Filip first took a group course in Dutch for work and study at VU-NT2. He then continued learning Dutch at the department where he works. Together with his colleagues, he participates in the Basic Dutch course, especially for the international staff of Informatica. There have already been 6 modules of this tailor-made course. Filip talks about his experiences learning Dutch at and for his work.

"After the basic course, I am now taking the B1-B2^* course, where we learn important words and phrases dealing with, for example, law, crime journalism and medicine. Now I can follow news reports and discussions on these topics well. I talk Dutch to people at the gym and when rowing. I hope I will soon be able to speak Dutch with my colleagues as well. And I finally read my first Dutch book! I now also watch Dutch videos and TV shows, but mostly still with English subtitles.

Any VU employee who wants to learn Dutch I would recommend the course. We learn a lot from our teacher Rachel but it is also very interactive. We talk about our plans, events and personal opinions. We learn about Dutch culture and values.

My advice to colleagues: you do need to make sure you have time for a language course. If you are busy, it might be better to choose a less intensive course, as we are doing now in Computer Science. And another piece of advice: above all, try to have fun with the course. Learning a language can be so rewarding!"

Incompany coordinator and NT2 teacher Rachel Zuilhof on the course:
This Basic Dutch course is tailor-made for Informatica's team of international staff. Its aim is to communicate in Dutch both at work and in your private life. As colleagues work together, it also creates more social cohesion in the workplace. The language course is mainly online, as many employees are often travelling in connection with their work, and we also meet live once every 5 weeks in a 'language café'. Then we do only what the course participants like to practice; ordering something in a restaurant, presenting about your favourite hobby, giving a tour of the workplace, playing games with the vocabulary learned, discussing a book (Anne Frank) and so on. The course started in February 2021 and by now almost all the participants have achieved the target B2 language level. They will take the exam in February 2025. After these years, the participants have naturally developed a very special bond. Children have been born, promotions have been made, relocations have taken place, marriages have taken place and the participants can tell about them in Dutch! I am proud! All this took place because Hellen Drooger maintained good contact with the participants and with the coordinator in company.

View the possibilities for a tailor-made Dutch course here

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