During the programme
You learn what being a teacher and teaching English is all about, with practice teaching in secondary education from year one.
What will you do?
Our Teacher Education in English covers five disciplines:
- The English language: Literature, grammar, linguistics and the English-speaking world
- Methodology: acquiring a second language
- Research: practice-based research at a school
- Profession: pedagogics, child development, development psychology
- Internship/work placement
All of our students spend some time abroad to improve their language skills. As a part-time student, this might mean you get to do this during your summer break.
Study content
Your first year is focused on the teaching profession, and it includes two projects on themes relating to the English language and culture as part of your preparation for a study trip to Britain.
The English Language
What are your beliefs on how to educate students? While this is essentially a skills course, focused on reading, listening, presentation skills and vocabulary, the theme of the course is education throughout the world, with a special emphasis on English-speaking countries.
In the Literature I course you will read predominantly American and British short stories. The main point of reading these stories will be to familiarise yourself with the elements of fiction.
In the course Writing Toolbox you will learn how to set up an argumentative essay and correctly use and incorporate sources to back up your own argumentation. You will also develop your ICT skills.
There are two main topics. Grammar: learning the different word classes and the rules for them and phonetics: learning the different sounds of English and how these are formed in your mouth. The third part of this course is speaking, in which you can put what you learned in grammar and phonetics into practice.
More on grammar, phonetics and speaking. This time in the context of Second Language Acquisition. This is of course what you are dealing with more directly, both as a student perfecting your English and as a future teacher of English as a second language.
This language was, in a large part, made in Britain. We will scratch the surface of centuries of history and the ever-changing cultural values that continue to shape these islands but by reading your book, conducting research and traveling abroad you will have the opportunity to absorb yourself in all things Britain.
Methodology
In this course you will be looking at different methods for language teaching. You will also discover that drama activities provide opportunities to develop multiple skills and learn to design communicative and authentic activities.
Pedagogics
In this course you will become acquainted with a number of aspects of the Dutch education system and the preparation, implementation and evaluation of a lesson. You will get training in skills such as presentation, voice usage, attitude and maintaining order.
The theme of this course is 'developments in the adolescence stage'. You will be learning about external influences, personality and identity development, cognitive and moral development to name but a few topics, as well as how group processes work.
Learning and motivation are inextricably bound up with each other. In this course you will look at what it is to learn, how we learn and how students can take pedagogical and didactic steps to influence motivation.
Professional Development
During these sessions you will be prepared for your work placement at a school which for full time students will start after two months and for part time students after five months. You will learn techniques of observation and class management and share your experiences with your peers.
During the main phase of the programme you will study literature (including youth literature), teaching methodology, British and American culture, dialectology, linguistics, second language acquisition and language proficiency.
You will spend ten weeks doing a work placement abroad to develop your English language proficiency.
During the third year of the Teacher Education in English programme, you continue to deepen your knowledge, and undertake further internships. You are now able to design a lesson plan and teach a class on your own, getting feedback from your school supervisor.
During the final phase, you teach (almost) completely independently. Half of your time is devoted to your work placement at a school, having regular teaching duties three days a week, combined with working on a research project for the school. The other half consists of optional subjects, study-work supervision, weekly meetings reflecting on classroom sessions and your experiences at the internship school, as well as preparing for your final assessment.
More information
Unique to this course is that talented and ambitious students can opt for a five-year course that leads to a double Bachelor’s degree: one in German and one in English. You will have an additional workload of around eight to ten hours a week.
From day one, you are allocated a personal study career coach (SCC), who supports you during your time with us. Your SCC helps you with all study-related issues, from time management to study methods and career planning.
Teaching hours per week: 3-4
Contact hours per week: avg 16 (year 1) and 12 (year 2 onwards)
Hours of self-study per week: 24 hours in year 1; 28 hours from year 2 onwards
The programme fully focuses on professional practice supported by theoretical knowledge of e.g. behavioural development, learning styles and developmental theories. You will learn both in theory and in practice, and both offline and online.
Courses conclude with exams, tests, assignments, essays or portfolios. Exams may also be broken down into partial exams (or partial tests). Exams are held at the end of each term and are posted on the examination timetable.
During the programme you work in learning teams: small groups of students who learn and study together: a fun way to get to know people and build language skills too! A team has five to seven students, guided by a coach and lecturers.
As our Teacher Education in English (Part-time) programme trains you to become a teacher, work placements at Dutch schools and teaching practice are a key part of the programme from day one.
"The HUbl course site supplies all the materials and is a fantastic learning tool"
Kevin Grogan (Age 40) First year student
"The HUbl course site supplies all the materials and is a fantastic learning tool"
Kevin Grogan (Age 40)First year student
My first year studying Teacher Education at the HU has been an amazing experience. The content, lectures and support I have received from mentors has been invaluable and the programme thoroughly prepares you for a career in the Dutch education system. There has been opportunities to work on individual assignments as well as group assignments; getting the most from your learning experience and the HUbl course site is a fantastic learning tool supplying all the materials, exercises and course information you need. I've made some amazing friends too!
Why choose HU
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Double Degree English-German Teacher
Graduating with two degrees makes you stand out in the job market, and it makes you more flexible as a teaching professional.
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English in an international environment
You will be surrounded by English, in an international crowd, making you comfortable with the language very quickly.
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Modern campus
The Utrecht Science Park is a university campus located close to the city of Utrecht, with all facilities close together.