During the programme
You learn what it is to be a teacher and how to teach Spanish language and literature to young people, with a work placement at a training school from year one.
Content of the Teacher Education in Spanish programme
Our Teacher Education in Spanish programme covers five disciplines:
- The Spanish language: Literature, grammar, linguistics and the Spanish-speaking world
- Methodology: acquiring a second language
- Research: practice-based research at a school
- Profession: pedagogics, child development, developmental psychology
- Internship/work placement
You will regularly spend time in a Spanish-speaking environment to further improve your language skills.
Many of your classes will be taught in Spanish, 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 Spain you will be able to use your newly-improved language skills.
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.
This course centres on enhancing your language skills; speaking, reading, listening and writing Spanish. We work with everyday situations and you learn about Spanish-language culture too.
This course aims to further enhance your Spanish language skills.
The course centres on grammar and vocabulary. For example, you practice sentence analysis in Spanish, and how to teach it.
Learning the Spanish language is one thing, but what do you know about Spanish culture and history? This course delivers subjects such as Spanish politics, geography, economy, society and art.
This course focuses on teaching methodology and language acquirement. You learn how to make didactic choices when preparing a lesson by analysing course materials and applying educational theories. All language skills play a role in this course: speaking, reading, listening and writing.
This course deepens your knowledge of the Spanish language. You work on grammar, vocabulary, linguistics and error analysis.
During this course you are introduced to the main Spanish-language authors from the medieval period up to the 19th century. You are also taught how you can use Spanish literature in your language lessons.
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.
In your second year you also deepen your knowledge about Spanish language and culture by spending a few months in Spain or South America.
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 Spanish 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.
Want to know more about this programme?
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 Spanish 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 will receive study advice. For example whether the programme is suitable for you or not, or that you may need to draw up a study plan with the study career counsellor. This advice is not binding. Of course, we assume that you will weigh the advice carefully and take it into account in your choice of study.
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 Spanish and one in another language. You will have an additional workload of around eight to ten hours a week.
As our Teacher Education in Spanish 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 study Teacher in Spanish at HU?
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You are taught in Spanish
Having your classes taught in Spanish 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.
