Do you want to benefit from your stay in Belgium to improve your languages and knowledge about Belgium and Europe? Well, we offer motivating courses and activities especially for our incoming students.
Survival Dutch
You learn the basics of the Dutch language. So you will be able to take the bus, to find your way in Hasselt or order a pint in a pub. There is a strong focus on communication. (2 ECTS credits, Sept.-Oct.)
English for incoming students
English language courses are offered for all incoming students. (3 hours a week, Sept.-Dec., 3 ECTS credits.)
Cultural Awareness
This is all about the essential aims of studying abroad: getting to know another culture and functioning in a multicultural environment. You learn about the cultural, social an political backgrounds of the region where you will live during your Erasmus period: Hasselt, Limburg, Flanders and Belgium. Throughout workshops, you develop competences in intercultural communication and management. (Sept. – Decn., 2 ECTS credits.)
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Subject
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Period
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ECTS credits
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Survival Dutch
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3 weeks in Sept. – Oct.
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2
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English for Incoming Students
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Sept. – Dec.
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3
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Cultural Awareness
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Sept – Dec.
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3
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ECTS files
Survival Dutch
Study materials
Notes, Laurence Schmitz
Teaching organisation
Tutorials (18 hours)
Theory
Independent study (38 hours)
Content
You will learn the basics of the Dutch language. So you will be able to take the bus, find your way in Hasselt or order a pint in a pub. There is a strong focus on communication. Subjects:
• Meeting and greeting, on the road
• In town: shopping – eating – drinking – washing clothes
• The alphabet, pronunciation
• Numbers, time, dates
• Going out, making an appointment
• Health, going to the doctor and pharmacy.
The lectures will take place during 3 weeks, this with a frequency of 2x3hours a week.
Evaluation
Oral exam.
Cultural Awareness
Teaching organisation
Tutorials (34 hours)
Theory
Independent study (50 hours)
Content
• Visit to the Euregion (1 day): Maastricht
• Intercultural communication skills (3x3h lectures and workshop): What are the cultural differences in communication on all levels (verbal, non-verbal, social, music, humor, …)? And what is not so different after all? What are causes of intercultural misunderstandings? How to communicate in a multicultural environment? What are cultural aspects of management? We deepen these subjects by the means of (interactive) workshops.
• Political history and structure of Flanders and Belgium (1x3h lecture)
• Flemish and Belgian culture (1 x 3h lecture): This lecture focuses on the (typical) aspects of Flemish and Belgian culture.
• Visit to the European Parliament and Brussels (1 day): Brussels as the heart of Europe.
Evaluation
Paper to be delivered in week 10
English for Incoming Students
Study materials
Course notes:
Elementary/Pre-Intermediate level (A2/B1):
Simon, C., English for Incoming Students. Elementary/Pre-Intermediate. Xios Hogeschool Limburg. 2011.
Intermediate/Upper-Intermediate (B2/C1):
Simon, C., English for Incoming Students. Intermediate/Upper-Intermediate. Xios Hogeschool Limburg. 2011.
Virtual classroom:
Dokeos
Teaching organisation
Tutorials (33 hours)
Theory
Independent study
Prerequisites
This course is taught on two different levels, i.e. an elementary/pre-intermediate level and an intermediate/upper intermeditate level which respectively correspond to level A2/B1 and level B2/C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR 2001).
At the beginning of the academic year students are to take a test to determine their starting level so that they can take the class which suits their needs best.
Content
In this course students learn how to communicate in an international (professional) context. Students work on their general language skills as well as improve their language competences so that they can function in an international working environment.
This course is designed to practice the four communicative skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking by e.g.:
• reading newspaper articles and short stories and understanding the (basic) contents;
• deriving the meaning of selected vocabulary items from a text;
• writing formal/neutral (professional) and informal emails or letters;
• listening to conversations by native speakers and understanding the (basic) contents;
• watching short movie fragments and understanding the (basic) contents;
• expressing one's opinion about topics of general or professional interest;
• having everyday (professional) conversations/performing role plays.
The exact contents of the course is subject to change and is open to suggestions by students.
Students extend their vocabulary by reading real life texts, listening to conversations by native speakers and by having conversations and playing role plays.
They study grammar items by doing exercises and will have to put these grammatical items into practice in conversations and in writing.
Evaluation
At the end of the term students will get a written and an oral exam.
At the written exam grammar, vocabulary, reading and writing skills are tested (75%).
At the oral exam (speaking) students perform a role play with a partner or have a discussion about a general or professional topic of
interest (25 %).
There is a possibility for a re-examination during the same term.
Learning outcomes
1. Students can read newspaper articles and short stories and show they understand the (basic) contents;
2. Students can derive the meaning of selected vocabulary items from a text;
3. Students can write formal/neutral (professional) and informal emails and letters;
4. Students can understand the (basic) contents of conversations by native speakers;
5. Students can understand the (basic) contents of short movie fragments;
6. Students can participate in conversations about topics of general interest
or professional topics and can express their own opinion;
7. Students can participate in everyday (professional) conversations.