A record number of more than a thousand applications were received for the competition, and the finals of the three-round competition were held in four cities: Budapest, Debrecen, Pécs and Szeged.
“You have to work continuously to master a foreign language, but the effort is worth it, as the knowledge you gain can be utilized not only at school, but also in higher education, in learning about the wider world, and in the labour market”, said Andrea Horváth, Director of the Institute of German Studies of UD FH, in her opening remarks.
Deutsche Telekom IT Solutions launched its language competition six years ago, with the University of Debrecen as its partner from the beginning.
„The company operates at four locations in the country and employs about 5,600 people. For them, knowledge of the German language is a positional advantage, you cannot start too early to learn it. The current competition is also a good test of strength for the practical application of language skills and for gaining experience”, said Beáta Szoták, Director of the Telecommunications Division of Deutsche Telekom IT Solutions, in her welcoming speech.
The participants of the competition and their tutors were also welcomed by Krisztina Márton Hodosiné, Scientific, Environmental and Agricultural Officer of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany.
In her speech, she emphasized that in the field of German-Hungarian relations, in addition to economy and science, the field of education is of particular importance, as there are almost three thousand Hungarian students studying in Germany, while there are also three thousand German students studying in Hungary, many of whom are students at the University of Debrecen.
“Hungary is one of the few countries where the opportunity to learn the German language is provided across the entire educational spectrum, from kindergarten to university”, the officer added.
In the final held on 8 April, Tuesday, in the Main Building of the University of Debrecen, ten students demonstrated their knowledge in a presentation in German on a freely chosen topic.
The topics of the presentations included, among others, the history and making of origami, artificial intelligence in medicine, the world of movies, student exchange programs, volunteering, the Maltese Charity Service, animal protection and rescue, and a presentation of a favourite chocolate brand.
The students who reached the finals came from secondary schools of Debrecen, Kisvárda, Nyírbátor and Szolnok.
The award winners:
1st place: Dávid Bátor Fegyver – Huszár Gál Secondary School, Debrecen (tutor: Józsefné Pallagi)
2nd place: Fruzsina Szeles – Báthory István Kindergarten, Dual Language Primary and Secondary School, Nyírbátor (tutor: Nikoletta Városi)
3rd place: Nóra Veres – Verseghy Ferenc Secondary School, Szolnok (tutor: Edit Kiscsatári)
Special award: Péter Farkas – Kisvárdai Bessenyei György Secondary School and Dormitory of Kisvárda, Kisvárda (tutors: Anikó Poncsák Farkasné, Judit Rinkó)
All competitors received a gift package, the winners were awarded a certificate and a plaque, and the grand prize was an iPod.
Press Centre – BZs
