The bilingual course at the Marnix College
Since 1995, the Marnix College in Ede has offered a bilingual course, the so-called ‘TVWO’. This is a separate stream which resembles the regular secondary school “VWO” programme, but which encompasses a number of important ‘extras’:
- In the first year approximately 70% of the lessons are taught in English; the rest in Dutch.
- A lot of attention is paid to internationalization: the students learn about how people abroad think and live. In fact, they go abroad themselves practically every year.
Student information
At first, suddenly hearing English all the time and having to speak it yourself might prove to be a problem, but you will get used to it soon enough. In the bilingual stream, there is an average of 25 students per class, so you will be able to concentrate better and you will get more attention from the teacher.
Requirements
You don’t have to be a genius to be able to attend the bilingual course. You do need to be motivated. Other requirements are:
- ‘VWO’-level advice from your primary school.
- A/A+ scores in primary school reports
- You need to pass an entrance examination.
- You will have to talk to us about your motivation and chances of finishing the course successfully.
Registration
Because of the selection procedure, early registration is required. You should be registered before the 1st of March 2020. Primary schools are involved in the registration procedure. You can always contact the head of the bilingual department, Ms. Poot:
Email: C.Poot@marnixcollege.nl
You can also write to:
Marnix College Ede
Postbus 8037
6710 AA Ede
Excursions
As mentioned above, students in the bilingual department go on excursions annually. In the first year, the students go to Langweer, together with students from the international schools of Rotterdam and Arnhem. During this period, you will speak English with your new friends. Together you get involved in several outdoor (water-based) activities, such as sailing or canoeing. In the second year, Edinburgh is the destination. During this week, the students will stay with host families and explore the city and its surroundings. In the third year the trip will be to Cambridge and London.
In the fourth year you will make your most important excursion of the bilingual course: a practical period, which we refer to as your “internship” (in Dutch “Stage”). The idea is that you travel alone, or with a classmate to a country where English is the official language; where you will be immersed in the English language for a period of two weeks. During these two weeks (or more if you include a school holiday), you will have to work at a company or go to a school. You will stay with a host family. You will have to organize this trip yourself, so keep up in touch with your relatives abroad!
Graduation Tassels
CPE
After attending the first three years of the bilingual course, you will be able to attend the Honours programme. The aim of this programme is to develop students’ ability to express themselves in both oral and written communication. Successful completion of this course will result in the award of a Cambridge Prociency certificate, enabling the students to gain access to universities across the world.