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HISTORY OF LANGUAGE LEARNING AT AN EARLY AGE ON NYÍREGYHÁZA
7-18Views:160In our paper, we deal with the significance of learning languages at an early age. While going through the literature of the topic, we draw attention to the importance of age in learning a language, as well as the basic differences between language learning and language acquisition. In the following, we present the options outside the family (such as language schools and family creche 'családi bölcsőde') for learning a language at an early age in Nyíregyháza in 2017. In our research, we also wanted to find out what differences can be seen in terms of the methodology of early foreign language activities in kindergartens/preschools between the activities held during the change of the political regime in Hungary (1989/1990) and today. We chose the interview as a research method because in this way we can get a picture of the foreign language activities in kindergartens/preschools and their first steps in the 1990s when they were first available to children. We made eight interviews in spring 2017, asking kindergarten pedagogues/early childhood educators and language teachers as well as who had held English activities in kindergartens/preschools. Based on the information we received from the informants, we can say that early English activities were available in 23 kindergartens/preschools out of the 34 kindergartens/preschools (68%) operating in Nyíregyháza, Hungary in 2017. In some kindergartens/preschools children can also take part in early French and German activities. We have also realized that the number of those kindergartens/preschools which organize playful foreign language activities on a weekly basis has been increasing since the 1990s. From the recollections of the informants, it has also been revealed to us that during the change of the political system providing personal criteria (that is finding qualified teachers) was the most difficult task. Nowadays, several kindergartens/preschools employ kindergarten pedagogues who are able to take part in the language development of children in a foreign language as they are competent users of it. Playfulness, using audiovisual devices, and a lot of props have been highly important since the very beginning in the kindergartens, and pedagogues have also been doing their best to use and try different methods in order to develop the foreign language competence of children aged 4-7.
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TEACHING GERMAN IN NYÍREGYHÁZA TO STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
69-81Views:196The present paper deals with the issues of teaching a second language to school-aged children with SEN in Nyíregyháza, Hungary. In our research, we made semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions featuring 25 children with Special Educational Needs in grades 7 and 8 in order to gain more information about their opinion and attitudes concerning German lessons at school, which in turn might help to unify the material and/or the methods. We also contacted the children’s parents (25) to fill out a questionnaire about their impressions and opinions with regard to their children’s German learning experience at school. Finally, we asked the two teachers to paint a broader picture of teaching German to children with SEN. The research took place in spring 2020 in Nyíregyháza. We did our research in Viktor Göllesz Vocational School, Skills Development School, Student Hostel, and Integrated Special Educational Methodological Institution as well as in Gusztáv Bárczi Primary School, Skills Development School, Student Hostel, and Integrated Special Educational Methodological Institution. To carry out our research, we asked for the parents’ and the head teachers’ ethical consent. Our experience underlines that all the participants in the teaching process feel that there is a need for unification. It would be much easier for all parties to have a German coursebook written for students aged 13-16 with SEN. Based on the answers of the language teachers, we came to the conclusion that they pay attention to individual development and playful, communicative language teaching, even though it is challenging to teach German to children with SEN, as they often have difficulties in their mother tongue.
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THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HELPING BEHAVIOR AND DEPRESSION IN YOUNG ADULTS
7-19Views:418Background: The concept of' help-seeking behaviour' has gained attention in recent years. Early adults are at risk of developing mental disorders, thus exploring and understanding the background of help-seeking delay is very important. This study focuses on help-seeking intentions among early adults. Methods: The sample of 228 participants (mean age: 22,5 years; SD=3,29) filled out the questionnaires. After answering some demographic questions, respondents filled out the shortened version of the Beck Depression Inventory, the Gotland Male Depression Scale, and the General Help-Seeking Questionnaire (in connection with a personal problem and family problem). Results: Women reported closer potential help providers than men. Women tend to ask for help from intimate partners more frequently than men do. Participants who reported only masculine specific symptoms - which are least likely responses to depression - showed lower rates of help-seeking intentions compared with participants with no depressive symptoms or with classic symptoms of depression. Conclusion: Due to the fact that masculine specific symptoms are usually shown at the beginning of depressive episodes, and go hand in hand with maladaptive coping strategies, professionals have to consider how help-seeking intentions could be increased.
