UWCSEA Dutch Language Programme

UWCSEA Dutch programme

Dutch has been offered in UWCSEA’s secondary school since the 1980s, and is a key reason that many Dutch and Flemish expats have chosen the College.

UWCSEA’s unique approach encompasses both academic and cultural learning, with the aim that our students will gain not just a working academic knowledge of their mother tongue, but also develop a foundation of understanding and connection with their cultural heritage. This is further strengthened by their involvement in Dutch community activities both at UWCSEA and within the Singapore community.

Native speakers in Grades 7–12 can take Dutch lessons as an integrated part of their learning at UWCSEA, resulting in Dutch A: Language and Literature as part of their IB Diploma package in Grade 11 and 12.

MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADE 7 AND 8

Academic focus

Academic focus for Grade 7–8 for the Dutch programme is on presentation skills, reading comprehension, writing skills, spelling , grammar and literary theory.

Methods

Non-examination course conducted after-school in two 1.5 hour lessons each week. Grade 7: Wednesday and Friday and Grade 8: Monday and Thursday.

Grade 7 materials

Op niveau 1 h/v (book and digital version)

Diatoetsen

• reading comprehension

• vocabulary

• spelling/accuracy

Literature

• 2 individually chosen novels

• 3 or 4 classically studied works

Cultural activities

Grade 8 materials

Op niveau 2 h/v (book and digital version)

Diatoetsen

• reading comprehension

• vocabulary

• spelling/accuracy

Literature

• 2 individually chosen novels

• 3 or 4 classically studied works

The programme begins in Grade 7 (equivalent of the Dutch brugklas) and thus continues where Primary’s Groep 8 finishes. This allows students at the Hollandse School in Singapore, and others looking for a Dutch learning environment, to continue their education in Dutch.

The focus on culture is not limited to lessons in literature, which also cover Dutch history, but also extends to film nights and activities celebrating traditions such as St. Nicholas’ surprises. We also visit exhibitions highlighting aspects of Dutch history at museums such as the Asian Civilisations Museum. In addition, we welcome visitors to campus who have connections to the Dutch community—in the past this has included the Dutch Ambassador, a princess and a writer.

HIGH SCHOOL GRADE 9 AND 10

Academic focus

Academic focus for Grades 9–10 for the Dutch programme is on presentation skills, reading comprehension, writing skills, spelling , grammar and literary theory In these years they are prepared to take Dutch as a first language in their IB Diploma Programme in Grade 11 and 12.

Methods

Non-examination course conducted during the academic timetable for students enrolled in two-year Grade 9 and 10 course. Grade 10 Foundation IB students are provided lunchtime support.

Grade 9 materials

Op niveau 3v; past exams for IGCSE, vmbo and havo

Diatoetsen

• reading comprehension

• vocabulary

• spelling/accuracy

Literature

• five classically studied WWII themed novels

• at least two film adaptations

• beginning Term 3: at least 1,000 pages of prose by one modern author (presentation in Term 1 of Grade 10)

• texts on colonial history, special focus on Melaka

Grade 10 materials

Op niveau 4v verwerkingsboek and informatieboek; past exams for IGCSE, vmbo and havo

Eldorado Literatuur voor de Tweede Fase (VWO), Basisboek and Teksten en Opdrachten

Pieken! Creatief Schrijven

various printed media such as Vrij Nederland, NRC/De Week (for which we have subscriptions); Elsevier, HUMO, Linda, De Telegraaf, Quest et cetera

Diatoetsen

• reading comprehension

• vocabulary

Literature (Terms 2 and 3)

• three or four classically studied novels, including ‘World Literature’

• one or two film adaptations

Cultural activities

At the end of Grade 9 students individually choose to study a modern author by reading three or four of their novels in the original Dutch language. In Grade 10 they finish this “Oeuvre Project” with a presentation.

Alongside literary topics, the cultural programme includes study of films, cabaret or stand-up comedy and other, often satirical, programmes. We also review the College’s annual High School Art Exhibition. The focus on culture also includes a course in creative writing, surprise afternoons celebrating St. Nicholas, and a weekend excursion to Melaka in Malaysia.

Academic focus

Academic focus for Grades 11–12 for the Dutch programme is on presentation skills, reading comprehension, writing skills, and literary theory. At UWCSEA, students are able to enrol in HL or SL Dutch A: Language and Literature as part of their IB Diploma package, and are able to take a Bilingual IB Diploma.

Methods

Course conducted during the academic timetable for students enrolled in IBDP Dutch language courses.

