taalgerichte

Taalgerichte is a Dutch term used to describe approaches, materials, and policies that prioritize language in learning, communication, and assessment. The term combines taal (language) with gericht (directed toward), indicating that language is the central objective or focus of the activity. In practice, taalgerichte approaches embed language development and language use as core elements within broader tasks, rather than treating language as a peripheral skill.

In education, taalgerichte didactics integrate language objectives with subject content. Examples include vocabulary-focused tasks embedded in science or history, explicit instruction in grammar within reading and writing activities, and discourse-based classroom interactions that develop argumentation and metacognitive skills. In policy and evaluation, taalgerichte measures promote language access, multilingual support, and the use of language-aware assessment to reflect students’ diverse linguistic repertoires.

In other contexts, such as media and public communication, taalgerichte practices emphasize clear phrasing, audience-targeted language, and linguistic accessibility to reach broader audiences. Proponents argue that language is foundational for learning and social participation, making taalgerichte approaches essential for inclusive education and effective communication. Critics warn that an overly language-centric focus can crowd out subject knowledge if not balanced with domain-specific goals.

The term is commonly discussed in Dutch-language discussions of didactics and educational policy, as well as in sociolinguistics and language planning, where it is often contrasted with vakgerichte (subject-centered) approaches and other paradigms that emphasize different priorities. See also language education, multilingualism, didactics.