Go Hungary

In a Hungarian family

When you meet your Hungarian host family, you’ll probably find yourself joining a close-knit, stable group who enjoy talking to each other and spending time together. Hungarian families value trustworthiness, eagerness to study and family programs.

The average Hungarian family consists of 3-4 members but - mainly in the countryside - families with 3 or more children can be found as well. Generally families live in houses or in apartments of 2-3 rooms. Parents are usually busy with their work in order to make a living and support their families. In spite of this, Hungary is a family-oriented country where families spend as much time together as they can. One of the favorite get-togethers are the Sunday lunches at grandma's place or birthday celebrations involving amazing feasts.

It is for sure, there is one thing Hungarian host families have in common: they have decided to welcome a young person – who could be you - from another part of the world, to show him or her their beloved culture and learn about his or her culture. They want to share their daily life with this student for a year full of joy, experience, hard work, fun and laughter.

Schools in Hungary

The school system in Hungary consists of three levels: Elementary school, Secondary schools and University.

Gimnázium” (general high school) provide an overall, general knowledge, which enables graduates to continue their studies in higher education. Most exchange students are placed in a “gimnázium”.

The main subjects: History, Hungarian Grammar, Literature, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Language Practice (English, German, French etc.), Music, P.E., Art.
In Hungary students do not choose their subjects, their schedules are given by the school.

School year starts on 1st September and last till mid-June. There are three main breaks in Autumn, Christmas and Easter.

A typical school day:
  • starts at 8 o'clock,
  • on average 6 classes per day,
  • lessons take 45 minutes and there are breaks of at least 10 minutes between each class,
  • most schools have a longer break for lunch, which can be obtained at the school canteen,
  • usually there are 30 students in a class although during lessons, students can be divided into groups of 15-20 (e.g. in language classes).
Students and teachers:
  • the relationship between students and teachers is usually formal and rather strict,
  • teachers expect to be respected and if they are, they can be really nice and helpful.

Would you like to attend an international private school? Check out our special Bilingual program!

We, Hungarians love to eat

We often pile large portions on our plate, even if we claim going on a rigorous diet :) Every proper family celebration involves fantastic meals. We are passionate about food and it is a key part of our culture, but it can also be the sign of love and care.  We are always ready to offer delicious food to our guests and every (host) mother's first question is always "Are you hungry?". Common ingredients in our cuisine are paprika (and paprika powder), onion and garlic, bacon, sour cream, meat. A typical Hungarian dish is filled with calories, like "Gulyás leves"- the real Hungarian Goulash soup :)

If you are interested in becoming a cook or confectioner, check out our special Catering program!

Activities after school

Hungarian students like to keep it busy and participate in extra-curricular activities, besides of course hanging out with friends and studying for next day's lessons or tests. The most popular activities are music and sports. There are special Hungarian music schools which students can attend in the afternoons after finishing a school day. If you practice music as a hobby, we in YFU Hungary recommend you to take part in our high school program and attend an afternoon music school. You should be able to reach a great development in your skills, as music education is of high quality in the afternoon music schools. If you are more serious about your music education, check out our special Music program!

Hungarians traditionally love sports, both doing and watching them. The most popular sports practiced are football (soccer), basketball, handball, pentathlon, tennis, but for example horseback riding, badminton, volleyball or ice hockey are gaining popularity. If you would like to start or continue a sport on your exchange, YFU Hungary and your host family will help you find the best opportunities so you can do sports in the afternoons. If you would like to do sports on a more professional level, check out our special Sport program!