Vocabulary Topic: Education System Details (B1)

This B1 vocabulary area focuses on terms related to the structure and components of the education system, primarily in the Netherlands and/or Belgium (as systems differ). It allows learners to discuss their educational background, understand information about schools and studies, and talk about learning processes.

Scope:

Building on basic school words, B1 delves into more specific terminology:

1. Levels of Education:

• General: het onderwijs (education), leren (to learn), studeren (to study - usually higher education).
• Early/Primary: de kinderopvang (childcare), de peuterspeelzaal (preschool/playgroup), de basisschool (primary school), de groep (group/grade - e.g., groep 8).
• Secondary: het voortgezet onderwijs (secondary education), de middelbare school (secondary/high school). Specific Dutch tracks: het VMBO (pre-vocational), het HAVO (higher general secondary), het VWO (pre-university).
• Vocational: het MBO (intermediate vocational education).
• Higher Education: het hoger onderwijs, de hogeschool (university of applied sciences - HBO), de universiteit (university - WO).
• Study Levels: de bachelor, de master, promoveren (to pursue a PhD).

1. People in Education:

• de leerling (pupil - primary/secondary), de scholier (secondary school student), de student/studente (student m/f - higher education), de leraar/lerares (teacher m/f - general/school), de docent/docente (teacher/lecturer m/f - often secondary/higher ed.), de professor/hoogleraar (professor).
• de directeur/directrice (principal/director m/f), de klasgenoot (classmate), de studiegenoot (fellow student).

1. Subjects, Courses, and Assessment:

• het vak (subject - e.g., wiskunde (maths), talen (languages), geschiedenis (history)), de les (lesson), het college (lecture - higher ed.), het rooster (schedule/timetable).
• de opleiding (course of study/training), de studie (study/studies), het diploma (diploma), het certificaat (certificate).
• het huiswerk (homework), de toets (test), het examen (exam), het cijfer (grade/mark), slagen (voor) (to pass), zakken (voor) (to fail).
• de scriptie (thesis).

1. Places and Materials:

• de school, het lokaal/klaslokaal (classroom), de bibliotheek (library), de aula (auditorium), de kantine (canteen).
• het boek, het schrift (notebook), de pen, het potlood.

Skills Developed (B1):

• Describing one's own educational background and qualifications.
• Understanding information about different types of schools and studies.
• Discussing subjects, classes, and exams.
• Talking about the process of learning and studying.

Learning Focus:

• Learning the specific terms for different educational levels and types of schools in the relevant country (NL/BE).
• Distinguishing between terms like leerling, scholier, and student.
• Acquiring vocabulary related to assessment (toets, examen, cijfer, slagen, zakken).
• Understanding common compound nouns (basisschool, middelbare school, hogeschool, klasgenoot).