Dutch Courses we offer

Below, you can find all courses Learn Dutch Fast offers for different levels of Dutch and a description of those courses. If you do not know what level you should look for, check the levels section. Please contact me in case you have problems finding what you are looking for.

You may notice that I do not offer one-hour-a-week lessons for beginners. I try to avoid these, as they can be a frustrating and slow way to learn. It takes about 30 hours to learn the basics of a language, after which you can start using it on your own. This is most effective when done as an intensive week, so interruptions (holidays, business trips etc.) won't slow down your learning process.

It could take more than 50 weeks before you can speak Dutch if you try to master it in a one-hour-a-week format, compared to just one week in an intensive immersion formula.

So that's why I strongly advise beginners to join an immersion course only!

Dutch Course

Courses per level

 

Level 1 - Discover Dutch
• Total Immersion Course 1
• Private Immersion 1

 

Level 1.5 - Who's Afraid of Dutch?
• Total Immersion Course 1.5
• Private Immersion 1.5
• Theme-Based Immersion 1.5
• Use Your Dutch
• Special Events

 

Level 2 - Now you're talking!
• Total Immersion Course 2
• Private Immersion 2
• Theme-Based Immersion 2
• Use Your Dutch
• Language Exchange
• Distance Learning
• Private Sessions
• Special Events

 

Level 3 - Op naar de Top
• Total Immersion Course 3
• Private Immersion 3
• Theme-Based Immersion 3
• Use Your Dutch
• Language Exchange
• Distance Learning
• Private Sessions
• Special Events

 

Course Descriptions

Total Immersion Courses

Total Immersion Courses are lessons over a number of consecutive days. In order to learn a new language quickly and effectively, you need immediacy: immediate practice of the newly-learnt language patterns. This allows new neuro-pathways to develop and the new language to embed. Mistakes made are immediately corrected within the immersed environment and confidence comes from the immediate practice of the language. This reduces the stress or fear of making mistakes, as they are dealt with immediately.

If time lapses between sessions, mistakes can become embedded which will then need to be unlearned. This causes delays in fluency and can sometimes be accompanied by feelings of failure which affect motivation.

Therefore, immersion courses are the best way to learn a new language, especially for beginners.

Below, you can find all the different Immersion Courses Learn Dutch Fast offers.

 

Total Immersion Course - Level 1 intensive course (Group or Private)

During a 5-day Total Immersion 1, you will take part in countless well-chosen activities in order to build your confidence, vocabulary, pronunciation and understanding of Dutch. You'll have the opportunity to use all your senses.

Buying groceries, making a doctor's appointment, ordering in a restaurant, asking for directions, talking to your neighbours and more things you need to survive in Dutch will be tackled in this class.

Click here for a full description and an overview of subjects dealt with in a Total Immersion 1.

Objective: Learn the basics of Dutch: enough words to survive in Holland, tools to make a sentence and train your ears for Dutch sounds. After this course, you can start using your Dutch and move right on to level 2 (so skip level 1.5!).
Group size: 1-5
Duration: 5 consecutive days (10.30-16.30)
What to expect: Never a dull moment, lots of moving around and inspiring activities to master the basics of Dutch. There will be sufficient opportunity to practice your Dutch with native speakers in shops, restaurants etc.
Next course: Click here for the course schedule and fees.

 

Total Immersion Course - Level 1.5 intensive course (Group or Private)

Total Immersions are lessons over a number of consecutive days.

During Total Immersion Courses, newly learned vocabulary/structures will be implemented in the lesson.

Level 1.5 is designed for students who have learned about Dutch, but have had no opportunity/confidence to speak it.

Note: Students who have completed a Total Immersion 1 at Learn Dutch Fast can usually skip this level and move on to level 2 right away.

Objective: To activate your Dutch by speaking, speaking, speaking, and filling the gaps, so you can move on to level 2.
Group size: 1-5
Duration: 5 days
What to expect: The participants send me their wishes with their registration form. So YOU decide about the contents of this course.
Next course: Click here for the course schedule and fees.

 

Total Immersion Course - Levels 2 & 3 intensive course (Group or Private)

Total Immersions are lessons over a number of consecutive days.

If time lapses between sessions, mistakes can become embedded which then will need to be unlearned. This causes delays in fluency and can sometimes be accompanied by feelings of failure which affect motivation.

During Total Immersion Courses, newly learned vocabulary/structures will be implemented in the lesson.
Objective: To move to the next level quickly by using only Dutch the whole day long, in all imaginable situations.
Group size: 1-5
Duration: 3-5 days
What to expect: The participants send me their wishes with their registration form. So YOU decide about the contents of this course.
Next course: See the course schedule and fees for level 2 and level 3.

