Click here to be redirected to our new website
 

Helicon Schools Page :: Quick Links
High School Program
Adult Language Classes
Hungarian Language Proficiency Examinations
Scholarships at the University of Toronto

---

One of the mandates of the Hungarian Helicon Society is to support educational programs that foster the learning of the Hungarian language, history and literature. To meet this mandate, the Society developed the following programs:

• High School credit courses
• Adult language classes
• Administration of the Hungarian language proficiency examinations
• The Hungarian Helicon Foundation’s Scholarships offered through the University of Toronto

These programs are outlined in more detail below. For more information, please send email to School@HeliconSociety.com.

2005/2006 High School Credit Courses.

In 1961 the Hungarian Helicon Society formed the Helicon School Committee, which helped develop the Helicon School that offered Hungarian classes for high school students. The school originally functioned as a small extra-curricular program. In 1969, the Helicon School became recognized by the Toronto Board of Education as a credit-course program. In 1994, the Separate School Board in Toronto also began to support Hungarian credit courses.   Today, the high school courses offered at the “Torontoi Magyar Gimnázium” operate under the umbrella of the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s International Languages Program, and students are awarded high school credits, which they can use toward the completion of their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Classes are held Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Senator O'Connor Secondary School (60 Rowena Drive, in the Victoria Park & Ellesmere/Lawrence area). The classes run from September to May. Currently, over 60 students are taking advantage of the opportunity to study Hungarian literature, grammar and history at the school. The school plays an important part in educating second and third generation Hungarians, and also other members of our multicultural community who are interested in Hungarian heritage. For more information, please contact the teachers: Mr. György Koós-Hutás - georgekh@sympatico.ca Ms. Mirtil Lörincz - mirtil_m_lorincz@yahoo.ca Click here to view School Curriculum. Click here to view School Dates and Special Events   Hungarian Language Classes for Adults The Hungarian Helicon Society is offering Hungarian Language classes for adults for the 2005/2006 session at two levels: Basic and Beginner. The courses focus on conversation, grammar and vocabulary expansion, but also include some reading and writing in Hungarian. Each course runs for 26 weeks, from November 2005 to May 2006. (Please note that this is a not an accredited program. No academic credit will be awarded upon completion of the course.) Basic: This is an introductory course for students who have no or very little knowledge of Hungarian. Schedule: Wednesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (First class: November 2, 2005; Last class: May 10, 2006) Instructor: Éva Tömöry & Ilona Sándor Registration fee: $275.00 + textbook Beginner: This course is for students who have a basic knowledge of Hungarian (vocabulary of 50-100 words ore more) and who wish to obtain a stronger foundation for further language development. The beginner Hungarian language course includes the four skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing with a balance between communicative activities and grammar practice. Emphasis will be placed on proper pronunciation of the spoken language; ability to communicate in most familiar situations; thorough grammar coverage and essential vocabulary. The course will also provide the learners with some background information about Hungary and the Hungarians. Schedule: Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (First class: November 3, 2005; Last class: May 11, 2006) Instructor: Katalin Bagi Registration fee: $275.00 + textbook Intermediate (NOT offered in 2005/2006) This course is for more advanced students who can already form basic sentences in Hungarian, and who wish to further develop their vocabulary and language skills. The intermediate Hungarian language course targets language learning based on learner-centered communicative approach. Although grammar teaching constitutes a vital part of the lessons, greater emphasis will be placed on oral communication practicing everyday used expressions. This course will offer a variety of topics relevant to the learners' lives.   