Should higher education be taught in English? Are advertisements in English more effective than advertisements in Dutch? How can we ensure that the increasing use of English does not lead to inequality and the loss of other languages?
English has become the most important language for international communication. Around the world, millions of people use English in their daily and professional lives. In this specialisation of the Bachelor’s in Communication and Information Studies, you study spoken and written communication in English, paying special attention to people with different levels of proficiency.
You explore varieties of English worldwide, and, in courses like Global English, you investigate how language evolves. What role does English play in society and in different social situations? Naturally, you also develop your own skills in spoken and written English.
The programme gives you plenty of opportunities to shape your own curriculum and follow your interests. For example, you can spend the semester allotted to your minor in year 3 at a university in an English-speaking country. Alternatively, you might choose to apply your knowledge of English in an internship.
VU Amsterdam is an international university located at Amsterdam’s Zuidas, the city’s main business district, which is home to many multinational companies and close to Schiphol Airport. This makes it the ideal place for a programme focused on the central role of English in society.
