Our communication-focused Dutch course consists of lessons taught on our platform that are primarily based around practising speaking and listening skills. They are supplemented by learning resources posted in the pupils’ area on our website to help you focus on specific areas. Pupils will reach the target level by the end of the course, having greatly improved their capacity to interact in Dutch.

Teachers will use a variety of digital materials that help students to perfect their communication skills in a fun and direct way, developing fluency, pronunciation, general understanding and knowledge of vocabulary.

	Oral expression: students will participate in discussions and debates on a number of culturally significant topics in class, prepare presentations and do speaking activities that challenge them to improve their self-expression in Dutch and become more confident communicators.
	Listening comprehension: we use both formal and informal recordings and videos on current affairs and appealing topics that are appropriate to each level in order to increase pupils’ exposure to all types of spoken Dutch and practise the grammar and vocabulary suitable for their ability.
	Grammar and vocabulary: our teachers will separate grammar into manageable points that students can understand without difficulty or monotony, saving most practice exercises for homework. Vocabulary will be seen in readings and heard in listenings, aided by lists for each topic, and is always explained using definitions and examples. Students will then put this vocabulary into practice by doing energetic and entertaining activities or playing interactive games.
	Reading comprehension: pupils will work on reading for gist in class and for homework, as well as their ability to comprehend written texts completely and discuss the themes they have read about. Readings will be on interesting cultural subjects and contemporary issues that widen their general knowledge and expose them to key vocabulary and grammar.
	Written expression: We demonstrate in class how to write different kinds of functional texts that students may need to write in everyday life using a clear and consistent style that native Dutch speakers can understand. We provide a selection of writing models for pupils to structure their work around, and will set these tasks for homework.

Students will take a level test at the beginning of the course to put them into the correct group, plus at the end of the course to assess their progress.

VOCABULARY:

• Alphabet
• Introductions (name, age, nationality, etc.)
• Cardinal & ordinal numbers
• Basic personal identification
• Family & surroundings
• Parts of the body
• Adjectives to describe physical features, personality and demonyms
• Habits
• Personal objects
• Diet: routines, food & places
• Education: classroom language
• Professions
• Leisure & free time
• Housing
• Urban spaces
• Means of communication
• Clothing
• Transport & travel
• Weather & seasons

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

• Introduce themselves and others.
• Be able to communicate in Dutch for daily uses like saying hello and goodbye, congratulating, saying sorry and giving thanks.
• Identify and describe people, places and objects.
• Express and ask for opinions on somebody or something.
• Express and ask about agreement or disagreement on somebody or something.
• Ask for or verify information, ask questions and express that something has not been understood (spell, repeat, etc.).
• Express daily actions, needs and tastes.
• Ask for and give directions.

VOCABULARY:

• Moods/feelings
• Diet: expressing hunger, thirst, etc.
• Following recipes
• Education: asking questions, answering, etc.
• Professions: job interviews, CVs, etc.
• Leisure: social plans
• Shopping
• Illnesses
• Transport

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

• Be able to communicate past actions and events and future plans.
• Know how to articulate these actions correctly using time expressions.
• Express and ask if it is compulsory or possible to do something.
• Ask, give or deny permission to do something
• Express wishes, feelings and preferences.
• Know how to react with expressions that indicate some type of stimulation e.g. interest, surprise, happiness, etc.
• Compare places or objects.
• Understand levels of politeness depending on the social context.
• Describe pains and differentiate between symptoms and illnesses.

VOCABULARY:

• Expressions to describe states
• Optimistic and pessimistic adjectives
• Synonyms & antonyms
• Verbs that express changes in mood
• Social & love life
• Behaviour
• Recipes
• Work & education
• Health
• Trips & holidays
• Expressions to tell anecdotes and react in communicative situations
• Expressions to show agreement & disagreement

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

• Write a letter, article or announcement.
• Describe their health.
• Describe and plan trips.
• Talk about and describe actions fluently that happened in the past, are happening in the present, or will happen in the future.
• Talk about the beginning and duration of an action.
• Tell stories and biographies in the third person.
• Express simple conditions.
• Formulate hypotheses and express probability or the reason why something happens.
• Talk about personal and professional relationships.
• Know and understand the concept of jokes.
• Recognise some of the set phrases that are most used in daily life.
• Talk, debate and form opinions on topics that affect daily life in a positive or negative way.