AN12000BA; AN2200OMA British Civilization (BA: First Year; OMA)
The course has a double aim. First, to introduce students to British History and Civilization and, second, to improve the students' language skills. In each seminar a relatively short text is read and discussed which gives the students some idea of various aspects of life in modern Britain. The discussions are accompanied by comprehension questions and exercises on the given texts. Audio-visual aids and newspaper articles selected by the seminar leader are also used. Besides the usual civilization topics (national symbols and identity, political institutions, education, religion, the Welfare State, the Royal Family, race relations, etc.) there is a strong emphasis on post-war political history as well.
AN22006BA The History of the British Isles (BA: First Year; OMA)
The main aim of this course is to outline the history of conquest and settlement in Britain and to show how the basic ingredients of Britain were put together, from which, by the 14th century, nations were beginning to emerge. The first seminars of the course explain how England came to be unified and integrated and what relationships it had with Scotland, Ireland and Wales up to the end of the 16th century. In the second half of the course we cover the most important events and developments in Britain's history from 1603 to World War I.
AN20116BA Intercultural Topics in Translation (BA specialization)
The aim of this course is (1) to introduce students to various topics on European, British and Hungarian history, politics and culture that are likely to emerge in translating to and from English; (2) to offer them hands-on practice in acquiring and using crucial advanced vocabulary (terms, collocations, idioms, etc.) as well as discourse features of contemporary English in order to develop their skills in discussing or debating these topics in class; and (3) to develop students’ translation skills and to familiarize them with the special language of history, politics and the European Union. Students are provided with a variety of texts in both English and Hungarian on history, economics, politics and EU-related affairs.
AN32007BA Topics in British History (BA: Third Year)
The aim of this course is to explore a variety of topics in British and world history in details, without covering whole periods. There is special emphasis on the early modern period, the discussion of the achievements of outstanding historical figures and on exploring rarely covered topics.
List of topics:
The Reformation in Scotland; The Sickly Stuarts—The Medical Downfall of a Dynasty; The Grand Remonstrance, 1641; Ireland before and at the Time of the Anglo-Dutch Revolution; The Elephant and the Whale, 1789-1815; The Indian Mutiny; Anglo-Portuguese Relations; The Decline of British Naval Power—The Years of Decay (1919-39); The End of the European Empires; William Wilberforce’s Struggle Against the Slave Trade; Britain and the American Revolution; Britain and Belgium; Anglo-French and Anglo-Dutch Relations during the Reign of Charles II—the Third Anglo-Dutch War and its Consequences; W. S. L. Churchill's Political Career; The Attlee Governments
AN32008BA12 Major Figures in British History (BA: Third Year)
The course focuses on British domestic affairs, foreign policy and international politics between the 9th and the early 20th century. It is a survey and assessment of the policies and achievements of some outstanding rulers, national leaders, freedom fighters, generals and Prime Ministers.
List of topics:
King Alfred; William Wallace and Robert Bruce; Oliver Cromwell; William of Orange; The Duke of Marlborough and George Stepney; Joseph Chamberlain; Lloyd George; Ramsay MacDonald and the first Labour Government; Elizabeth I—religious and foreign policy; Charles II; James II and William of Orange; George III—the first ten years; Lord Castlereagh and George Canning—Tory foreign policy after 1815; Henry Palmerston; Benjamin Disraeli; John Major and Tony Blair
AN32007BA07 British Generals Who Shaped the History of the World (BA: Third Year--British studies track)
The primary aim of the course is to examine the impact on the wider world of some outstanding British military figures. What the chosen generals had in common was responsibility to a political master who could dismiss them. This is the unifying theme of the course. Figures who combined military with supreme political or dynastic power are not dealt with. The discussions focus on the great events these military figures participated in, the political backgrounds to those events, as well as the consequences and legacy of the generals’ deeds.
