Advanced: Grammatica & Conversatie

The Advanced courses are 100% taught in Dutch, which means that we don’t use any English in class. You’re ready to join if your current level is B1 or higher, and you’re able to:

• have everyday conversations in Dutch;

• write a simple text in Dutch (like an email to a Dutch friend or colleague);

• read a Dutch newspaper article and understand at least 60%;

• watch a Dutch TV show and understand at least 60%.

Keep in mind: your Dutch doesn’t have to be perfect to join! We’ll work on improving your skills and fixing your mistakes together in class. As long as you feel comfortable having a 1.5-hour lesson entirely in Dutch, you’ll be just fine. ☺️

To protect the quality of the course and the amount of personal guidance for each student, there is a maximum of 6 students in each course. For courses that are full, I work with a waiting list. If you’d like to be added to the waiting list for a specific course, and/or if you want to be notified when the course schedule has been updated, please send an email to info@yourdutchteacher.nl.

I record all classes and share the recordings with you afterwards. If you miss a class, you can catch up by watching the recording. That being said, please keep in mind that it’s always best to be present for the live sessions, so you can participate in the exercises, speak Dutch, and get feedback! ☺️ Even if you can only attend part of a class, it’s still worthwhile.

The short answer is no, but I’d like to explain why – because it’s a very conscious choice.

As a teacher, I care deeply about the quality of my courses. I want to give my students the best of what I have to offer, and that means showing up with full focus, energy, and presence. To make that possible, I teach during the hours when I feel most clear and grounded. I also protect the balance between my work and personal life, so I can keep doing this work with joy and commitment for the long run.

I know that daytime classes don’t fit every schedule. But if you’re truly motivated to learn Dutch, and you feel like I am the right teacher for you, it might be worth seeing if there’s a way to make it work.

If you’d like my help in asking your employer for some flexibility in your schedule (for example, by explaining my method and how it will benefit your work), feel free to reach out! 🧡

With over 15 years of experience teaching Dutch, I’ve noticed that most students learn best when they understand the logic behind the language. I like to compare learning a language to building a house from scratch: if you don’t start by building a solid foundation, the house will never be stable. That’s why I use a very structured approach in my Beginner courses (levels 1, 2, and 3). From the very beginning, you’ll learn the essence of the language. This will have a great impact on the rest of your Dutch learning journey: you’ll always have the basics to fall back on.

Because it can feel a bit scary to start speaking when you’re learning a new language, I make sure your speaking development happens naturally. In the beginner classes, we’ll speak through structured speaking exercises, so you know exactly what’s expected of you. In the Intermediate courses, we’ll gradually step up the small talk and start having more and more real conversations. It’s a gradual process, so you’ll be ready to follow classes 100% in Dutch once you reach the Advanced levels.

I would describe my teaching style as personal and very involved. That’s why I don’t hire any external teachers; I teach all of my courses myself, so that I can build a personal connection with my students, and really get to know them, which allows me to offer them the best possible guidance.

But perhaps the most important difference compared to standard methods is that with my method, you can become fluent in Dutch within just one year. (Of course this also takes some commitment on your part: showing up to class, and doing your homework! ☺️)

Yes! You can absolutely take my courses to prepare for the Inburgering exams.

While my courses are general Dutch language courses and suitable for anyone who wants to learn Dutch, we do cover all the necessary topics for the exams.

• If you have to take the exams on A2 level, I recommend completing all 3 Beginner levels (1, 2, and 3). It’s also a good idea to take Intermediate level 4, because reaching a level slightly above the exam requirement will help you feel 100% confident.

• If you have to take the exams on B1 level (Staatsexamen Programma I), you should complete all Beginner levels (1, 2, and 3) and all Intermediate levels (4, 5, and 6). I also recommend joining one or more Advanced courses or taking an exam preparation crash course with me, just to make sure you feel fully ready.

That depends on which Advanced course you’re taking.

In the Adv. Grammar course we cover one larger grammar topic or a few smaller ones in each class. Your homework will include creating example sentences based on the topics we’ve covered (so we can discuss them in the next lesson), and completing one larger writing assignment at the end of your  4-week course block. Count on about 30 minutes of homework per week, plus 1 extra hour in the final week for your writing assignment. The topics change with each new 4-week block.

In the Adv. Conversation course your homework consists of reading texts and watching Dutch TV shows, which we’ll discuss in class. This is what the homework will look like:
Week 1: read a text and look up vocabulary
Week 2: watch a Dutch TV show (±25 minutes) and take notes
Week 3: read another text + vocabulary
Week 4: review of the vocabulary that we collected in weeks 1-3
Count on about 1 hour of homework per week. The topics change with each new 4-week block.

No, the lesson materials are provided and included in the course fee.. After each class, you’ll also receive the class notes and a recording of the lesson.

Both courses are taught 100% in Dutch, which makes them ideal if you want to improve your speaking skills ( we do a lot of talking in class!).

In the Grammatica course, we focus on perfecting your Dutch. This course is great if you feel unsure about the mistakes you make, or if you want to feel confident for the Staatsexamens Spreken & Schrijven.

In the Conversatie course, we focus on discussing a variety of topics and expanding your vocabulary. This course is ideal if you want to feel more confident speaking about different subjects, or if you’re preparing for the Staatsexamens Lezen & Luisteren.

You can alternate between the two courses from one 4-week block to the next, or even take both in the same block; they both take place on Wednesdays, but at different times.

The path for Beginner (0-A2) and Intermediate (A2-B1) students is different from the path for Advanced students. Once you reach B1 level, it’s all about becoming (more) fluent in Dutch. All students in the Advanced courses are able to express themselves in Dutch, but of course there are always individual differences.

I design my Advanced courses in a way that both students at B1 and B2 level will learn a lot. I make sure that each student gets the same amount of speaking time, and that the more advanced students are challenged on their level. Because the groups are small (with 3–6 students), I can offer each student the personal guidance they need, tailored to their current level.

The content of the Advanced courses changes with every 4-week block, so you can join as often as you like! Some students take both courses in the same block (which means they have two classes every Wednesday), for a more intensive learning experience. Others book two or more blocks in a row. Some return every now and then to refresh their Dutch, while others continue all year round to keep growing steadily.

There are many ways to follow the Advanced courses. If it’s your first time, I recommend starting with one 4-week block to see how it feels, and then take it from there!

It is possible to cancel or change your registration up to 14 days before the starting date of the course. Within 14 days prior to the starting date, or once the course has already started, it is no longer possible to cancel or change your registration. Please read the general terms and conditions to learn more about the registration and cancellation process.

No, I don’t offer private classes at the moment. All the hours that I have available for teaching are dedicated to my small group courses, so I can help as many students as possible while still offering lots of personal attention.

Because the groups are small (3–6 students), you’ll get plenty of opportunities to speak, ask questions, and receive individual feedback –  just like in a private lesson, but with the fun dynamics of a small group. ☺️