During the programme
You learn what it is to be a teacher and how to teach French language and culture to young people, with a work placement at a training school from year one.
What will you do?
Our Teacher Education in French programme covers five disciplines:
- The French language: Literature, grammar, linguistics and the French-speaking world
- Methodology: acquiring a second language
- Research: practice-based research at a school
- Profession: pedagogics, child development, developmental psychology
- Internship/work placement
During the time you'll spend in France you will put your language skills further into practice.
Programme content
Many of your classes will be taught in French, so your fluency and understanding of the language will increase quickly. From early on you'll know what it's like to be a teacher, as you will be in front of a classroom from November onwards! During an excursion to France you will be able to use your newly-improved language skills.
- Language skills (Communication orale, Communication écrite)
- Linguistics, phonetics and grammar (Fonctionnement de la langue)
- Culture (Le monde francophone)
- History & Literature (Histoire & Littérature)
Professional Development 1A is taught in periods A and B. During this semester, you attend a weekly group meeting where you receive practical study advice, as well as assistance in looking for a training school. In Period B you actually start practice teaching.
During Professional Development 1B you learn and work as a teacher or teaching assistant at a training school. You work according to a schedule on learning tasks formulated by you and applicable to the school you intern at. You support the teaching staff and may occasionally teach part of a class.
What should you know about teaching a language in a school environment? How do you prepare a lesson, how do you execute your lesson and how do you evaluate the process? This course offers a (renewed) introduction to Dutch secondary and vocational education. Skills training in how to run a class smoothly is also part of the course.
Using a variety of sources, such as film, literature and research data, you study your pupils' development. How do you take the adolescent brain into account in the classroom and how can you explain certain behaviours?
This courses centres on the many ways of learning and how to recognise these in your teaching practice. You learn about student motivation and other aspects of the teacher-student relationship.
A good command of French language skills doesn’t yet make you a great French teacher. That is why this course focuses on teaching methodology and language acquirement. You learn how to make didactic choices when preparing a lessen and how to give constructive feedback to your fellow students.
By now, you've found out what kind of teacher you want to be and which school type suits you. You teach one day a week and study teaching methodology. By the end of year 2, you choose at which Dutch school type you want to teach.
From year 3, you spend two days a week in front of the classroom. You learn about language learning in practice and how you can help your students master the French language.
Your final year focuses on completing your degree. About half of your time is spent doing an internship at a Dutch secondary school, where you teach your own classes and undertake a research project for the school, supported by us and your school supervisor. The other semester is free for you to fill in, for instance by doing a minor.
More information
Are you ambitious? Do you want more from your degree? You can follow our Honours programme alongside your regular coursework. Once you have completed your coursework and a final graduation project, you will be awarded the Honours Certificate.
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.
During HU's Teacher Education in French programme you will encounter the following teaching methods:
- Lecture
- Tutorials
- Project groups
- Internship
- Simulation
- Skills training
- Consultation and discussions
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.
At the end of your first year you receive a binding recommendation on whether you may continue your studies with us. To continue your course, you need to have earned at least 50 out of the possible 60 ECTS. If you fail to do so, you will be asked to leave the programme.
You will work in learning teams: small groups of students who learn together to build their knowledge and skills collectively and individually. A learning team consists of five to seven students, guided by a professional development coach and lecturers.
Talented and ambitious students can opt for a five-year course that leads to a double Bachelor’s degree: one in French and one in another language. You will have an additional workload of around eight to ten hours a week.
As our Teacher Education in French programme trains you to become a teacher, internships at Dutch schools and teaching practice are a key part of the programme from day one.
Why choose HU?
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You are taught in French
Having your classes in French means you are immersed in the language from the start, allowing you to become fluent and confident quickly.
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Double degree
It is possible to obtain a double degree, making you qualified to teach two languages and boosting your prospects of finding a teaching position.
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Teaching practice is at the heart of the programme
Since HU places a strong emphasis on practice, you will be able to use what you've learnt straight away.