AN2I08MA Documents in British History (British MA)
The aim of this course is to use primary sources--drawn from memoirs, diaries, letters, statues, treaties, etc.--as starting points in the discussion of various topics in British history. The topics covered are always different. There is special emphasis on the development of students’ ability to acquire information from historical sources and to extrapolate from historical evidence.
AN24513 Britain and Europe in the 19th Century (British MA)
The 19th century was a highly colourful period of human development. The tempo of change was far greater than that of any other period of history, its development more complex and the amount of recorded evidence overwhelming. This century, therefore, presents its own peculiar difficulties to both the teacher and the students. The aim of this course is to make the process of change intelligible. Students have the opportunity to discuss the similarities and differences between Britain's 19th-century development and those of the various European powers and minor states.
AN2102MA Britain and the World in the Twentieth Century (British MA)
The primary aim of this course is to make the period intelligible by exploring fundamental questions. There is strong emphasis on the non-European world (the Middle East, China, Latin America), especially as far as the post-1945 era is concerned. In Europe the main focus is on the first half of the century, mainly the years from 1919 to 1945, one of the most horrifying and dramatic periods of all European history beginning with the high hopes of the League of Nations and ending with mindless destruction.
AN2108MA Reading A. J. P. Taylor's History Essays (British MA)
The aim of this course is to read, analyse and elaborate on A. J. P. Taylor’s history essays. Taylor (1906-1990) is considered to be “the 20th century’s most industrious history man”, “the first TV don”, a “troublemaker”, and the “People’s Historian” who was determined to bring history to everyone. His history essays are especially suitable for seminar use. Most of them are not very long; they are readable, lucid, original, irreverent and witty. This course will focus on Taylor’s essays on English political personages and events and those on European history.
BT FTF AN1221 Translating Social Sciences-Társadalomtudományi szakfordítás (MA in Translation)
Az angolról magyar nyelvre (C-A) történő fordítás kérdéseivel foglalkozó kurzuson a hallgatók a különböző szakterületen előforduló társadalomtudományi szövegtípusokhoz tartozó szövegek fordítását gyakorolják, illetve a fordítandó és a fordított szövegek tartalmi, nyelvi és fordítástechnikai elemzését tanulmányozzák. A lefordítandó szövegek elsősorban történettudományi, politikai, gazdasági, vallási és kultúratudományi szakterületekről származnak.
AN51100MAL Teaching British Literature, Culture and Society
MA in English teacher training (part-time)
The aim of this course is to introduce students to various aspects of contemporary Britain, to enable them to observe differences and similarities between the civilizations and cultures of Britain and those of Hungary, and to offer a critical survey of the major political, economic, social and cultural institutions of the present United Kingdom. Since language is rooted in the culture, customs and beliefs of the people, the teaching of a language cannot be separated from the teaching of a particular culture. Teachers of English are also expected to be cultural instructors. This course will provide students with skills that will help them to become sensitive and critical observers of British culture and society as well as their own.
Rarely taught courses:
AN261b Britain in the Eighteenth Century
As a result of the supposed greater interest and importance of the 17th and 19th centuries, the 18th century has been neglected. This is curious as the 18th century is both interesting on its own terms and important in such crucial matters as constitutional and economic developments, imperial history or the forging of British national identity. There is an emphasis in this course on each of these matters as well as on parliamentary politics, religion, reform, the debate on the 1760s, and developments in Scotland and Ireland.
AN24514 Early Modern British History and Political Thought
The course allows students--who already have some basic knowledge of early modern English and British history--to acquire a more comprehensive understanding of the complicated constitutional and religious issues of the period. Students are familiarised with the ideas of the major political theorists (Hooker, Harrington, Locke, Bolingbroke, Hume, Burke, etc.). They have the opportunity to discuss how political ideas and historical events relate to each other.
AN24520 Topics in Scottish History
he aim of this course is to trace Scotland's history and Anglo-Scottish relations from the earliest times to the modern period. There is strong emphasis on important turning points like the Scottish War of Independence or the Union of 1707.