Dutch Language, Literature and Culture

Dutch Language, Literature and Culture is a bachelor programme, offerd every two years and offered as a major and minor.

The objective of the studies of Dutch language, literature, and culture is to acquire knowledge at the level of practical linguistic competences, at the B2 level of the practical Dutch according to the ERR, as well as the acquisition of knowledge in the field of the professional philological foundation, especially in the field of linguistics, literature and history and culture of the Dutch Language Area as well as gaining a basic insight into the theory and practice of translation, whereas the follow-up Master study Translation of Romance and Germanic Languages, where Dutch can be studied as specializations. An important part is also gaining the basic knowledge of business Dutch with due to the employment opportunities of the graduates of the programme.

Dutch is the language that students start with when entering the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, so we place great emphasis on its adequate acquisition

Students will get acquainted with the basic synchronous and diachronic approaches to the language, with the basics of literary theory and the students of Ducht as a major learn the application especially on contemporary literature. Students of a major will also gain theoretical and practical knowledge of the methodology of professional work.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• use professional and practical knowledge of Dutch on ERR B2 level acquired during study of Dutch
• continue in master study and work on the knowledge of the practical Dutch and linguistic, cultural, literary and translation knowledge
• work critically with professional Dutch texts at both receptive and productive levels
• basic business communication in Dutch according to Dutch and Belgian customs orally and in written form
• translate a basic commercial text from and into Dutch, orientate in the basic terminology of translatology and basic translatology
• at B2 level to analyze and comment on the Dutch and Belgian situations on the basis of historical knowledge

The graduate of the field is linguistically equipped at the B2 level in Dutch and is able to cultivate oral and written expression in the language studied, but also in the mother tongue. He is capable of critical thinking and is equipped with excellent knowledge of the language, literature, culture, history and politics of Dutch-speaking countries.

The graduate will easily find employment in international companies or institutions, where an excellent knowledge of Dutch is a prerequisite. The graduate easily finds work not only in the Czech Republic, but also abroad.

He can also work as a translator of commercial texts and beautiful literature, as a teacher in a language school not only in the Czech Republic, in diplomatic services as an employee of embassies or Czech cultural centers in the Netherlands and can help create dictionaries as a language consultant. It can be used, for example, in libraries, museums, archives, theaters and other institutions.

The graduate will also have a great job in the tourism industry as a guide, PR manager in travel agencies, where he can pass on his expertise in the Netherlands.

Practice is not an obligatory part of the study but it is possible to take the subject Professional experience within an international firm with a department for the Dutch language and it is also possible to start a practical internship within the Erasmus + program. Practice is recommended in the last semester or immediately after graduation. The subject called Project can be a part of practice, the students have the opportunity to connect theoretical knowledge with practical outputs.

A standard scope of a Bachelor's thesis ranges from 72,000 to 90,000 characters including footnotes, cover sheet, content, index, list of literature, and annotations. A Bachelor's thesis does not have the character of an independent empirical research (potential exception shall be approved by the thesis supervisor). Students can work with already published texts and data accessible for secondary analysis. They should demonstrate the ability to work critically with specialized texts, process the concepts and theories discovered there, and find relevant answers to the given question.

The aim of the bachelor thesis is an individual work in the field of lingsuitics, literature of history and culture of the Netherlands and Belgium within which the students will gain a deeper insight in the chosen topic.

Do you want to sail with us? We will be happy to welcome you in the follow-up master's study of Translation of Romance and Germanic Languages: specialization Dutch.