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
Teacher Education in Spanish covers 3 components:
- The Spanish Language – Grammar, Phonetics, Literature and such.
- Methodological Practice – How to teach a second language through the communicative approach.
- Pedagogical Practice – the essence 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.
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 a short stay in Spain you will be able to use your newly-improved language skills.
In this course, you will deepen your knowledge of the Spanish language. You will work on grammar, vocabulary, linguistics, sentence structure and error analysis.
Learning the Spanish language is one thing, but what do you really know about Spanish culture and history? This subject covers issues such as Spanish politics, geography, economics, society and art.
In this course, you will work on improving your listening, speaking and conversational skills at level B1.
In this course, you gain experience in a Spanish-speaking environment and work in a structured way on your language skills and intercultural competence. You will also work on your knowledge of culture and literature.
In this course, you work on improving your reading and writing skills at level.
This is the first module in the Pedagogical Practice programme. As a teacher, you will have to deal with adolescents in your workplace on a daily basis. Good contact with your pupils is the basis for teaching. To make contact, it is important that you understand how adolescents develop, what role education plays in that development, what keeps them busy and where their interests lie, what motivates them and how they behave in groups. Making contact often starts when students enter the room where you teach. How do you handle the first introduction, how do you fulfil your role as host and educator, how do you have small, informal conversations with pupils and how do you put insecure pupils at ease?
This is the first module Methodological Practice for Modern Foreign Languages (MFL): German, English, French, Spanish. Communication is at the basis of this learning line, because as an MFL teacher you help your students communicate in the target language: having conversations, reading, listening and writing. In this module, you will learn how to design and implement a communicative lesson. How do you make sure the lesson connects with your students' world of experience? Which activating teaching methods do you use that match the level of your students? How do you stimulate your students to become aware of cultural practices of the target country? Which motivating digital learning tools do you use? This module also introduces you to different types of schools and teaching methods. You will explore whether being a teacher suits you through work placements or (practical) assignments. You will also join a learning team where you work together with fellow students under the guidance of a learning team supervisor.
In this course, you will work with Spanish literature. You will be introduced to the most important authors in the Spanish-speaking world from the Middle Ages to the end of the nineteenth century. You will also learn how to use Spanish literature in (language skills) lessons in the second-grade area.
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, culture and education by staying 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.
