Tuesday, December 30, 2014

The Holidays

They are coming to an end and while it has been a while since I posted, it hasn't been a while since I have been learning Hungarian. I have stuck with study and learn whenever possible and spend at least 1/2 hour in the morning focusing on learning. Throughout the day I take breaks to practice, continue to listen to Hungarian radio and pick apart small sentences.

One of my reasons for learning Hungarian is to obtain dual citizenship. I have until the Hungarian Consulate returns to Chicago and that date has not been set yet. I know I have to have a basic knowledge "To be able to ask the price of a loaf of bread." is what I was told on my last meeting with the Consulate. Since my paperwork is already being processed I should just have to meet again, hold a conversation and then get my picture for a passport.

I am glad that I have no other information as to how much I need to know since my other reason was to be able to communicate comfortably when we are in Hungary.

Well, enough typing, more studying!

Monday, December 15, 2014

Here, Gone and Back

It's amazing how fast our trip to Europe came and went. I was planning on posting about my language usage while we were in Budapest but due to a late flight, missed connection and serious jet lag we lost about a full day.

I was anticipating that when we arrived at BUD (the airport) I was going to force myself to ask for two seven day transit passes in Hungarian: Szeretnék két hetijegyet. When I walked up to the counter I was greeted in English and what came out of my mouth? "I would like two seven day transit passes". Yep, English. End of day one...

Dinner on day two was at my favorite étterem: Ruben I was able to ask for two beers and when the bill came, John was just about to ask for the check when I was able to stop him and tell him to let me try: Kérem a számlát. The waiter smiled and fired back: Készpénz vagy hitelkártya? I drew a blank. He smiled and said that he asked if it was Cash or Credit. Off we went to explore the Christmas Markets without any other chance of speaking Hungarian.

On and off on days three and four we were shopping and I was able to ask how old was something, what was the price and general pleasantries.

Part of day three was spent with our Hungarian friends and their three year old. I asked questions, learned some phrases and then asked the 3 year old: Hogy vagy? He proceeded to fire off so much Hungarian my head spun! As the day came to an end I realized I had a long way to go.

Yesterday we had an almost ten hour flight. I used it for review and felt it was a very good use of my time. I am starting to understand all of the different endings and how they relate to vowel harmony.

So much to remember, but it is starting to sink in.

Szia!

Monday, November 24, 2014

A day of posting missed but not practicing

Bocsánat. I apologize for not posting yesterday. Long story short I ended up in the Emergency room. I didn't have a chance to study while I was in there but did hit it hard when I have free time later that evening. That being said, by the time I was done studying, posting completely slipped my mind.


I did do a big review today also and slowly the endings mentioned in an earlier post are starting to make sense. I am going to keep it short tonight but thank you for reading.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Possesive Endings

I am continuing to use Memrise as part of my learning process. I have just hit rough spot: Possessive Endings.


-m / -d / -ja, = my / your / his, her (possessive suffixes when nouns end in vowels)


-m / -d / -je = my / your / his, her (possessive suffixes when nouns end in front vowels)

-om / -od / -a = my / your / his, her (possessive suffixes for back vowel nouns ending in consonants)

-em / -ed / -e = my / your / his, her (possessive suffixes for nouns ending in e, é, i, í, á + consonants)

öm / -öd / -e = my / your / his, her (possessive suffixes for long front vowel nouns ending in consonants)

I helps to have some idea of what front and back vowels are (17 total):

a, á, i, í, o, ó, u, ú = 8 back vowels


e, é, ó, ő, ú, ű = 6 front vowels


e, o, u = 3 short front vowels

gyakorlat, gyakorlat, gyakorlat (practice, practice, practice)...

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Két hét

Yes, two weeks from today we will be back in Budapest. I am getting comfortable with basic phrases and looking forward to speaking Hungarian. My first will be upon arriving at the airport.  "Jó napot. Szeretnék két hétijegyek," This should get us two seven day transit passes.

Monday, November 17, 2014

A Weekend of Learning

As I mentioned, the Memrise Basic Hungarian course is helping me learn pronunciation but no too many useful words to communicate with. There is a course Hungarian w/Audio:Level 1 that has more words that I will be able to use when we return to Budapest in December.

This week starts the section "Phrases for Courtesy" on the Learn Hungarian app. I am going to practice this section along with the "Greetings and General Words".

As suggested, I am trying to immerse myself in the language as much as possible. When I want some background music or radio I have been streaming from http://www.mediaklikk.hu this site streams in radio and a couple of televions channels.

Last night I started to watch Pál Adrienn with English subtitles. I have been able to pick up a few words so far and it does help that even if it was a silent movie, at this point, I would be able to get an understanding as to what is taking place.

I must apologize. Early in my posts I forgot to mention Chris Kovacs, Bocsánat. While Chris offeres lessons via Skype, I found him on You Tube as The Hungarian Project with many lessons explaining the language. When I have a few mintues I review what he has recorded and the grammer starts to make sense.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Let's Learn Hungarian!

