Call for Applications:

Dutch language-course in June 2018 at Columbia University for Graduate Students (tuition-free)

Applications are invited for a month-long course in modern Dutch, early modern Dutch/paleography, and archival research in Belgium (Flanders)*, each section of which can be taken separately. The course is free-of-charge. Funding has been provided through the Nederlandse Taalunie and by the University of Amsterdam.

The course has three distinct sections, and students may apply to any or all three (with the exception that students cannot apply to only the third section in Belgium). A single letter of application will suffice for any section(s) of the course, but applicants should be sure to include the appropriate supporting materials for the particular section(s) of the course to which application is being made. Applicants are requested to clearly state which sections they are applying to, by stating it in boldface on the letter of purpose.

APPLICATIONS FOR ALL SESSIONS ARE DUE MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2018

– two weeks of Modern Dutch for Reading Knowledge [(Week I & II (6/4 – 6/7 & 6/11 – 6/14)]

– one week of 17th-century Dutch/paleography [(Week III (6/18 -6 /21)]

– one week archival workshop in Belgium (Flanders) [(Week IV (6/25 – 6/28)]

(All weeks run from Mondays through Thursdays)

* At the point of issuance of this Call for Applications, the fourth week in Flanders is tentative and will depend on additional funding and number of participants.

Descriptions of the courses and requirements for admission to each section

 

Week I & II: Modern Dutch for Reading Knowledge

This section will cover reading skills, grammar and vocabulary in modern Dutch.

Open to all students with the equivalent of 2 semesters or more of Dutch (or 4 semesters of German or equivalent) at the university level. Students must submit evidence of competence in the language. Preference will be given to students enrolled in a PhD program, although M.A students may apply. Students who are unsure if their level of Dutch is satisfactory should contact Wijnie de Groot to arrange an evaluation ([email protected]).

 

Week III: 17th-century Dutch texts/paleography workshop

The workshop will cover reading strategies of 17th-century printed and handwritten texts.

Open to all students with the equivalent of 3 semesters or more of Dutch or 2 full years of German at the university level. Students must submit evidence of competence in the language. In addition, students should submit a letter of application explaining their reason for registration. Preference will be given to students enrolled in a PhD program, although M.A students may apply.

Week IV: Archival workshop in Flanders

This workshop is planned to take place in Flanders (but is at this point tentative and will depend on funding) and will introduce students to archives and other available sources such as those at university libraries and museums. Space for this week willl be limited and highly competitive.

Preference will be given to PhD candidates who are ready to start dissertation research. This week is not open to M.A. students.

Email Wijnie de Groot at [email protected] for additional information.

PREREQUISITES

Applicants for the Flanders portion of the course must

– have completed MA thesis and first-year of graduate work at the Phd level

– be enrolled in a PhD program

– must be at or close to the stage of planning the dissertation research and have a good idea of the kinds of sources that will be

– submit a letter of support from advisor or principal faculty member: the letter should endorse the usefulness of the trip and the archival experience, in the expectation that it will lead to archival work for the thesis.

– submit a letter of purpose: it should explain how the training will advance their ongoing or planned research for a doctoral thesis necessary (including an indication of what stage the applicant is in their program: first-year, second-year, etc.)

– show evidence of competence in reading skills in modern Dutch. To do so, applicants must pass a written language test or provide a letter from an instructor of Dutch at the university level attesting to adequate reading skills. Please contact Wijnie de Groot to schedule a language test.

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All applications, along with supporting documents, should be emailed to Wijnie de Groot at [email protected]. They are due March 5, 2018

Inquiries should also be directed to Wijnie de Groot at that email address.