During the programme
You learn what it is to be a teacher and how to teach English language and literature to young people, with a work placement at a training school starting halfway through your first year.
Content of the Teacher Education in English programme
Teacher Education in English covers three components:
- The English Language – Grammar, Phonetics, Literature and such
- Methodological Practice – How to teach a second language through the communicative approach
- Pedagogical Practice – the ess ence of being a teacher: child development psychology and such
As part of these components you will also do a 3,5 year internship and engage in practical research at your internship school.
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.
In this course you identify, explain and form opinions on historical and current phenomena in the United Kingdom and apply this knowledge to field research.
By reading short stories you learn about the elements of fiction and how to analyse a story.
In this course you learn about English grammar and how to integrate grammar in your own lessons.
This is the first module in the Methodological Practice Programme for the Modern Foreign Languages (MFL): German, English, French, Spanish. Communication lies at the heart of Language Teaching and Learning, because as a Foreign Language teacher you help your learners communicate in the target language; reading, listening, writing, speaking. In this module you learn how to design and teach a communicative lesson.
How do you ensure that the lesson fits with your learners’ world? How do you engage your learners? How do you ensure that your lesson activities are pitched at the right level? How do you stimulate your learners’ awareness of cultural customs of the English, French, German, Spanish speaking world? What motivating digital learning tools do you apply?
In this module, you will get familiar with different types of schools and forms of education. You will explore whether being a teacher suits you by means of an internship or (practical) assignments. You will be part of a learning team where you collaborate with fellow students under the supervision of a learning team coach.
This is the first module in the Pedagogical Practice Programme. While teaching at your internship you will be dealing with adolescents on a daily basis. Good interaction with your learners is the basis for teaching. In order to be able to make contact, it is important that you understand how adolescents develop, what role education plays in this development, what interests adolescents, what motivates them and how they behave in groups.
Making contact often starts when the pupils enter the room where you are teaching. How do you introduce yourself, how do you fulfil your role as host and pedagogue, how do you make small talk with pupils and how do you put insecure pupils at ease?
In this course you learn more about phonetics which will improve your and your students’ pronunciation.
You will work on your speaking and conversational skills and pronunciation via different drama techniques. When you have completed this course, you have reached level C1 of the CEFR.
In this course you learn how to write a structured essay, how to cite sources and how to give constructive feedback on writing exercises.
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.
Teacher Education in English
Study in Figures Teacher Education in English. Source: studiekeuze123.nl
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.
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. For example, one in German and one in English. You will have an additional workload of around eight to ten hours a week.
Contact hours per week: average 16 in year 1 and 12 from year 2 onwards.
Hours of self-study per week: 24 hours in year 1 and 28 hours from year 2 onwards
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.
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 more or less twelve students, guided by a coach and lecturers.
As our Teacher Education in English programme trains you to become a teacher, work placements and teaching practice are a key part of the programme from day one.
"The programme allows for a lot of practical experience, you are assigned to an internship already in your first year and get to observe real-life lessons."
Aleksandra Kostrzewa (20) Student Teacher Education in English and French (double degree)
"The programme allows for a lot of practical experience, you are assigned to an internship already in your first year and get to observe real-life lessons."
Aleksandra Kostrzewa (20)Student Teacher Education in English and French (double degree)
I am currently enrolled in the Teacher Education in English and French double degree programme. I chose this programme because I have a passion for languages and teaching. The regular programme is fairly easy to follow, therefore I wanted to take on a bigger workload and decided to sign up for the double degree. I find that the programme suits me well, and the practical experience is valuable for developing my teaching skills.
What I found to be a pleasant surprise was the number of people assigned to help students out with technical issues and support them as they progress with their studies. There are 2 people who are specifically assigned to each class whose role is to support them and provide guidance, but apart from that, each teacher is very helpful with any arising issues. Additionally, the programme allows for a lot of practical experience, you are assigned to an internship already in your first year and get to observe real-life lessons.
After graduation, I plan on pursuing a career in teaching with the prospect of becoming a school director. On the back burner I am keeping the idea of being a journalist. I am thinking of doing my minor and master’s in that field to feel it out. I don’t want to limit myself to just one career choice, but it’s good to have a safety net – especially when you are rather passionate about that safety net.
"The lessons adequately prepare you for real-life situations that you might encounter as a teacher"
Maria Popescu (Romania) Second year student
"The lessons adequately prepare you for real-life situations that you might encounter as a teacher"
Maria Popescu (Romania)Second year student
I am currently in my second year of Teacher Education in English: a programme that has not only improved my English language skills tremendously, but has also provided me with opportunities for personal development and a positive learning experience. The teachers are there to guide you through each step of the way, as well as help you integrate into and learn about the Dutch school system. Additionally, the lessons adequately prepare you for real-life situations that you might encounter as a teacher. Being part of such a culturally diverse class has given me a much bigger appreciation of multiculturalism. Also, it has offered me insight into how education manifests itself around the world. All in all, this has proven to be a wonderful experience so far. I am looking forward to the rest of the programme and the experiences and learning opportunities that come with it!
New teacher Education programmes in French and Spanish
Are you excited about education? Do you enjoy working with children and young adults? Our language teaching programmes could be just for you. Currently HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht offers two teaching education programmes in English or German to international students.
Starting from the 1st of September 2019, HU will offer Teacher Education in Spanish and French as well. Beside courses in French/ Spanish linguistics, second language acquisition and language proficiency, you will be trained in the methodology of teaching. These subjects will be offered in English.
All teacher education programmes are four-year programmes in an international setting. We want to inspire you to become a great teacher and an inspiration to your students. Within two months of studying you will be in a school or college to start your work placement as a part of your training. You will spend ten weeks doing a work placement abroad as well.
With our teaching degree you can become a teacher in English, German, French or Spanish as a second language in the lower years of Dutch secondary education, or at vocational or language schools. It is also possible to do a double-degree in two of these languages. Graduating with two degrees gives you an edge over other job candidates, boosting your prospects of finding a teaching position.
Also starting in September 2019, HU will offer two new master programmes: Master of Education in English and Master of Education in German. More information about the new programmes will soon be launched on our website.
Continue here for more information about Teacher Education in English or Teacher Education in German
Why study Teacher in English at HU?
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The English-language programme
Our programme immerses you in the English language from day one, so your confidence will grow if you are not a native speaker.
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Double Degree
Graduating with two degrees gives you an edge over other job candidates, boosting your prospects of finding a teaching position. It also makes you more flexible as a teacher.
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Career perspective
English is a global language and the demand for English teachers is high - in the Netherlands and abroad.
