New summer course boosts Dutch fluency and confidence in just two weeks
Update: NedLes added a second two-week course after the first sold-out in record time! The first course starts August 10, and the new course begins on August 24.
---
People who understand the Dutch language at an intermediate level often find they need a helping hand to achieve genuine proficiency and more confidence when actually speaking. A new highly-intensive two-week program from NedLes in Amsterdam launches in August with the specific purpose of getting students to participate in daily Dutch conversations with greater ease.
The course is meant for students who have already advanced just beyond the A2 level, but struggle to actually use the language in their daily life and continue speaking English, even to their Dutch neighbours, friends and colleagues. “That is such a pity, since practice makes perfect,” said Renske Berns, co-owner and teacher at NedLes. ”This course aims to help people overcome this conversational speed bump.”
Students will focus almost completely on daily life and realistic interactions so they can become more confident and comfortable. It is for anyone ready to quickly improve their day-to-day interactions in the Netherlands without necessarily diving into a more advanced course.
How to finally switch from English to Dutch
For many international residents, the transition from classroom exercises to real-world conversations is the hardest part of settling into the Netherlands. Expats, immigrants, international students, and migrant workers frequently find themselves stuck in a cycle of understanding Dutch quite well but freezing up when it comes to speaking it.
Even a momentary hesitation often causes locals to switch automatically to English, which inadvertently cuts off the learning process before it can truly begin. The upcoming course aims to disrupt this pattern by utilizing a curriculum that prioritizes active speech over passive listening.
Two weeks working totally on conversation skills will do the trick, according to Welmoed Nijhout, co-owner and teacher at NedLes. Classes are entirely about speaking and gaining teacher feedback during the sessions from 10 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. Students then need to spend about four hours studying for the next class, mostly spending the time listening to dialogues, repeating them out loud, and then listening to Dutch-language podcasts.
At just 625 euros for the two weeks, it is budget-friendly considering the amount of classroom time and the available facilities. The course is as effective as other full-immersion programs, with the advantage of also being much more affordable because accommodation is not included, Renske and Welmoed say. Students are very welcome to study in the school, and hang out on the sunny terrace the entire day. They often end up having lunch, coffee or beers together in the vibrant Oosterparkbuurt, Dapperbuurt, and Indische Buurt neighborhoods.
“You are here together. You're working together. It happens naturally that students discuss what they’ve been practicing, and developing together,” Welmoed says. “That’s also a great way for them to show up to class the following day, ready to go.”
The Delft Method: Built for Rapid Progress
To truly master a language, students must balance fast-paced learning with real-world practice; otherwise, they risk becoming grammar experts who freeze during an actual conversation. Reaching the A2 level is the perfect time to smash through that barrier and begin actively using the language.
NedLes designs many of their courses using the Delft Method, a highly interactive approach to language acquisition that flips the traditional grammar-first model on its head and pushes learners to speak from day one. Teachers lead the immersive classroom sessions prioritizing immediate, practical communication by focusing on highly-used vocabulary and context clues rather than rote memorization.
Students then prepare for each lesson by listening to and reading everyday Dutch texts on their own so they can dive straight into active conversation and discussion during the following lesson. "If your daily life doesn't offer enough opportunities to speak, join our intensive summer Dutch program: a guided, 'pressure-cooker' experience designed to finally get you talking," says Welmoed.
This intensive course looks to be a hit, but NedLes will cap enrollment to an absolute maximum of ten.“This is a way to get more practice outside of a rigid program,” said Renske. “There is great demand for something like this, and we are thrilled to now make it happen.”
