When basic Dutch is no longer enough

In terms of language, the Netherlands is an easy country to live in as an expat. With English and basic knowledge of Dutch, you can get by just fine. Until basic Dutch is no longer enough.

You may notice it when you see a great vacancy that requires Dutch. Or when you feel your Dutch is holding you back from a promotion or an important presentation. Or when you realise that conversations with your child’s teacher remain too limited.

If the Dutch language is starting to get in your way, it is time to take the next step.

The next step in Dutch

Reaching a basic level in Dutch is a great achievement. But once you want to use the language in more complex situations, you may notice that different skills are required. You need to be able to express nuance, respond spontaneously, understand informal language and feel confident enough to speak even when you are not entirely sure. That is often the moment when a tailor-made Dutch course makes the difference.

Adapting your course to your level

At Regina Coeli, we adapt your course precisely to your level and teach you exactly what you need. We do this by first accurately assessing your current skills and challenges, and then working on what you need to learn in private lessons with native speakers, according to a personal lesson plan.

During your training course, you work on the points that are holding you back. This can be very personal. In an advanced training programme, we often deal with:

• sentence structure, the use of the articles ‘het’ and ‘de’ and other grammar that is easy to make mistakes with,
• improving pronunciation,
• expressions and sayings that the Dutch often use which can also add colour to your language use, and
• errors that have crept into your Dutch over time.

Practising with other course members

In addition to the practice you get in your lessons, you can practice with other course members at the institute: people who are also working on their Dutch, or Dutch people learning another language at Regina Coeli. For example, at lunch you might meet an HR manager who is improving her English, spend the afternoon break on the terrace with a technician who often visits Germany, and enjoy the evening in the bar with a Dutchman learning Italian because he is spending the summer in Tuscany.

In the Dutch department at Regina Coeli, you also meet all sorts of course members who hail from different countries, and have different professions and very different Dutch skill levels. There are people who have just arrived in the Netherlands and still have to get used to the sounds of the language. The advanced course members already sound almost like native speakers to their ears.

What all the training courses at Regina Coeli have in common

And yet one student’s training appears to be very similar to another. What all the training courses at Regina Coeli have in common:

• You receive one-to-one lessons from highly educated native speakers
• The lessons are fully tailored to your level and purposes
• There is an emphasis on speaking, also in grammar lessons
• Your course day follows a fixed rhythm, alternating between lessons, independent study hours and breaks in which you have the opportunity to practise the language on your own
• Your lesson materials and the e-learning exercises are designed and selected by Regina Coeli language trainers, so they dovetail seamlessly with what you do in the lessons
• You have all sorts of opportunities to relax and to meet and get to know other students at the institute

If basic Dutch is no longer enough for your career, your family life or your confidence in everyday situations, Regina Coeli can help you take the next step. With a Dutch course tailored to your level, goals and challenges, you work on exactly the language skills that are holding you back.