Grade 11 materials

Op niveau 5/6 v; past IB exams

various printed media such as Vrij Nederland, NRC/De Week (for which we have subscriptions) and many websites

4 (SL) to 6 (HL) literary works, with a special focus on Colonial Dutch history, especially regarding Indonesia (‘the Dutch East Indies’)

J.A. Dautzenberg, Nederlandse literatuur. Geschiedenis en bloemlezing

Cultural activities

Grade 12 materials

Op niveau 5/6 v; past IB exams

various printed media such as Vrij Nederland, NRC/De Week (for which we have subscriptions) and many websites various DVDs (mainly satire and comedy)

Students follow Dutch A: Language and Literature as part of their IB Diploma package with a special focus on colonial literature and history. In line with these studies the Grade 11 class travels to Java, visiting Jakarta, Bogor, Bandung and Yogyakarta for a week during the Chinese New Year’s holidays. Among the many activities, they stay for a night in the house of one of the Heren van de thee, the eponymous tea-lords from a famous Dutch novel.

Apart from discussions on language and other cultural manifestations, many lessons centre around recent social and political developments in especially the Netherlands and Belgium such as the rise of conservative or right-wing politicians, discussions on migration and assimilation, and the freedom of speech. St. Nicholas surprises are celebrated with Grades 11 and 12 together at the home of one of the students. For the annual UN Night in October, Dutch language students organise at least one food stall, sometimes even a performance.

Grade 12 finishes the year with a celebratory dinner.

HIGH SCHOOL GRADE 11 AND 12

“Only after graduating and going to University in the Netherlands did I realise that my level of Dutch was on par with my fellow students, if not higher.

Our classes allowed for a personalised education, including a trip to Indonesia to immerse ourselves in the colonial heritage which we had been learning about. There was also time to embrace other aspects of Dutch culture such as watching Dutch comedians and discussing cultural topics.

I wrote my IB Extended Essay in Dutch, comparing Dutch philosopher Erasmus to contemporary Dutch writer Arnon Grunberg and achieved maximum points—entirely thanks to such immersive language and culture education.

I believe that UWCSEA has made me a true bilingual citizen of the world. Dutch and English are both languages I dream in. NTC education in Singapore enabled me to keep my Dutch up at a crucial time of my development. I am benefitting from this to this day 17 years on.”

Hilde van den Boogaard Dutch Scholar at UWCSEA Dover

2000–2002

IB Diploma

Every IB Diploma student must take at least two languages, usually one from Group 1 and one from Group 2. Students who are sufficiently strong complete the Group 1 Language A: Dutch Language and Literature course at either HL or SL. Bilingual students who are sufficiently strong in both Dutch and English may take two Group 1 Language A courses, usually Dutch and English instead of a Language B.

Group 1: First language (called ‘Language A’) Dutch Language and Literature HL or SL. Students who complete this course will be awarded a bilingual diploma.

Group 2: Foreign language (called ‘Language B’)

Many Dutch Language students take English B HL. It is also possible to study three languages. In this case, the student would not take a subject from Group 6.

IB Diploma Dutch Language A results

Although some students certainly have to work harder for them than others, we feel we can be rightfully proud of the annually attained IB results.

University Destinations 2019–2021

Graduates from UWCSEA Dover have enrolled in the following Dutch institutions:

• Amsterdam University College

• Erasmus University College

• Hogeschool van Amsterdam

• Hotelschool The Hague

• Leiden University College The Hague

• Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

• Technische Universiteit Delft

• Technische Universiteit Eindhoven

• Tilburg University

• Universiteit Leiden

• Universiteit Twente

• Universiteit Maastricht

• Universiteit van Amsterdam

• University College Utrecht

• University of Groningen

• Wageningen University

5 students 2 1 2 2014 3 students 3 2015 9 students 1 3 5 2017 5 students 4 1 2013 4 students 3 1 2016 6 students 1 1 1 3 2018 7 points 6 points 5 points 4 points 3 points

1 5 students 2019 2 2 8 students 2021 1 1 3 3 2020 8 students 2 2 3 1

Admissions information

Making an application

Applications open in September ahead of each new academic year.

All applications need to be submitted using our online system, which can be accessed via our website.

Families looking to join the UWCSEA Dutch Language Programme should apply to UWCSEA Dover, since this is the campus offering the Dutch Language programme from Grade 7 and above.

When to apply

Middle School (Grades 7 and 8) applications should typically be submitted by end October for consideration in the November offer round, and then by the end of January for the round of offers in March.

High School applications (Grades 9, 10 and 11) follow a similar two-round timing as K1–Grade 8 offers, however in order to be considered for a place, applicants need to have participated in an Immersion Day in an offer round. All eligible applicants are invited to participate in an Immersion Day (typically held online) by the Admissions team once the initial online application has been submitted and reviewed by the Admissions Department.

Additional languages

UWCSEA has a strong Home Languages Programme, open to students in K1 to Grade 12. It is intended for students who want to maintain a language spoken at home but who do not study this language as part of the academic curriculum during the school day.

Classes are delivered by a qualified teacher in small group classes after school, with the intention to support students to maintain and develop their home language skills at age appropriate levels. The classes are scheduled subject to demand, and are an additional cost.

For information on which languages may be offered as part of the Home Language Programme, and when some of these languages then become available as part of the academic programme, please contact Admissions.