Location: All courses are held at the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church, School Building - 432 Sheppard Avenue East, North York (close to the Bayview stop on the Sheppard subway line) Registration: Registration is now closed for the 2005/2005 session. If you would like more information, or would like to get on our mailing list for the 2006/2007 session, please contact Andrea Perlaky at (416) 383-0652 or by email at School@HeliconSociety.com   Hungarian Language Proficiency Exam in Toronto In 2004, Hungary joined the European Union, making Hungarian an officially recognized language in the European Union. Foreigners wishing to work or study in Hungary often have to prove their Hungarian language proficiency in order to obtain work or gain acceptance into their program of study. Such proof can be obtained by taking the Hungarian Language Proficiency Exam administered jointly by the Centre for Foreign Languages (ITK) of the Eötvös Loránd University of Budapest and the Hungarian Helicon Society in Toronto. This examination was accredited by the Government of Hungary in 1999 and is therefore officially recognized. For further information about the exam, visit www.itk.hu. The ITK was established in 1967. Since January 1, 2000, the ITK offers the Hungarian monolingual language proficiency exams in its Budapest headquarters, as well as several other exam centres throughout Hungary. The ITK has been offering Hungarian language proficiency exams jointly with the Hungarian Helicon Society in Toronto since 2003. The exam is administered on four levels, each available in written form, oral, or both:  Basic Level (Belépõ szint)*  Pre-Intermediate Level (Alapfok)  Intermediate Level (Középfok)  Advanced Level (Felsõfok)  *  Please note that the Basic level is not accredited by the Hungarian Government, but changes are expected in this regard in the near future.  Applicants for the examination must be 14 years of age or older. This year, the exams will be held in Toronto on Sunday, April 30, 2006 in the afternoon, in the school building of the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church (432 Sheppard Avenue East). The examination fees are as follows:  Examination Type: Oral (A) Written (B) Complete (C) Basic $35.00 $35.00 $70.00 Pre-Intermediate $50.00 $50.00 $100.00 Intermediate $65.00 $80.00 $145.00 Advanced $80.00 $95.00 $175.00  Click HERE to download the exam registration form.  For further information about the exam in Toronto, please contact: Andrea Perlaky:          (416) 383-0652 Margit Lovrics:           (416) 447-3247  or send us an email to:  info@heliconsociety.com   Helicon Scholarships at the University of Toronto  The Hungarian Helicon Foundation was established in 1987 with the purpose of supporting education. In light of this mandate. The Foundation established scholarships at the University of Toronto to benefit students of Hungarian origin and/or students whose educational endeavors focus on Hungarian-related topics. The Foundation offers three scholarships: Hungarian Helicon Award - Undergraduate Scholarship at Trinity College, University of Toronto This scholarship is awarded to a full-time student of Hungarian background, or demonstrating interest and desire to actively participate in the Toronto Hungarian community’s endeavors, who is registered in any undergraduate program at the University of Toronto and who undertakes as part of his/her studies at least two courses in the field of Hungarian or International Studies related to Hungary. The selection is based on the student’s record of academic excellence, including the Hungarian studies portion, and financial need. Applications should be made to Trinity College, The Bursar, 6 Hoskin Avenue, Toronto. Award value is up to $3,000. Hungarian Helicon Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship at Innis College, University of Toronto This scholarship is awarded to a full-time student in any college who has successfully completed at least 4.0 full academic courses and is returning to full-time undergraduate studies at U of T. This award is based on financial need, academic merit and an original work which stresses Hungarian themes (i.e. Hungarian cinema, history, literature, urban economics, geography, sociology, or environmental issues, etc.). Applications should be made to Innis College, The Principal, 2 Sussex Avenue, Toronto. Award value is up to $3,000. Hungarian Helicon Foundation (Ontario) Graduate Award at the University of Toronto This scholarship is awarded to a full-time student in either a master’s or doctoral program in any University of Toronto graduate department, who is either pursuing studies in a field related to Hungarian studies or who, as part of their graduate program in another field, undertakes at least two courses in Hungarian or International Studies related to Hungary. The selection is based on the student’s record of academic excellence and financial need. Applications should be made to the Hungarian Helicon Graduate Award Selection Committee at the School of Graduate Studies, 63 St. George Street, Toronto. Award value is determined annually based on the income of the endowment. For more information about these scholarships, please contact the University or the registrars of the Colleges listed above, or Dr. Kálmán Czeglédy, Chairman of the Hungarian Helicon Foundation, at (416) 922-4844.