This vocabulary concerns terms related to learning, schools, and fields of study.

Levels of Education:

• basisschool (primary school, elementary school)
• middelbare school (secondary school, high school)
• Levels within (may vary): VMBO, HAVO, VWO
• MBO (middelbaar beroepsonderwijs - vocational training)
• HBO (hoger beroepsonderwijs - higher professional education, university of applied sciences)
• universiteit (university - research oriented)

People:

• leerling (pupil - usually primary/secondary school)
• scholier (student - usually secondary school)
• student / studente (student m/f - usually MBO, HBO, university)
• leraar / lerares (teacher - school)
• docent / docente (teacher/lecturer - MBO, HBO, university)
• professor / hoogleraar (professor - university)

Places and Things:

• school (school)
• klas (class/group of students)
• lokaal / klaslokaal (classroom)
• les (lesson)
• vak (subject)
• Examples: Nederlands (Dutch), Engels (English), wiskunde (maths), geschiedenis (history), aardrijkskunde (geography), biologie (biology)
• boek (book)
• schrift (notebook)
• pen, potlood (pencil)
• tas (bag)
• bord (board)
• computer
• bibliotheek (library)
• diploma (diploma, degree certificate)

Actions and Concepts:

• leren (to learn)
• studeren (to study - usually higher education)
• les hebben / les volgen (to have class / attend class)
• huiswerk (maken) ((to do) homework)
• toets (test)
• examen (exam)
• slagen (voor een examen) (to pass (an exam))
• zakken (voor een examen) (to fail (an exam))
• cijfer / punt (grade/mark/point)
• opleiding (education program, course of study)
• inschrijven (to enroll, to register)
• collegegeld (tuition fee)

Asking about Education:

• Welke opleiding volg je? (What program are you following?)
• In welk jaar zit je? (What year are you in?)
• Wat is je favoriete vak? (What is your favourite subject?)

This vocabulary is useful for discussing past or present studies and educational experiences.