Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church, would-be teachers studying at that institution can do training practice at DSS’s courses as of 2011. The purpose of the training practice is to provide trainees with practical teaching skills (e.g. lesson preparation and planning, classroom management, teacher’s roles, surveys, and research). It also includes presenting a deeper knowledge of the field of education (e.g. school life and management) as well as efforts to train students in the assessment, development, and research of the learning process so that they can perform more efficiently in their future jobs.