The programme is aimed at non-Dutch-speaking students who want to prepare to study in Dutch. The programme consists of a combination of language acquisition and three modules designed to deepen the participants’ knowledge. We start at absolute beginner-level and finish at Level 5, with the Interuniversity Test for Dutch as a Foreign Language serving as the final exam.
Description
Information on the subjects:
- Language Acquisition (11 hrs/week) is divided into five levels, starting at absolute beginner level and finishing at advanced level (Level 1: beginner, Levels 2 and 3: intermediate, Levels 4 and 5: advanced). The classes help students acquire the building blocks of the Dutch language effectively and interactively. Students must pass the exam test at the end of each language level before they can move on to the next one. If students fail an exam, they can take it again one week later. If they fail the same exam test again, they will need to repeat the level. This will mean they are not able to complete all five language levels during the programme.The final exam after Level 5 is the Interuniversity Test of Dutch as a Foreign Language (ITNA). If students pass this exam, they meet the language requirements set by universities and university colleges in Flanders.
- Academic Study Skills (2 hrs/week) is divided into two modules. The first module focuses on helping students improve their Dutch language skills through self-study. The second module helps them improve their academic skills, such as summarising texts and giving presentations.
- Dutch Phonetics and Pronunciation (1 hr/week) helps students deal with difficult aspects of speaking Dutch: intonation, rhythm, recognising different sounds and learning to pronounce them correctly.
- Culture, Politics and Social Relations (1 hr/week) gives students an introduction to the culture of Belgium and the Netherlands. We focus especially on the region of Flanders, where Antwerp is located. This module includes both lectures and cultural activities such as museum visits, a theatre evening, a Christmas party and a trip to the nearby city of Ghent.
Program
The programme starts with a welcome week in September and ends in June. Classes are organized at the City Campus (Stadscampus).
The programme consists of 480 contact hours (60 credits) and meets the requirement for obtaining a student visa.
This fulltime programme consists of 15 hours of daytime classes per week.
Class groups consist of approximately 15-19 students so teachers can take an interactive, communicative approach in which all students’ needs are addressed.
Our teaching approach is communicative, interactive and task-oriented. We make sure there is continuous interaction among the students and expect everyone to participate actively in class.
We combine the best approaches from old and new teaching methods to ensure that students can access the target language in a way that works for them. We provide both paper-based and digital learning materials.
Besides communication and interaction, we also focus on accuracy and correctness. This way, students will be prepared for the high level expected of them during their higher education studies.
The programme has been designed for foreign students who want to devote one year of full-time and intensive study to establishing and perfecting their knowledge of the Dutch language and to immerse themselves in Flemish society and academic culture.
Remarks
The programme also comprises cultural activities (museum visits, theatre visits, a Christmas party, a study trip to Ghent, etc.). Students are encouraged to practice their language skills within a buddy system with Dutch speaking students.
The programme is intensive and full-time. Its participants are enrolled at the University of Antwerp, receive a student card and can use university facilities (library, student restaurant, sports facilities, etc.).
Admission requirements:
- The students’ secondary school qualifications are sufficient for enrolment at a university in the country where they were obtained.
- Students have an intermediate knowledge of English (CEFR B1).
- Students must previously have studied a European language as a foreign language, either at school or in a language course. The Linguapolis teaching method is based upon the assumption that the students are familiar with foreign language learning.
