How Michaela from Germany became an ambassador for Dutch

So Michaela started searching the internet and found her way to the Dutch Language House. She took a language test there and was guided to CVO Brussels, where she took Dutch lessons. ​“The Dutch Language House became my point of reference in those early days. Whenever I needed help, I went to the Dutch Language House. Also to expand my social network. I always checked whether events were being organised. I always say now that the House helped me feel at home in Brussels.” It wasn’t long before Michaela started to enjoy the lessons. She also takes part in the Babbelut conversation tables and even attends a training evening for the moderators of these conversation tables. ​“I thought: I now know what my needs are as a student, so I might as well share them with the teachers. That was an enjoyable experience. With COVID-19, everything suddenly went digital and human contact largely disappeared. But it did give me the time to delve even deeper into the Dutch language.”

But it didn’t stop with Dutch lessons and conversation tables, and Michaela even went a step further. She helps as a volunteer in the vaccination centre at Zaventem airport and is also a hiking guide for Okra Brussels. Her language is developing so well that she even dares to apply for jobs in Dutch. ​“At the time, job interviews were mainly conducted by telephone. That was difficult, because employers heard fairly quickly that I am not a native Dutch speaker. Also, you have more difficulty understanding what others mean if you can’t see them speaking. So the first interviews came to nothing”, says Michaela. But she is now working as a business controller, in Dutch! ​“It’s a temporary contract, but things are going well. Nearly all my colleagues are Dutch speaking, so I’m learning more every day. It is important to come into contact with Dutch speakers. If I hear a word during a meeting or conversation that I don’t know yet, I immediately ask what it means and I don’t forget it afterwards. That helps enormously.”

“Dutch has now become my working language. I don’t just speak it at work, I also use Dutch when I’m in the centre of Brussels. A lot of French speakers answer in Dutch when I speak Dutch. Somewhat broken Dutch, but I think it’s nice that they make the effort anyway. Dutch is also such a nice language, isn’t it?” What’s so nice about it then? ​“It’s a vibrant language. It’s not spoken by that many people in the world, which makes it unique. And some words are just so cute. ​‘Fietsen’ (cycling) for example, or ​‘verklappen’ (reveal).”

Michaela is now also learning French, at CVO Lethas. Yet another new language. ​“When I first started learning French, I noticed that my Dutch started to deteriorate, because my head was fully focused on French, which is not abnormal. That’s why I also started attending Dutch conversation tables outside Brussels, in the Pajottenland region. This enabled me to meet new people and come into contact with Flemish culture. My husband and I have become real fans of Pajottenland and the other regions in the Green Belt. Every Saturday afternoon, we go to the farmers market in Gaasbeek to buy fresh regional products in the cosy village square. We always hang out there for a while. This means we are slowly developing a bond with Flanders.” What does she think about Brussels? ​“I come from the countryside, so living in a big city was an adjustment. But I like the atmosphere in Brussels. I also really like the architecture in the city. The mix between old mansions and modern homes. I often go to Muntpunt in the centre to borrow books. So you will often see me in the city.”