Lecturers in six programmes are preparing to teach in English as of the next academic year. And the bar is set high. ‘This will be particularly challenging for older lecturers,’ says language teacher Annette de Beer.

Teaching is hard enough as it is and lecturers in six programmes will face a new challenge come September: teaching in English. The university is increasing the number of English-language Bachelor’s programmes from two to eight and has set the bar high: at C2 level to be exact, which is near-native. ‘Most universities consider C1 good enough,’ explains Liesbet Korebrits from Radboud in’to Languages, the centre of expertise for language and communication that is helping lecturers prepare for their new task. ‘In Nijmegen, we are aiming for the highest possible level and believe that quality comes first.’

Annette de Beer, who teaches the ‘Lecturing in English’ course on behalf of Radboud in’to Languages, is feeling ambivalent about these ambitions: while they will certainly benefit academic education, some lecturers will undoubtedly struggle. ‘Older lecturers will have a particularly hard time reaching the desired level.’ Another underestimated challenge, which applies to all Dutch-speaking employees, is posed by the diplomacy skills that will be demanded of them. ‘Dutch people tend to be very direct, while the method of interaction in the English-language Bachelor’s programmes will be very different. We shouldn’t underestimate these intercultural differences.’

‘Dutch people tend to be very direct, while the method of interaction in the English-language Bachelor’s programmes will be very different’

Vocabulary may prove to be a major stumbling block for some lecturers. If a student doesn’t understand a certain concept, will the lecturer be able to explain it in a different way? Pronunciation and grammar may also be challenging for some. According to De Beer, a notable example of tricky grammar are the verb tenses as nuances differ in English and Dutch.

Unpleasant
De Beer believes that everyone can reach C2 level. ‘All languages seem difficult when you don’t speak them.’ Many lecturers who have been teaching in Dutch for years will find the transition unpleasant. ‘It feels less safe and less familiar.’ Korebrits adds that lecturers aren’t expected to have perfect language skills from the start; gestures, body language and tone of voice go a long way to make up for that. The university’s language centre does not foresee any major problems between now and September. ‘They’ll be ready,’ says De Beer.