International Degree in English and Education at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, HvA

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InternatIonal degree In englIsH and eduCatIon Hva sCHool oF eduCatIon

2012 2013

International Degree in English and Education

Introduction

An intellectual challenge

The International Degree in English and Education (IDEE) is an international academic English teacher education programme. Students follow modules at university level in a joint programme delivered by the HvA together with partner universities in the Netherlands and abroad. IDEE combines an academic level of study with an international perspective.

Successful graduates gain a Dutch Grade 2 diploma for teaching English (Bachelor level) and an Honours certificate. Students can also gain the prestigious In-service Certificate in English Language Teaching (ICELT) from the University of Cambridge as part of the programme. IDEE is a unique opportunity for students with a spirit of adventure and a desire to gain more from their studies.

As a student, you will be encouraged right from the start to adopt an academic approach to the subjects you study: English language and literature and Education studies. You will learn to think about issues and analyse them, carrying out independent research using library and internet resources, and developing the ability to express ideas coherently and elegantly in writing.

The programme provides a stimulating learning environment which aims to stretch and develop your intellectual potential to its fullest.

This country’s too small for me...

IDEE offers the chance to travel and experience a different culture from the ‘inside’. You will spend your entire third year studying at universities in

Europe under the Erasmus scheme. Studying in the UK, you’ll find out what it’s like to live and study in an English-speaking country; what better way to learn English than by using it all day, every day, with native speakers? You’ll get to experience British music, humour and food first-hand and to find out the reality behind the stereotypes. Studying abroad also means you will be in a unique position to find out about English and Education studies from a different, foreign perspective and compare this to what you have experienced at home. Living and studying in another country gives you not only a broader view of the world but also a richer understanding of life and education in the Netherlands.

Cultural mix The international flavour of the IDEE course starts already in the Foundation Year so you could find yourself sitting next to a student from Hungary or France. All communication both inside and outside the classroom naturally takes place in English and you will have the benefit of learning about different cultures right from the start. We believe that this cultural mix benefits all those involved, giving a broader perspective on all sorts of issues. Each student makes their own unique contribution to the programme and everyone learns from the diversity within the group.

Structure of the programme The Foundation Year The aims of the Foundation Year are: >> To help you find out whether you are suitable for and want to continue with IDEE; >> To prepare you for the demands of university study in the UK; >> To let you find out through experience whether you want to become a teacher.

You will experience a variety of approaches to learning: >> Creative activities in groups where you practice your written and spoken English and work to achieve a concrete product; >> Lectures on academic subjects such as Education or Literature where you take notes and sit a written exam; >> A placement experience in a school once a week for twenty weeks; >> A trip to the UK where you become acquainted with the University where you will study; >> Specialised training in essay writing.

Skills and subjects in the Foundation Year include: >> Oral and Written Proficiency in English; >> Essay-writing; >> Literary Analysis; >> Understanding Language; >> British History; >> Teaching and Education; >> Placement.

Digital portfolio During the Foundation Year you will create a digital portfolio. The portfolio is intended to show who you are and what you have mastered during the year. The portfolio is a showcase for your work and a means of demonstrating that you have achieved the competencies required for gaining the Foundation Year Certificate. It is also a place for reflection on your own particular strengths and weaknesses as a student and as professional.

Timetable The Foundation Year is arranged in two semesters each of which is rounded off with assessments in the form of exams and assignments to be handed in. The timetable will change in each semester though you will usually have at least one day a week which is not timetabled.

Progress At the end of the Foundation Year, if you have gained all your credits of the Foundation Year, you will be awarded the Foundation Year Certificate (propedeuse). IDEE students must gain this certificate before being allowed to continue in the second year of the programme.

Title and diploma Once you have successfully completed the International Degree in English and Education programme, you may use the title Bachelor of Education. Students who successfully complete the Honours programme will also gain an Honours certificate.

Career perspectives What are my prospects when I’ve finished the programme? Some IDEE graduates immediately start working as an English teacher in Holland, a European country, or outside Europe (for instance Thailand). Others choose to continue their studies, gaining further teaching or academic

qualifications. Graduates can enrol on the Master of Education programme at HvA, School of Education to gain the grade 1 teaching diploma or they may choose to follow an English or Education Studies Master at a university in the Netherlands.

IDEE graduates have accelerated access to Master’s programmes in the Netherlands and are also qualified to follow a Master’s programme in the UK or another English-speaking country.

Grants for Master’s programmes abroad are available through Nuffic.

Having lived and studied abroad shows a future employer that you can be flexible and enterprising. It means that you’ve learnt to deal with all kinds of unexpected situations and find creative solutions. You’ll be able to talk and write like a native speaker of English and manage cross-cultural communication. You’ll also have developed the managerial skills to deal effectively with a class of rowdy teenagers.

All these qualities will place you in an excellent position to find a rewarding future career.

Costs and expenses

Enrolment

Tuition fees See our special webpage on tuition fees, for all information at www.international.hva.nl.

You are only eligible to enrol on the IDEE programme if you have passed the IDEE Entrance Exam. See above for more information about this exam. If you receive written confirmation that you are eligible for admission, you should follow the enrolment procedure. Go to the HvA website for the enrolment procedure at www.hva.nl/idee-enrolment.

Other costs You will also need to pay for your travel and accommodation abroad. Accommodation is provided in university housing for students when they are abroad.

Open days at HvA Dutch and international students on the IDEE programme are eligible for the regular student grants and loans provided in their country under the same conditions as other students. For more information on Dutch student grants see the brochure available from the DUO-IB-Group or look at the website: www.ib-groep.nl.

You are welcome to attend the Open Days at which you can meet tutors and students, and find out more about the IDEE programme.

IDEE Entrance Exam

For the latest information on times, dates and location, look on our website: www.international.hva.nl.

The IDEE Entrance Exam tests your reading comprehension and use of English. The exam consists of multiple choice or oneword answers. The level is equivalent to IE LTS 7.0.

The best way to prepare for the exam is to read widely in English, especially quality newspapers and magazines. The exam lasts 90 minutes and is offered four times a year at 10 o’clock on the following dates: >> Friday 16 December 2011 >> Friday 10 February 2012 >> Friday 11 May 2012 >> Friday 22 June 2012 You should note that you will only be admitted to the exam if you produce a valid ID. To register for the exam please email Sabine van der Heijden (IDEE@hva.nl) to say that you will attend. There are no costs attached.

Open days >> Saturday 5 November 2011: 10.00 - 15.00 hrs >> Saturday 21 January 2012: 10.00 - 15.00 hrs >> Saturday 10 March 2012: 10.00 - 15.00 hrs

It is also possible to attend a day of lessons to have a taste of what it’s really like to study on the IDEE programme. You can arrange for this at the Open Day or through Sabine van der Heijden.

Amstel Campus is approximately a 10 minute walk from metro station Weesperplein.

For more information www.international.hva.nl.

Further information and/ or enquiries Please contact the IDEE administrator Sabine van der Heijden phone +31 (0)20 599 5705 or email: IDEE@hva.nl.

HVA SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

No rights may be derived from the information contained in this brochure.

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Hogeschool van Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences IDEE programme Wibautstraat 2-4 1091 GM Amsterdam www.international.hva.nl