From learning French in Geneva to speaking Hungarian in Budapest, Milena shares how immersive lessons, inspiring teachers and family learning at Berlitz built confidence, real communication skills and lasting motivation.
My experience with Berlitz started in 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland. That was the moment I realized that if I wanted to live there long term, I needed to learn French. Later, our family’s plans changed, and we moved to another country for work. I don’t remember exactly how many years I studied French, but I clearly remember how positive the experience was.
I joined a small group of two or three students and worked with three different teachers – I can even recall one of their names. Madame Chevall left a particularly strong impression on me. We went to the cinema together, visited shops, went to the market, and our instructor encouraged us to use the language in real-life situations. It was difficult and sometimes even a little scary, but in the end, it was an incredibly valuable experience.
I truly enjoyed my time there – learning that way was both engaging and effective.
In 2022, we moved to Budapest, as half of my family is Hungarian. This was when I decided to start learning the language.
I realized how important it was to be able to communicate with my children’s teachers and with other parents at school.
I started with private lessons, where I was the only student. My teachers were Éva néni and another very kind young teacher, Bea.
The most challenging part of learning Hungarian for me is how unique it is. At first, I tried to find similarities with other languages I know – familiar words or structures that could help me memorize things. My mother tongue is Kabardian, I am fluent in Russian, and I speak English and French – but this time, my strategy didn’t work. The logic and structure of Hungarian are completely different from any of these languages.
Eventually, however, everything started to come together. Now my favourite part is using the language and speaking Hungarian with native speakers.
I have experience with both private and group lessons, but I have to say that I enjoyed group classes more. A bit of friendly competition motivates me and helps me progress faster – and I think many people can relate to that 😊
Using the Berlitz Method was not easy at the beginning, but that is always the case when learning a new language. You need time to adapt to a new teacher and a new way of learning. After a few lessons, however, everything becomes natural.
What I appreciate most about the method is how quickly it activates your comprehension skills. Sooner or later, you start thinking in the target language – and you realize that this is not confusion, but success. From that point on, using the language with others feels natural.
I also wanted my children to learn English. My six-year-old daughter and my nine-year-old son both joined group classes, and we are very satisfied with their progress 😊
I believe learning is often easier for children because they don’t have fixed ideas about how languages should work. They absorb everything like sponges. They trust their teacher – the “magical person” who has the knowledge they want to gain.
Their current instructor, Hikaru, is especially inspiring. The children truly look up to him and hold him in very high regard.
