Programme structure
The Master's programme Language, Literature and Education comprises 60 ECTS credits: 12 credits for core courses on language and literature teaching, 12 credits for core courses on linguistics and literature in the language of your choice, 6 credits for a Thesis Seminar, 12 credits for electives or an internship, and 18 credits for a Master’s thesis (may include internship).
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Multilingualism in the ClassroomPeriod 16
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Literature in the ClassroomPeriod 16
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Specialisation-specific course 1Period 26
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Specialisation-specific course 2Period 26
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Restricted-choice electives: Term Paper OR Thesis SeminarPeriod 36
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Free-choice electives: recommended electives or internshipPeriod 4Period 512
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Master's Thesis Language, Literature and EducationPeriod 4Period 5Period 618

Students in this programme specialise in linguistics, but they also widen their perspective on the literature and culture of their language of specialisation and on the pedagogy of these subjects.Dr Petra Sleeman
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Core courses
The core courses on language and literature teaching deal with the theory and practice of teaching language and literary works, providing a theoretical background, but also including more practical components of pedagogy, such as motivation, individual learner variables, and interaction in the classroom. The core courses on linguistics focus on the acquisition of and variation in your language of specialisation. In the core courses on literature, you will focus on literary heritage, national identity, world literature and globalisation.
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Electives
The University of Amsterdam offers a large number of courses that may be chosen as an elective and that may serve you to further specialise in one of the components of the Master’s Language, Literature and Education or that can be used to broaden your academic view. Instead of doing an elective at the University of Amsterdam, for certain languages a course offered by Masterlanguage, a collaboration between Dutch universities, may be chosen. Currently, there are courses in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Classical languages. For more information, consult the programme coordinator.
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Internship
You will have the opportunity to do an internship at Master’s level in the first block of the second semester. The internship must be related to the Master’s programme Language, Literature and Education. The internship must be approved by the programme’s internship coordinator.
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Thesis seminar
In this seminar, you will choose and further develop the topic of your research paper on the basis of the core courses taken during your first semester.
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Thesis
The Master’s thesis is an integral component of the programme and it enables you to write an original work of research related to the Master’s Language, Literature and Education in your language of specialisation, under the supervision of one of the staff members. The subject of the thesis must be mutually agreed upon by the student and the thesis supervisor.
Part-time mode
This programme is also offered in part-time study mode, in which case it takes 2 years. You can obtain a maximum of 30 ECTS per year (12-18 ECTS per semester). As a part-time student you will follow the programme together with full-time students. You will prepare your study plan for the part-time programme in consultation with the Master’s programme coordinator (See: Contact).
Credit transfer
Students who show exceptional promise during a regular or professional programme are encouraged to continue their studies in the Research Master's programmes Literary Studies or Linguistics and Communication. Once students have been admitted to the research programme, they can transfer credits earned during their previous course of study towards their Research Master's degree. The Examinations Board will determine which courses qualify for transfer.