Start your linguistic adventure into the Dutch language here. Thanks to the similarities with English, both in terms of vocabulary and grammar, you will have a leg up and make fast strides in achieving your Dutch language goals.

Course outline

This course will help you develop basic Dutch language skills - integrating speaking, writing, listening and reading skills through a communicative and interactive teaching approach. Grammar patterns and new vocabulary are offered in the context of conversations or real-life situations – giving you ample opportunity to apply what you learn straight away! Along the way, you will also learn more about the culture and customs of Dutch-speaking countries.  

Homework

You will be encouraged to revise the course materials on a regular basis and complete weekly tasks (grammar exercises and writing tasks). To get the most out of the course, it is recommended that you spend between one and two hours per week on revision and homework.  

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

·       engage in simple conversations about the below topics

·       express your opinion about these topics 

·       write short descriptive texts about these topics 

·       You will also have developed a basic understanding (and hopefully appreciation) of culture and customs.

Unit 1

Talk about yourself, ask and answer questions, practice the alphabet.

e.g. Ik ben Manon, dat spel je M-A-N-O-N. Ik woon in Canberra. Waar woon jij?

Unit 2

Talk about someone else, ask and answer questions about them, practice the personal pronouns. 

e.g. Dit is Marco. Hij is een zanger. Ik hou van zijn muziek.

Unit 3

Talk about your family, practice the numbers and the verbs 'hebben' and 'zijn'.

e.g. Ik heb drie kinderen. Mijn dochter heeft blond haar. Zij is 12 jaar oud.

Unit 4

Talk about the weather and the seasons, practice the days and months, practice articles ('de' vs. 'het').

e.g. Ik ben jarig in oktober. Het regent dan vaak. Zaterdag wordt het mooi weer.

Unit 5

Talk about food, ask for things in shops/markets, list the ingredients for a dish, practice the plurals.

e.g. Heeft u courgettes? De ingrediënten voor stamppot zijn aardappelen en groenten.

Unit 6

Talk about food (continued), describe the taste and colour, practice negatives ('geen' vs. 'niet')

e.g. Ik hou van zoete rode appels. Ik heb geen bananen.

Unit 7

Talk about transport, give directions

e.g. Ik ga met de fiets naar het werk. Kan u mij de weg naar het station wijzen? Neem de tweede straat links.

Unit 8

Talk about travel and holidays, practice the modal verbs ‘willen’, ‘kunnen’, ‘mogen’ and ‘moeten’.

e.g. Mijn ideale vakantie is een kampeervakantie in de natuur. Ik kan nu niet naar Europa reizen. Ik wil graag op vakantie gaan.

Unit 9

We will revise everything we have learnt and address any queries you may have. We can also touch upon topics suggested by students in previous weeks.

Who should enrol

This course is designed for people who have no prior knowledge or minimal knowledge of the Dutch language and who wish to obtain basic Dutch language skills for the purposes of travel, communication, enjoyment, re-tracing roots, or further study.

Course materials

All course materials will be provided through CCE's online environment. As this is an online delivered course, participants will need to have access to the suitable infrastructure: a PC or Mac computer with a stable internet connection. It is not recommended to access this course via a smart phone.

What our students say

"Fantastic! Excellent and enthusiastic teacher who encouraged everyone to participate and improve"

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