From our blog
News, developments and articles from Regina Coeli
Making small talk in Dutch
Despite Dutch directness, you’ll need to—if you wish to truly integrate into Dutch culture—be prepared to make a bit of small talk in Dutch. By being able to chat about any number of general subjects, you’ll connect with your colleagues, neighbours and business partners. It’s a valuable skill which you can quickly feel at ease using, because you don’t actually need a great deal of vocabulary for it.
How to choose the right moment to start learning Dutch after moving to the Netherlands
When you’ve just arrived in the Netherlands, you face an important decision: are you going to learn Dutch? And when will you do that: right away or after you settle in a bit?
A flying start in Dutch at Regina Coeli
Learning a new language takes time. It can sometimes take years before you have a good command of a foreign language. But there are ways to speed up the process—not by using Duolingo or taking group lessons, but by taking an intensive individual course at Regina Coeli, also known as ‘the Nuns of Vught’. Even with zero knowledge of Dutch, you can reach ‘A2’ level in just two weeks.
How learning Dutch can help you feel more at home in the Netherlands
You moved to the Netherlands for a reason. A job, a new opportunity, a fresh chapter in your life. You want to succeed at work, enjoy your time here and feel that you are building a life that truly works for you. Learning Dutch can help with that. A few words, a short conversation or the confidence to join in can already make the Netherlands feel more like home.
Language learning methods compared
There are many ways to learn a language. You can practise independently with apps or course books. You can take weekly lessons, go abroad or follow an intensive course. In this article, we list the main ways to learn a language. This gives you a clear view of the differences, benefits and limits of each route.
How to improve your Dutch pronunciation
For many internationals, Dutch pronunciation is one of the hardest parts of learning the language. The good news is that pronunciation can be trained. Improvement usually does not come from trying to sound perfect straight away. It comes from becoming more aware of how Dutch sounds, how your own pronunciation differs, and what you can adjust step by step.