Language and subject knowledge go hand in hand: How KIK prepares ISK students for the future

Why is it important for ISK students to get to know content and practical subjects early on?

After ISK, students move on to secondary education (vo) or vocational education (mbo). Depending on their age and language level, they often join in the second year. Their classmates already have an advantage — not only in language, but also in knowledge of text types and academic skills like note-taking, summarizing, presenting, and digital literacy. It’s therefore essential that ISK students get to practice those skills while still in ISK. With KIK, we aim to reduce that gap in knowledge and study skills. There’s also another reason: by exploring different subjects within ISK, students can discover their own interests and talents. This helps them with career orientation and making informed choices about their profile, internships, or further education.

How did you choose the themes?

We drew inspiration from the learning objectives for pre-vocational and practical education set by SLO and studied regular subject-based methods. From there, we selected themes that would be realistic and feasible for all ISK schools. Not every school, for example, has facilities for technical experiments, so we adapted those activities accordingly. We also wanted the themes to be recognizable and relevant to ISK students.

Your latest module, KIK Mens en Praktijk, has just been released. How does it support both language development and subject learning?

We based the themes and lessons on the learning goals and content of practical subjects and linked them to language objectives from the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). This helps students progress step by step from level A1 to A2+. In the first theme, we stay close to everyday life — learning about household appliances or personal care. Later, more abstract topics are introduced, like recycling waste or building a self-driving mini car. Each theme brings together multiple practical domains — such as cooking, horticulture, and technology. Every theme includes listening and reading materials, allowing students to practice comprehension, summarizing, and presentation skills while also gaining subject knowledge.

Can you give an example of what a typical lesson looks like?

Students start in the online environment, where they can access podcasts, videos, and texts related to the theme. These include both academic words (like around or in addition to) and subject-specific vocabulary (like detergent). They practice vocabulary through exercises and record new words in their personal vocabulary notebook — including a translation, example sentence, and sometimes a drawing. Next come content-focused exercises, such as summarizing a text or organizing information in a chart. Each lesson ends with a productive group task from the workbook — for example, completing a “water challenge” or creating hygiene tips together. All tasks are designed to be practical and feasible for every school setting. Teachers also have access to extensive supplementary materials, including feedback suggestions and instructional guidance.

How does KIK Mens en Praktijk help students progress from A1 to A2+?

We do this primarily through systematic vocabulary development in every lesson. We assume that students already know the 1,000 most frequent Dutch words — that’s the foundation. Then, for each theme, we select around 75 target words, many of which come from the Core School Language Word List. Across KIK  Mens en Praktijk, students learn about 350 new words in total. This structured approach builds a strong foundation for further language growth.

Did you involve ISK teachers in the development process?

Yes, we worked closely with a teacher advisory group throughout. They reviewed draft lessons and gave feedback — for instance, suggesting that the online exercises should focus even more on subject content. We also distributed a trial lesson at the LOWAN-vo study day, which generated valuable input from teachers. Their feedback helped make the method even stronger.

What key skills do students take with them for further study?

In addition to language proficiency, they develop important academic and social skills: collaborating, discussing, making agreements, and dividing tasks. They also practice planning and research skills. All of these help ensure a smooth transition to mainstream education.

How does KIK fit within the different ISK pathways?

KIK is highly versatile. KIK Mens en praktijk is aimed at routes 1 and 2, while KIK Mens en maatschappij aligns more with routes 2 and 3. Together, the two modules cover the entire ISK range!

How can schools start using KIK?

KIK can be implemented in various ways. Some schools use it within NT2 lessons, while others integrate it into content-based or practical subjects. Often, schools combine KIK with a foundational NT2 course such as DISK.