 

Theme-Based Immersions - Levels 1.5 to 3 intensive course (Group or Private)

Total Immersions are lessons over a number of consecutive days.

During most of the theme-based courses, you will get a new identity and have a role in a specially designed play (using suggestopedia, which is a special teaching method); if you wish, you can make a new start and develop your new identity.

In other theme-based courses, the material and activities will be organised around 1 theme without such a play, e.g. for 3 or more participants who are working for the same company, a theme around that company could be created.

Examples of themes used in the past: Through the eyes of Vermeer, journalists, au pairs, Be Dutch, Flight Attendants, Mom & Tods, Dentists, Natural Horsemanship, Mind Full or Mindful?, Healthy Life, Be Creative, Getting to know Holland, In love with a Dutchie, Adoption Procedure, Pass your Golf Exam (GVB), Pass your Driver's License Exam (in Dutch of course), courses for law students / lawyers and many more!

Objective: You will not only improve your Dutch, but also learn very interesting things related to the chosen theme. Sometimes, you'll even forget that you ARE learning Dutch.
Group size: 1-5
Duration: 3-5 days
What to expect: The theme will be used as glue to string all the activities together. There might be a presentation in the end, delivered by YOU to one or more native Dutch people.
Next course: Click here for the course schedule and fees.

 

Use Your Dutch - Levels 1.5 to 3 (Group)

Stop learning the language, and start speaking it! Seriously, stop studying Dutch so much! A language can't be treated like a subject in school such as history or biology; in the real world you cannot 'fail' when you make a certain number of mistakes. Other people are very helpful when you are genuinely trying to speak with them.

I can assure you: if you start speaking now with the little you know, you will indeed make mistakes but other speakers and natives will forgive you for this and you will realize that you have the ability to communicate and get your point across.

(This text is borrowed from www.fluentin3months.com, a very informative blog from Benny Lewis for those who are trying to learn any new language. Above, a picture of him in one of my classes.)

This is the exact reason why I regularly organize events with lots of opportunity to use your Dutch, have fun and improve! A few examples are given below. (for the current "Use Your Dutch" sessions, please see our schedule):

Objective: Have fun & use your Dutch, meet other Dutch Learners.
Group size: 2-10
Duration: 2 - 3 hrs
What to expect: Either very informative lectures given by professionals in their field, or an opportunity to use your Dutch with other Dutch learners or native Dutch.
Next course: Click here for the course schedule and fees.

Examples:

Wine Tasting

No comments ;-)

 

Dutch Morning

Take part in an activity such as an art class, horseback riding, karaoke singing, portrait drawing or murder mysteries. Everybody is welcome, regardless of their level of proficiency. Even native Dutch speakers are welcome.

These mornings were developed for the participants of our Total Immersion level 1 course to show them that you don't have to speak Dutch fluently in order to enjoy yourself in Holland. It will also show them that you can pick up a lot of Dutch in real-life situations as soon as you have a basic knowledge of the language.

Please join us to help others to start enjoying speaking Dutch or to start your own Dutch journey! (Most of the time, there will be word lists available for those who would like to prepare for the activity.)

Native Dutch speakers are very welcome as well!

 

Movie Night

Watch a Dutch movie! With subtitles, printed dialogues or activities to help you understand the story.

 

Walk & Talk

(Award Winning Conversation Activity!)

Walk in a beautiful area while using & improving your Dutch! Have a conversation with the other participants. Join us with Dutch Drills and other fun activities while walking! Just bring nice weather ;-)

 

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

Everybody can learn how to draw! (Yes, you too!) With the method of Betty Edwards, "Drawing on the right side of the brain". During this FUN 3-hour workshop (for people who think they can't draw, but also for more advanced artists!), you will learn to really LOOK and outwit your brain ;-)

(This workshop can also be booked for a party in your house in Dutch or in English. Please click here for more information.)

You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the pdf-files. If you do not have this, please click on the image below to download for free:

 

Language Exchange - Levels 2 & 3

A (tandem) language exchange means that you find a native speaker of Dutch who wants to improve in your own language. You can meet and use half of the time for Dutch, and the other half for your mother tongue.

If you are able to have simple conversations in your target language, you can just set up your own free & exclusive trainings, at home or in a café or wherever you want.

To help you get started, I can show you during a 2-hour kick-off meeting how you could fill in your time together and the pitfalls you have to be aware of.

