Would you like to understand and speak the Dutch language better in order to perform well in your internship? Are you curious about the Dutch culture that surrounds you in your day-to-day life in the Netherlands? This one-year minor provides international students the opportunity to learn Dutch for use in their daily lives, at their internship and/or work in the Netherlands.
It is an intensive 30 EC course that can be demanding but also rewarding. It requires a proactive attitude, both in class and during independent study.
Admission
- You are an international student and have completed a propaedeutic year;
- Your working language is English; your native language is English, French, German, Spanish, or another language excluding Dutch;
- You did not attend secondary education at a Dutch-speaking educational institution;
- You have basic language skills in Dutch (level A2). You may have attained this level through the Dutch Elective course in the propaedeutic phase of Teacher Education, or through a Dutch course previously taken outside the HU. Your Dutch language level will be tested during the minor’s intake;
- You are willing and able to dedicate time to learn Dutch to at least B1 level for a year alongside the main phase of your Bachelor program.
The minor is also suitable for parttime students.
The Examination Board determines which minors do not have a higher professional education level and/or have an unacceptable overlap with the compulsory curriculum of your own study programme. Check at the page Not allowed minor courses under your institute which minors are not allowed. This page will be updated from 21 February for the 2025-20256 minor offer.
Content
In this one-year minor program, you will improve your Dutch language skills while exploring the culture and educational systems in the Netherlands.
This minor offers a diverse program that includes self-study, interactive sessions, and self-organized immersion activities.
You will use a digital learning platform for self-study and class preparation. In class, we will work on portfolio assignments designed to deepen your understanding of Dutch culture and education.
Learning objectives
The minor in Dutch language and culture helps international students in Teacher Education Training to further develop their Dutch proficiency for the following purposes:
- Functioning in a Dutch educational workplace for secondary or vocational education (VO or MBO)
- Understanding language expressions, including common words and phrases used by the youths at a minimum B1 level;
- Employing classroom management language in Dutch;
- Giving instructions, including common grammatical terms;
- Understanding and writing on common topics and contributing to team meetings;
- Consciously applying didactical work forms and language development methods during in class activities and in practice;
- Reflecting on one’s personal experiences as a language learner and one’s own cultural background.
- Functioning in the Dutch society and culture
- Having informal conversations with acquaintances and strangers on familiar topics at a minimum B1 level;
- Preparing for a job interview in Dutch to secure an internship;
- Discussing recent societal developments in the Netherlands, with a focus on Dutch education;
- Speaking about selected Dutch cultural aspects, including cultural heritage and artistic expressions;
- Functioning at a minimum B1 level in a Dutch speaking environment, such as in a part time job, volunteer work or a sports club/ gym.
Courses
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Self-study (Link+)
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Portfolio Assignments
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Immersion
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Assessments
The minor program aims to develop skills at CEFR B1 level. At the end of the year, you will take a listening test at B1 level and deliver a final presentation about the immersion experience to demonstrate your speaking proficiency at B1 level.
You finish each period with a dossier with a couple of portfolio assignments (such as a presentation of your oral skills or developing a mini lecture) and a language proficiency test (curriculum-dependent).
Please note that attending classes is necessary in order to get feedback from your classmates and the teacher. If you do not have feedback you will not be able to finalize and hand in your portfolio.
Option
You can take the State Examination NT2 – Program 1 at the end of this minor if you wish. An independent exam provides proof of language proficiency as an independent language learner and is a prerequisite for possible naturalization. Participation in this exam is your own responsibility and falls outside the minor organization. You will have to pay the costs for the NT2 State Examination (€180) yourself.
Literature
- LINK+ (A2>B1) online learning environment: https://www.nt2.nl/nl/100-641_LINK-voor-theoretisch-geschoolden-A2-B1-jaarlicentie
- Canvas, the online digital platform used by the HU, University of Applied Sciences in Utrecht providing supplementary materials for portfolio assignments.
- Dutch cultural aspects such as Dutch news media and accessible (popular) culture and literature. You will learn Dutch through authentic texts and apply the language in your own course/ study program and in daily life.
- By giving presentations, participating in conversations and attending excursions and other activities, you will continually improve your Dutch.
Schedule
Classes in the minor in period A, B, C & D will be on Tuesday 09.00- 11.00 and Thursdays 09.00-11.00, 2 x 2 hours per week.
Attendance is essential for completing the portfolio assignments and receiving feedback. Please note that no online lessons are offered.
With the exception of the first teaching period of the academic year (starting September), the lesson and test schedules are always posted on Mijn Rooster four weeks before the start of each teaching period. The schedule for the first teaching period of the academic year can be found on the site three weeks before the start. The most up-to-date schedule is always visible on Mijn Rooster.
At HU, full-time education may be scheduled between 08:30 and 19:00.
Additional costs
None
