Teacher Education in German

I chose to study Teacher Education in German because I’ve always known that I wanted to be a teacher. I’ve always worked with children, and I was inspired by a lot of my old teachers, so that’s why I chose to become one myself and this programme is perfect for that. 

I wanted to study in the Netherlands because when I first visited multiple cities here, I always wanted to come back. As years go by, I never found another place where I felt that comfortable, so I decided to move here for my studies and maybe stay here after finishing them.

I love the atmosphere with the teachers and my fellow students at the HU. I’ve made some close friends here extremely quickly. In class we’re mostly doing group work and working on projects like designing our very first lesson plans. If I’m being honest, group work was never a thing I enjoyed, but It’s a nice way to know your place in the group and to communicate with your peers.  I think that is a great ability for your future job as a teacher as well. 

I’m planning to do the double degree and that was quite confusing in the beginning. But you don’t have to be afraid to ask for help, there are always a lot of docents ready to help you! Together we chose a lot of courses to sign up for and I’d recommend the double degree programme to students who’d like to have a little more workload. 

It is mandatory to have an internship in the Teacher Education programme. I started my first internship a few months ago and I truly like it so far. I am from Germany and the studies there are a little different compared to the programme here in the Netherlands. You do a lot more theory and here there is a big focus on the practical part. I really like it, because I was already standing in front of a class and thought my first lessons. Of course, you only need to observe the lessons at the internship in the first year. But if you feel ready and your mentor thinks you’re ready as well, you can try to help designing one lesson or even teach it. 

Having an internship school also helps you a lot with the theories you’ll learn in class. You recognize a lot of the theories while you’re standing in class. as it gives you the chance to reflect on students’ behaviour but also your own. There is a great balance between learning theories and learning by doing in the Teacher Education programme and personally I think that’s the best way to become a teacher!

What I like most about the Teacher Education programme at HU is that it is so practice-oriented. Each year you have an internship at a school in the Netherlands, and each year your responsibilities slowly increase so that you get the chance to develop yourself further. By doing the internships, you get the chance to slowly become more confident standing in front of a class.  The more I did it, the more comfortable I became and the more I enjoyed it. You are always being observed by a teacher from the internship school, so that you receive feedback.

I chose to follow the double degree programme for English and German because I wanted to have the option to work in Germany, where two subjects are required. I would definitely recommend the double degree to other students as it gives you the option to work in different countries as well as giving you better chances to find a job.

Moreover, the teachers at HU always make time for their students if they have any questions or concerns. All lessons take place in the target language, and most teachers are also native speakers meaning that you are really immersed in the language.