I have received the European Award for Innovative Teaching for one of these tandem projects in cooperation with Talen voor Talent.

You will receive a workbook with tips and a variety of exercises to work on together with your language partner. (This pdf-workbook can also be ordered without participating in this training for €9,95).

Please contact me if you would like me to help you finding a language partner or if you would like to order the pdf.
Objective: Experience the pros & cons of tandem learning, so your future tandem sessions (without a language trainer) will become a huge success. Of course, you will practice your target language 50% of the time.
Group size: 2-20
Duration: 2 hrs
What to expect: Short, fun & effective language activities to get an idea of the possibilities of tandem learning.
Next course: Click here for the course schedule and fees.

 

Distance Learning - Levels 2 & 3

Distance Learning is the perfect way to improve your Dutch if you have moved abroad and still want to continue learning Dutch, or for very advanced speakers, for whom the best way to cross the t's and dot the i's will be by writing. (That way, minor mistakes will not be overlooked. In general, when you make small mistakes in your conversations, people won't correct you.)

Objective: To improve your vocabulary, structure, grammar and/or get rid of the last persistent mistakes.
Group size: 1
Duration: 10-15 weeks
What to expect: For 10 weeks, you'll receive assignments by e-mail to improve your written Dutch. When completed and returned they will be sent back to you with feedback.

Odd weeks: An assignment chosen from a list of ideas or any subject that suits you. You can also hand in two or more shorter texts. Even weeks: A tailored exercise based on your assignment from the previous week. E.g. a translation exercise or a grammar exercise.

Next course: Click here for the course schedule and fees.

 

Private Sessions - Levels 2 & 3

Private sessions are effective in dealing with specific problems (e.g. pronunciation, past tense, construction).

Objective: Tackle a specific problem.
Group size: 1
Duration: 2 - 3 consecutive hours
What to expect: You decide what the program will be.
Next course: Click here for the course schedule and fees.

 

Special Events - Levels 1.5 to 3

Special events, such as courses for children (only in specific cases, usually children learn best while playing with Dutch friends), for business language, exam training, ladies only, grammar day, an evening with an interesting guest speaker, a MBTI -training, courses for other languages (taught by excellent, native guest teachers), you name it!

You can also create your own project. Please contact me for more information.

Some of the special courses have been running more than once in more or less the same format.These are explained below in more detail.

Objective: To meet other Dutch Learners, to speak and improve your Dutch and to learn more than just Dutch.
Group size: 2-20 (depending on the event)
Duration: - (depending on the event)
What to expect: It depends on the event what to expect, but it will always be fun & effective!
Next course: Click here for the course schedule and fees.

Examples:

Ladies Only

Join me for 2 or 3 days during a mini-holiday in various beautiful locations in the Netherlands. We will stay in a simple, but comfortable hotel. Sightseeing, walking, reading, SPEAKING, games, workshops, watching a movie and whatever else you would like to do during a short holiday. All in Dutch of course! Now and then, a (hidden) grammar activity will pop up to bring you to a higher level.

 

MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, possible in Dutch or English)

Whatever your personality type is, it affects all aspects of your life. Find out your type and how knowing more about it can help you in communicating with people, teaching, planning your future, and even getting to know yourself better.

I'm a certified MBTI-Trainer, and I promise you a very interesting course, with lots of humour and situations you can identify with. A nice pastime for you and your partner, or for a ladies night out.

 

Teacher Training (Not only for language trainers!)

During this participant-centered train-the-trainer session, I will show trainers how to use their material in a more creative & tailored way, and/or generate solutions for the problems they encounter in their lessons.

You will be challenged to think about your lesson plans. There are no rights or wrongs, just as long as you have thought about why you plan a certain activity for that specific group: Why that song? Why exactly those new words?

The course will also provide information about how a facilitator can build a more brain-engaging environment and an opportunity to experience and experiment with some new techniques for creating active learning sessions, using the Accelerated Learning Method.

The experience of the participating teachers will be mixed with that of the trainer into a heap of valuable ideas and solutions.

You can also come for a personal session to make your presentation/training/workshop interactive, conform to the Accelerated Learning Cycle and be suitable for all learning styles.
Objective: Improve your lesson/ training/ workshop/ presentation dramatically.
Group size: 4-20
Duration: 3 hrs up to 5 days
What to expect: A very informative training in which your questions about teaching will be the theme.
Next course: Click here for the course schedule and fees.

 


Welcome to Learn Dutch Fast

Horstweg 6

7245 TB Laren (GLD)

The Netherlands