Teacher Education in English

I am a first year student at Teacher Education in German & English.

I chose this programme because it matches my interests and desires for the future. I love meeting new people from all over the world and learning about new cultures, traditions, experiences or learning new languages. This programme enables me the opportunity to meet many international students and teachers. There are about 100 different nationalities at HU including students, teachers and staff. 
The main reason why I decided to do the teacher education degree at HU is because of the educational system and curriculum of the HU University. I believe that the profession of teaching cannot be learned only by theory. It has to be combined with the same amount of practice and HU fulfils that. Our first internship took place in our first year and lasted 10 weeks. There will be an internship every year. The programme also organises opportunities for us to visit high schools where we can realise the lesson plans, we are working on during specific courses. 

The climate between teachers and students is different in each country. In the Netherlands the interaction between teachers and students is very informal. 

I appreciate that HU offers a Dutch course for any CEFR level for international students. Thanks to this course, I met other international students who are studying to become teachers. We only speak in the target language during the course. I am improving my Dutch everyday.

In addition, the Netherlands and Utrecht are geographically well located. Utrecht is relatively central in the Netherlands, so it is super easy to get to any other Dutch city. It only takes 20 minutes to go directly to Amsterdam or 40 minutes to go to Rotterdam or Den Haag. The public transportation in the Netherlands is well organised which makes travelling easier and more enjoyable. 

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. 

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!