Today I had to work on rental unit. I realized this would be a great time for me to listen to the podcast Let's Learn Hungarian. Steven and Györgyi made ten podcasts back in 2008. I found them in 2012 when I first attempted to learn Hungarian. Over the years I listened repeatedly.


I started my work today and was going along and repeating the phrases and then I realized I didn't recognize what I was hearing. Then I looked, Episode 11? Wait, episode 10 is the last one. As I listened I realized that 11 was new and my phone had automatically downloaded it. This was great! Even better was when 12 started playing.


I am excited to have Steven and Györgyi back and adding them to my mix of learning. Üdvözöljük!


Question: "Szeretnék két hétijegyek" is this correct for "I would like two seven day passes"?

Friday, November 14, 2014

My must know phrases...

From past trips to Budapest and from what I am seeing online, I would think these are my must know phrases. The first list are those I already know and use.

If there are some to be added or deleted just let me know...


Good morning! : Jó reggelt!

Good afternoon! : Jó napot!

Good evening! : Jó estét!

Good night! : Jó éjszakát!

Hi! : Hello! / Szia! (plural: Sziasztok!)


Bye! : Viszontlátásra! (Viszlát! for short)

My name is... : ... vagyok.

You're welcome! : Szívesen!

Please: Kérem

Cheers!: Egészségedre!

Thank you! : Köszönöm!
 
Yes: Igen

No: Nem

Good: jó

Toilet: WC (pronounced in Hungarian as "vécé")
Egy sört kérek! A beer please!


What's your name? : Hogy hívják? (no English sound as "gy"...)
Congratulations: Gratulálok!

Excuse me: Elnézést

I'm sorry: Sajnálom

I don't know: Nem tudom
.
Tomorrow: holnap


Yesterday: tegnap
Today: ma


Now: most

Here: itt

There: ott

Excellent: Kitűnő

Bad: rossz ("ssz" pronounced as "ss" in the word "miss")

Terrible: Borzalmas



Thursday, November 13, 2014

Work

Today I was able to work on my Magyar for a while before work. My plan is to be able to dedicate my lunch hour each workday in addition to morning and a while after work. Today wasn't one of them. Work got in the way. Memrise has me up to 35 words in 3 days so that is good, but I have learned things like "A férfi magas és jóképű." The man is tall and handsome. I am ok with this because I am continuing to build on my accent. The phrases are starting to stick so I will be able to communicate on a very basic level when we return to Budapest.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Learning Tools

Before I go into past learning tools, I do have to say that the use of a blog did come from Benny and Fluent in 3 Months. He is one of my latest tools and while I am just starting out with his information it appears to be the clearest and most straight forward way to go about learning a new language.

When I first started out, I was turned on to Live Mocha and I was doing fairly well. The "legacy site", as it is now called, took a learner through different stages of learning. It tought single words and then built on them to create simple sentences. There were repetitive vocabulary tests as well as writing and speaking that "native speakers" could correct. Around the time that they were bought out by Rosetta Stone, they stripped down the teaching aspects. The "building" philosophy is all but gone, for Hungarian that is and the ability to write and speak have been taken down to one word or a single sentence. I rarely log on to that site anymore.

Flashforward to 2014 and I find, by accident, Memrise. In short, it has everything that I missed about the origina Live Mocha except the critiques. But, since I have already picked up about 45 new words in 3 days I will stick with it and see what happens.

Of course there are may apps available and I have downloaded a few and do use them. My favorite is Learn Hungarian by WagMob . It has common phrases, a dictionary and flashcards. It works well on both my iPad and iPhone so I can pull it out whenever I have a free moment. If there are others to try, let me know.

Lastly of course I have books. I've bought books, I've loaned books and have been given books. My favorite would be Beginner's Hungarian Dictionary and that being because my dear friend in Budapest sent it to me. If anything it's fun to look at the drawings while learning the words.

So, off I go to spend some more time learning. Until then, sziasztok!

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Day one. Again.

I have been attempting to learn Hungarian since mid-2012.

Why?

The first reason is because my partner John and I visited Budapest in 2010 and fell in love with it. Many Hungarians speak English within the city so we never had any issues communicating. Then we started to explore outside the city and realized that if we were far enough out, nobody spoke English and why should they? That is one reason I realized I needed to learn Hungarian. It wasn't up to Hungarians to know English, but for me to know Hungarian.

The second reason is at some point in 2012 I discovered I had ties to Hungary via my grandfather and great-grandmother. This opened the doors to my ability to obtain dual-citizenship. I "practiced" for almost two years and finally was able to apply for citizenship all went well until I wasn't able to communicate at the most basic level, which is all that is needed.

So, here I am November 11, 2014 focusing and studying and practicing knowing that I am weeks away from being immersed in the language again, if only for a few days.