Proud to be tvmbo - Kortlopend Onderwijsonderzoek

1 Introduction and background
1.1 Introduction
Chapter 1 provides a short introduction to bilingual tvmbo and the reasons for this research
project.
1.2 Bilingual education in tvmbo : why?
Tvmbo is growing and has had some prominent attention in recent press reports – in
magazines and newspapers, on the Internet and the television. Here are a few headlines:
‘Tweetalig onderwijs ook op vmbo een succes’, ‘Engels voor lasser en monteur
in spe’, ‘Meer tweetalig onderwijs voor vmbo-leerlingen’, ‘Twintig scholen starten
tweetalig vmbo’, ‘Onderwijs op steeds meer vmbo-scholen in twee talen’, ‘Tweetalig
onderwijs nu ook op vmbo’.
But why is it important to work in English in vmbo? School managers and teachers tell
in the press enthusiastically and anecdotally about the success of tvmbo. Some refer to
the fact that vmbo students should also have the chance, as well as their havo and vwo
peers, to learn through English. Others suggest that their students are becoming more
skilled in languages and more language oriented, both in English and Dutch, since they
are more aware of language. Yet others are enthusiastic about how motivating bilingual
vmbo is for their students and that their self-confidence improves.
Interviews with professionals show that English is needed in the workplace: for instance,
workers need to be able to read instructions for machines or drawings in English,
or to communicate with international clients. They don’t only need to understand
spoken and written English but need to be correct themselves when speaking and writing
in English. For example, Dutch companies make products for the English-speaking
market, so labels and instructions need to be written in English and international communication
(e-mails, communication in the work place) is often in English.
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