The British ambassador learns Hungarian in Pécs
Iain Lindsay, appointed as the Hungarian Ambassador of Great Britain on 21 March, learns Hungarian after Japanese, Romanian, French languages. After the language classes in London he was continuing his studies at the ISC of the PTE Medical School. Our colleague by the UnivPécs had a conversation with him in Hungarian language.
Photo: Szabolcs Csortos, UnivPécs
Why did you choose Pécs for studying?
The first Hungarian city I have ever visited, was Pécs. I learned from the book named „MagyarOK” (this award-winning textbook was written by Katalin Pelcz and Szita Szilvia, colleague of the ISC – the ed.) and there are a lot of things about Pécs in it, so I had already informed about the city before visiting it. In London Iattended the classes of the Foreign Languages Centre of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held by Vali Tóth, born in Pécs. This programme has a fantastic reputation, so I came to Pécs at the beginning of January and I have a very intensive language course behind me. I have participated a similar course in Debrecen from the middle of February. I have chosen these cities because I know that my ambassador roles bound me to Budapest. I have to meet lots of people and I should meet the British people living here, too. I can’t wait making plenty of friendships here.
Did you ever visit Hungary earlier?
When I worked in Romania 13 years ago, I used to spend my holidays in Hungary. Now, as an ambassador, it is important to speak this language.
Photo: Szabolcs Csortos, UnivPécs
How much time did you have to learn the language?
I was the British ambassador in Bahrein until last July, so I started learning the Hungarian language in London in August. I attended 4-hour-long Hungarian classes every day. It was pretty hard, because when learning a foreign language, I can concentrate for 3 hours the most, then I get tired. The Foreign Languages Centre of the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs determines the number of hours we have to learn in a given language towards the intermediate or advanced language exam. For an advanced level Japanese language exam, you have to learn for two years. It is different with the Hungarian, Finnish and Estonian languages: you have to learn them only for one year, but every single days. Since , I studied it for 8 months from August until March, from March on, in Budapest, when already working at the Embassy, I will still have Hungarian classes, until September. I really like Hungarian language, so I think I will continue to learn it after September. . My job will bound me here for 4 years, which means my family I will surely be here until then.
You mentioned that you like Hungarian language. Why?
It is a good question. Its structure, focus, pronunciation...and there are many other aspects which I like about it. It is very interesting and I feel very lucky that I can learn a beautiful language like this for 8 months. As far as I know, this is the most difficult language in Europe, it belongs to the Finno-Ugric language family like the Estonian and Finnish languages. I think it is important for a foreign diplomat working in Hungary to be able to speak in Hungarian, at least a little, but as far as the Ambassador is concerned, it is extremely important to speak the language. However, it won’t be easy, because each Hungarian speaks English very well and when I speak Hungarian, they will answer in English. Of course, if it is useful, then it is OK.
Photo: Szabolcs Csortos, UnivPécs
Do you have a favourite Hungarian word?
I have a favourite expression: “fogalmam sincs”. I really like this one because it is very expressive. I learned it in my first week here and I think it is very important and useful (he laughs).
As far as I know, you have visited several regions of the country. Which experience was the most fascinating?
I really liked Villány, we spent a beautiful day there 3 weeks ago. We walk in the hills every weekend. I really like Orfű, when I was there 2-3 weeks ago, the landscape was a little snowy - I found it very nice. Tomorrow we are going to travel to Mohács to the Busójárás Carnival.
There is a controversy about teaching the Hungarian language in Hungary: do the foreigners learn Hungarian only for fun or should we take them seriously? They say, teachers in Pécs are very strict but effective. What did you experience?
Yes, they are very strict, but this is good, because 1 month is not a long time. It is extremely important for me to learn every day. Next week I am already going to be in Budapest, but I won’t have a rest there , either: me and my family are going to move in into our new residence, 125 packages of ours will arrive from Bahrein – still, I have already received my homework for the next week from my teacher. As they say: there’s no rest for the wicked. I must have been very bad (he laughs).