It's kind of sad though that Russian language instruction was so unpopular. I would have thought that exposure to that velikii, moguchii language would have been about the only positive side effect of Soviet occupation. And I can't help but wonder if these years were when Hungarians lost interest in all foreign languages. In the U.S., we have a stereotype of Hungarians as all speaking half a dozen languages impeccably. But I recently read an article that claimed an EU study found that Hungarians are near the bottom in terms of foreign language proficiency in the EU. A shocking 71% don't speak any foreign language (compared to Europeans overall, 56% of whom say they're bilingual and 28% trilingual). The same report found that only 2% of Hungarians admit they speak Russian, compared to 16 and 17% for English and German, respectively.
PS The watch anecdotes were hilarious.
Here my note on not generalising these anecdotes should apply: I don't know how important a factor Russian language instruction was overall. My relative is the only of two sources I read emphasizing this: it wasn't among the students' 16-pont demand, I only saw it mentioned as one of Kádár's initial offers when trying to gain power. On the other hand, I take the main reason behind the rejection was that it was compulsory yet of no practical benefit for most.
we have a stereotype of Hungarians as all speaking half a dozen languages impeccably
That's because no one can talk Hungarian :-)
I recently read an article that claimed an EU study found that Hungarians are near the bottom in terms of foreign language proficiency in the EU
These polls (it's a regularly repeated EU poll) were discussed before on ET, for example here. Some points to alter your interpretation of them:
Which says something nice about Hungarian humility! But I think you're right. I laughed out loud when I read in the same report that over 50% of Europeans believe they speak English "fluently." Yes, and Dear Leader Bush is secretly a major authority on Cervantes!
The latest Eurobarometer poll shows 25% German-speakers, 23% English-speakers, 8% Russian-speakers, 3% Romanian-speakers, and 2% of Slovakian, French and Italian speakers; and 42% claim at least one language. (It also shows 20% who speak at least three different foreign languages, that is among the best figures for countries not language-diverse like Belgium.) *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
By the way, this has to be the study the article I read is referring to but, as you point out, a lot of the figures here are different. Good to get it straight from the source.
