Dutch at your service

Adult non-native speakers generally start with a Dutch course for all kinds of different reasons. One course member may be interested in the upbringing of his or her children, another one wants to find a job as soon as possible, still another one runs his or her own business or deals with the family's paper work... Foreign language students take on different roles in society.

With the 'Dutch at your service' project the Huis van het Nederlands Brussel wants to encourage teachers Dutch to concede to the learning requirements that result from these different roles. The course members can immediately experience a link between what they have learned in the class room and what language skills they need in every day life. As a result they will be more motivated, more concerned and they drop out less.

Dutch tailored to the needs of the student

During a part of the 'Dutch at your service' program the students work in small groups, in groups of two or alone with the course material that is accustomed to the roles of their own choice. In this way teachers anticipate on the needs of their students without losing sight of the final pedagogical objectives.

'Dutch at your service' in Brussels

In order to be able to adjust to the needs of the Brussels Dutch learners the Huis van het Nederlands Brussel will carry out a survey amongst the Dutch teachers working in the Brussels CVO's ('Adult Education Centres'). We want to investigate why Brussels adults are motivated to start with a Dutch course. Check here what different kind of roles course members can choose from.

Afterwards we (the Huis van het Nederlands Brussel in collaboration with the teachers) would like to add more roles to the existing role based activities, i.e. additional roles adapted to the specific needs in Brussels. In a final stage the 'Dutch at your service' project will enter its test phase in the beginning of 2009.

Are you interested to try out this working method?

The Huis van het nederlands is still looking for motivated teachers Dutch for foreigners who want to take part in the shaping of the 'Dutch at your service' project. Do not hesitate to send us an email if you want more information.