About Me

In a few days’ time, I’ll turn 55. This is not an achievement, so I’m not bragging; it’s a sheer and painful fact. Nevertheless, as several of my peers have left us far too soon, I must consider myself lucky to be still kicking about.

Anyway, let’s not dwell on my age, but rather focus on who I am and why I feel the need to write - and why I do so in English. 

The beginning

I could start, of course, open this monologue with a bleak account of my childhood or the lack of privilege that hindered my studies. However, this isn’t exactly a terrific way to introduce myself, innit? Let’s correct this flaw in this wonky foreword and say: I’m a lifelong autodidact. Well, not entirely, but close. I’ve spent the last twenty-seven years developing web applications, and in the meantime, I’ve been learning this fascinating language called English - British English, to be precise. 

My first encounter was around 1991, when I first saw Monty Python’s Flying Circus with Hungarian subtitles. I was instantly blown away as British humour completely swept me off my feet. Those unexpected puns and surreal twists make me laugh even today - whether it’s the Dirty Hungarian Phrasebook, Dead Parrot, or a figurine penguin exploding on the telly and making sense of the loud scream, “Burma!”. 

And, mind you, this was just the beginning, the warm-up for a smashing journey. The then-avid learner became a hardcore British sitcom and series consumer, which completely reshaped my intention to learn the language. Lovely-jubly, if you know what I mean. This enthusiasm became a passion that propelled me toward a rather brave and as unexpected endeavour as Johan Gambolputty’s full name: the CELTA course.

I can almost hear the loud Victor Meldrew-like "I don't believe it!" in the reader’s head as they try to fathom why a Hungarian would like to take on such a challenge without ever having lived in an English-speaking country. Well, I could answer with the old line, “I was young and needed the money”, but neither is true. I did it simply because I was fed up with IT and thought I could do something completely different. (Perhaps, I, too, am a man with three buttocks?) So, there I was, with a B1 level at best, but equipped with enough bravery - foolhardiness, I would call it today - for an entire regiment. I was going to be an English teacher. Not a teacher from England, mind you, but someone who teaches English. I’m glad I could clarify that.

The day my bookshelf became a linguist’s paradise

After the idea was born and me wee mind began to come to terms with it, it was high time I took the appropriate steps to realise that dream. And it was precisely the moment when my budget started to feel how much language books cost. I spent an enormous amount of money on books and an equally humongous amount of time spent on self-education. Probably not the best basis, but I had high hopes. As time spent on learning began to accumulate and the number of unread books started to converge towards zero, I knew I couldn’t ignore the wind of change anymore. 

My teachers

This is the section where I contradict my previous statement about being a lifelong autodidact. Before the first CELTA course attempt, I took lessons to improve my English. First, I met a brilliant linguist, Ashley, whose linguistic repertoire was truly amazing. She was not only a linguist and an avid language learner, but also a CELTA trainer and Cambridge examiner. She often referred to herself as a grammar-stickler (well, actually, she used a stronger expression here, but I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings with it). I loved her classes, which, sadly, ended due to our schedule and the time differences between our countries. 

When I felt that I was ready to take on CELTA again, I decided to take lessons to get back in the saddle, so I looked for another teacher. After a few weeks of tedious quest, I found Charlette, another astonishing teacher. She not only prepared me for the course but also offered me proofreading as well. Her lessons were absolutely inspiring and helped me get the much-needed confidence.

A quick fast-forward to today: I must also mention Joanna, a CELTA-qualified, absolutely amazing English teacher from Britain, whom I met a few weeks ago and have taken a couple of lessons to polish and improve my English. 

The challenge that shocked my world

I’ll never forget that late October day when my second attempt to complete the CELTA course began. My first venture was unexpectedly thwarted by COVID-19 and what it imposed on the family. A couple of elderly relatives battling dementia passed away, marking that period one of the most challenging ones in our lives. Nevertheless, let’s direct our focus back on the subsequent try, shall we? So, there I was with remarkable instructors, a group of native speakers and those peers who had already spent a considerable amount of time somewhere out in the British Empire’s back of beyond. All confident with their English, but me having that pesky I-don’t-belong-here feeling. Eventually, the entire course was a blast. I enjoyed every single bit of it. However, had it not been for the safety net Charlette provided by proofreading my assignments, my confidence would never have matched my eagerness, not to mention my success.

My plan

Completing a CELTA course doesn’t mean the end of my English-learning journey. On the contrary, I also want to take a presumptuous step and prepare myself for and take a C2 exam in 2027. 

I can almost hear the reader’s astonishment echoing around in their head: “Why on earth would a Hun pluck up the courage and expose himself to such challenges? And why does he think he can successfully complete such an exam without having been to or lived in an English-speaking country? (With such low self-estimation and exposure to the language.) 

Well, I think it stems from the proverb - Fortune favours the bold; and let’s face it, huns are bold, aren’t they? And as a Hun, I suppose I am too. We even survived the tobacconist incident with a dodgy phrasebook, and my CELTA success can also be a testament to our bravery. As a matter of fact, my real intention is to train my brain, which at the age of 55 is a preventive measure to keep my sanity. If that’s possible. But, seriously and most importantly, I definitely want to be able to reach a level not for the certificate but for the knowledge and to be able to read English texts - books, news, etc. - without using the dictionary, or watch series without having to deduce the meaning of unknown words and expressions. I’m well aware of what this decision entails and how much dedication it requires. But I’m ready to take this challenge. When, if not now, wouldn’t you agree?


Thank you very much for bearing with me and reading this section. I hope I’m not coming across as a preposterous hun who has far-fetched ideas and annoying stories. My goal with this blog is to practice and hone my English, and, maybe share some insights on how my journey toward C2 pans out.