How can I become a teacher at a bilingual school in the Netherlands?
What is bilingual education?
Bilingual education is offered within Dutch secondary education (Ga naar artikel). At a bilingual school, subjects such as history, geography, biology and physical education are taught in English. English is not only the language of instruction, but also the language teachers and students use to communicate during these lessons. This means that every tto teacher also contributes to students' English language development.
In the first three years (onderbouw) at bilingual schools, at least half of the subjects are taught in English on Ga naar artikel level, and 30% of the subjects at Ga naar artikel level. In the final years (bovenbouw), the percentage is lower. In the upper years (bovenbouw), a smaller proportion of lessons is taught in English so that students are well prepared for the Dutch national exams, which are taken in Dutch.
Students at bilingual schools receive the same Dutch vmbo, havo or vwo diploma as students in regular secondary education. Many schools also offer additional internationally recognised English-language certificates, such as Cambridge or International Baccalaureate (IB) qualifications, or a tto certificate. This can differ from school to school.
For more information about the Dutch education system, you can read through Ga naar artikel.
Which subjects are taught in English?
The exact curriculum differs per school, but subjects such as mathematics, biology, geography, history, economics, chemistry, physics, art and physical education are often taught in English. Dutch and other modern foreign languages, such as French, German and Spanish, are usually taught in the language of that subject.
What qualifications do I need?
The same qualification requirements apply at bilingual schools as at any other Dutch secondary school.
To teach in seconday education, you need a first degree or second degree Ga naar artikel (or a Ga naar artikel that has been recognised by DUO).
Besides the required teaching qualification, schools expect teachers to have an excellent command of English. Many schools use CEFR level B2 or C1 as a guideline. In some cases, the school can organize (and pay for) extra training that focuses on teaching in bilingual secondary schools to improve your English proficiency. You can find some of these trainings on Nuffic’s website.
Which schools offer bilingual education?
There are currently 130 bilingual schools in the Netherlands. Bilingual education is mainly offered at havo/vwo level, but the number of bilingual vmbo and mbo schools is continuously increasing. You can find an overview of all bilingual secondary schools here. There are several primary schools in the Netherlands that participate in a bilingual education pilot. Note that you need a different Ga naar artikel to teach in this sector.
Do you have any questions regarding the qualifications that are needed to become a teacher in bilingual education in the Netherlands? Contact us through our contact page. For additional information about bilingual education, you can visit Nuffic’s website.
How is a bilingual school different from an international school?
Although both bilingual schools and international schools offer education in (mainly) English, they are quite different.
A bilingual school follows the Dutch curriculum. Students take the regular Dutch national exams and receive a Dutch diploma. Teachers therefore need to meet the Dutch qualification requirements for secondary education.
International schools or b4-schools usually follow an international or foreign curriculum, such as the International Baccalaureate (IB), the British curriculum or another national curriculum. Their recruitment requirements are determined by the school itself and may differ from the Dutch qualification system.The rules of their respective country or school board apply.
If you are interested in working at an international school, it is advisable to check a school's own qualification requirements before applying.
