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Language Learning in Higher Education

Journal of the European Confederation of Language Centres in Higher Education (CercleS)

Editor-in-Chief: Szczuka-Dorna, Liliana / O’Rourke, Breffni

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Translating language policy into practice: Language and culture policy at a Dutch university

Kevin Haines / Anje Dijk
Published Online: 2016-10-06 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cercles-2016-0018

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Abstract

The CEFR will only achieve its potential in higher education if it is embedded in a meaningful way in the wider processes of the university. One means of embedding the CEFR is through policy, and in this article we report the development of a language policy in the broader context of internationalization at a Dutch university. We describe some the challenges involved in developing and extending this policy to stakeholders across the complex environment of a modern university, particularly from the perspective of one of the key players in this process, the university Language Centre. A growth of English-medium instruction (EMI) programmes has coincided with a greater emphasis on internationalization in the university’s strategy, and this has resulted in the establishment of an International Classroom (IC) project and a supporting Language and Culture (L&C) policy. The L&C policy aims to be both top down and bottom up, with a dual language focus on English and Dutch, while also recognizing the inter-relation between linguistic and intercultural skills. We believe that the growth of EMI programmes has acted as a catalyst for the extension of the L&C policy beyond the EMI setting to the university as a whole, and that the CEFR can play a role in providing a bridge from an EMI-focused perspective on internationalization to a discussion of language policy as it affects the entire university community.

Keywords: language policy; language centre; CEFR; dual languages; culture; higher education; internationalization

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About the article

Kevin Haines

Kevin Haines has worked in international higher education programmes in the Netherlands since 1992. He specialises in guiding teachers and students in small group settings in English-medium instruction (EMI). He is co-author of the IntlUni Principles and a member of the University of Groningen’s International Classroom project team.

Anje Dijk

Anje Dijk holds a degree in linguistics. Throughout her career she has developed innovative teaching materials and worked as an advisor and project leader on educational development projects and innovations. She has been the Director of the University of Groningen Language Centre since 2004. She is also the Chair of NUT, the Dutch/Flemish national association of Language Centres, and she is member of the University of Groningen’s Language and Culture Policy project team.

Published Online: 2016-10-06

Published in Print: 2016-10-01

Citation Information: Language Learning in Higher Education, Volume 6, Issue 2, Pages 355–376, ISSN (Online) 2191-6128, ISSN (Print) 2191-611X, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cercles-2016-0018.

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