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PATTERNS OF STARTING A FAMILY AMONG YOUTH
31-40Views:127More radical changes can be observed when we examine the demographical characteristics of our country. On the one hand, the number of marriages has reduced since 1990 and the number of singles and divorced have increased. People get married and have children later and the number of births is reduced. In our theme, we examined the attitudes which are related to choosing a partner and having children among the youth (15-19 years old) who live in Nyíregyháza. Our data were compared with the results of the national youth research. Our result shows a definitely pro-marriage and child-centered local, young society. According to our results, most of the respondents prefer having two children. Only some of the respondents (5%) would not like to have a baby. Nowadays most singles imagine that they will get married in the future.
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THE IMPACT OF CONTINUOUS AND DIFFERENTIATED EDUCATION FOR FORMING OF COMMUNITY ATTITUDE IN STUDENTS OF SENIOR CLASSES
7-25Views:122Background and objectives: In longitudinal research (2006–2010) we examined the progression of upper elementary school students’ self-assessment, self-image, attitude toward community, and change in their anxiety level in order to find out to what degree carefully planned and continuously differentiated education influence these traits of students’ behaviour. In this present study, we address the change in their attitude toward the community. Method: We used the measurement tool developed by Hunyadyné and modified by Tóth for measuring the attitude toward the community (Appendix 1). Hypothesis: We assumed that as a result of differentiation the upper elementary school students’ attitude toward community will progress earlier and more effectively in the pilot than the control group (school community, the society; the class’ cohesion force, self-government’s role and competence, the function of public opinion, potential sociometric relation within the class, group activities). Results: The controlled and planned differentiated development made the areas of attitude toward community advance more in the pilot group than in the group going under only scarce differentiated development. We experienced significant differences in the scales of relation to the broader community, group activity, and class cohesion. Conclusions: Results justify that appropriate differentiated development has got an advantageous impact on attitude toward the community.
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POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF THE EFFECTS OF ONLINE AND IN-PERSON INFORMATION PROCESSING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF LANGUAGE SKILLS IN CHILDHOOD
101-110Views:310The following study provides a brief overview of some research findings, both Hungarian and international, that draw attention to the dangers of using digital devices in childhood, particularly to the potential for damage to the nervous system, locomotor, and speech development. In all cases, we seek to support the data with clear explanations, from the standpoint of developmental neurology and language development. As a counterweight to the questions raised, we will present equestrian and storytelling task types that illustrate the essential role of personal presence heard speech, and (mainly outdoor) exercise in the development of children's partial skills, such as speech production, speech perception, and speech comprehension. Each of the cases reported here stems from the experience of our equestrian practice. This awareness-raising study was designed to draw attention to the fact that the optimal timing of children’s encounters with the digital world is still unresolved, and that the marginalization of the off-line world poses more dangers than many people think.
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INTRODUCTION INTO SELECTIVE MUTISM
45-57Views:278Parents, teachers, and often even experts (including psychologists and therapists) are baffled by a mysterious communicative disorder, which is defined by relevant literature as “selective mutism.” Children living with this disorder refuse to speak to anyone (especially in kindergarten and in school), in spite of the fact that their vocal development is unharmed and they communicate with their parents and other family members normally at home. This disorder may not cause problems in kindergarten but all the more so in school. Pedagogues lack any tools for the special treatment of non-speaking children, in order to help them overcome their communicative barriers, and this raises several obstacles in the teaching process. In this paper, the reasons leading to selective mutism are discussed besides the question of whether, in cognizance of the background knowledge, supporting experts (including teachers) can if at all, cooperate successfully in bridging and resolving symptoms.