Classes for Foreigners

We were invited by one of our INSTE students to take part in a program she is helping to organize as part of her degree program at the university. We discovered that the program was not specifically for people in our situation, but we are learning a lot from it anyway. The program is aimed at immigrants from non-European Union countries who want to work in Hungary, but we have learned valuable information about how the educational system works in Hungary and how people find jobs. For example, in EU countries, contracts are signed between employees and employers outlining the rights and responsibilities of each party. EU citizens can live and work in EU countries other than their home country as long as they have a work contract or for as long as one year after the work contract expires. Interesting! We are privileged in the US to live and work anywhere we please in the country for as long as we wish.

The best part, however, is getting to know some new people. In the picture above are (from left to right) a Hungarian and her El Salvadoran husband, a Ukrainian and a Sudanese. The other participants are two more young ladies from Ukraine. All of us speak at least a little Hungarian and the presentations are translated into English, too. We are getting plenty of Hungarian practice, though.

Notice the chalkboard in the picture? This room is also used for English lessons. :)