English History, Language and Culture

Properties

• Credits: 30
• Language: English 
• Location: Groningen
• Startdate: Semester 1 and 2

About this minor

This Minor is open to all students of Hanze UAS and students of Kies Op Maat-universities. This minor is offered by the Hanze Language & Culture Centre. The first part of the Minor is focused on the histories of the various parts of the English-speaking world (UK, USA and Canada, India and the Far East, Sub-Sahara Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Hong Kong and the Middle East) as well as their cultures and basic geographies. The student learns to investigate and research historical topics and how to give effective and interesting presentations. Using this knowledge and these skills the student can research background information with current publications from quality English publications and present these at a professional level.

During the second part of the Minor the focus is on written English and Cross Cultural Management: The student can identify the cultural similarities and differences between the various areas. The student can conduct a meaningful and grammatically correct correspondence in correct English. The student can write a report in grammatically correct English at pre-academic level about an issue that is relevant to his/her field of study, using various English sources. The student can give a presentation of the management summary of this report.

Lecturer about the minor

"Students who wish to pursue an international career need to be able to communicate effectively in an international context. Obviously this requires linguistic skills, and as English is used the world over as the 'lingua franca' for people who cannot speak each other's languages, English is the language used for this minor. However, knowing the language is not going to be enough in an increasingly globalizing environment. In order to anticipate the international contacts' expectations and reactions, it is important to learn about their cultural backgrounds. The cultural characteristics of a nation find their roots in its history, as it is the historical events that mould society during the ages."

"During this Minor students study the histories of the UK, USA, India, 'Down Under', Sub Sahara Africa and the Strategic Areas influenced the world over by the UK, in so far as the facts/trends have influenced society/culture today. Simultaneously they are taught about the cultural aspects of these areas, as well as some of their most important geographical facts. Guest speakers are invited to talk about their native countries and current affairs are linked to historical and cultural backgrounds, relevant to specific countries and/or developments. During the second part of the semester attention is paid to the writing skills of the student, with a correspondence course and a professional report. The theoretical backgrounds of cultural differences are dealt with during the course 'Cross-Cultural Management'."

"It should be clear that this is not a course 'to teach people English'. However, as all lectures are in English, all the material that has to be studied is in English, all presentations have to be done in English and the report and correspondence are written in English, obviously the students' English is improved dramatically by doing this Minor. Classes are maximum 24 students, of whom approximately half usually come from other universities, from the Netherlands as well as from abroad. Generally speaking, students find the Minor highly stimulating, saying that it changes the way they look at current affairs and that it sets them up perfectly for an internship in far-away places."

Before you can start

Prerequisites

Level B1 according to the Common European Framework.

Target group

• students of Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen;
• students of Kies Op Maat-universities;
• other students pay € 100,- per ECTS credit.