Master Dutch in no time: Celebrating five years of the Delft Method at NedLes

Once upon a time, a group of passionate Dutch teachers dreamt of a way to help their students master the Dutch language even better… and they made that dream come true! This isn’t a fairy tale, but the inspiring story of the Delft Method at NedLes, a language school nestled in the heart of Amsterdam-Oost.

This story is about hundreds of satisfied students, thousands of newly learned Dutch words, and almost forty dedicated teachers making a difference every day.

The beginning of a language revolution

Five years ago, Renske from NedLes was already a seasoned teacher, successfully helping students from diverse backgrounds learn Dutch in a fun and interactive way. But everything changed when she witnessed a class using the Delft Method at Delft University.

"I nearly fell off my chair when I heard how well these beginners were speaking," Renske recalls. "They were having conversations at a level that we often would not even expect in more advanced levels." Their secret? The Delft Method.

Learning Dutch quickly and effectively

Developed in the 1980s at Delft University, the Delft Method was designed to teach international engineers the Dutch language quickly and effectively. The method mimics the natural language acquisition process of children, with a strong focus on listening and speaking, reinforced by repetition and feedback.

With the Delft Method, students study words and texts at home, then put them into practice during the one-hour speaking classes. From day one, students start speaking Dutch, guided by a specially-trained teacher who corrects all the mistakes.

The Delft Method at NedLes

After discovering the Delft Method, Renske was determined to introduce it at NedLes. Together with Welmoed and Lobke, two equally passionate teachers, she completed the Delft Method teacher training. In autumn 2019, they launched the first beginners’ course: From beginner to A2 level in just six weeks. The results were outstanding for both students and teachers.

“And then, just a few months later, COVID hit,” Renske says. While other language schools struggled with online classes, NedLes seamlessly transitioned the Delft Method courses online. “The classes are short, intensive, and in small groups - perfect for online learning,” she explains.

More and more students and courses

Thanks to the switch to online learning, students from all over the Netherlands could join courses at NedLes in Amsterdam. More and more students signed up. “Our happy and enthusiastic students spread the word!” Renske says. Together with Welmoed and Lobke, she began training other teachers to meet the growing demand.

Now, there are over twenty certified Delft Method teachers trained at NedLes, and new courses start almost every week, both online and offline, for all levels (up to B2). There’s even a hybrid course that combines online evening classes and offline weekend classes.

The courses with the Delft Method at NedLes come in different intensities. There is the very intensive two-week crash course, with two classes per day. But there are also less intensive courses with two or four (online) classes per week. But whatever course you choose, the success depends on your preparation. On average, it takes two to three hours per text to listen, read, and learn the vocabulary.

"That’s what makes the course so worthwhile," Rachel, from the United States, says. "You really learn a lot in a short time!" Thanks to the course with the Delft Method, Rachel was able to pass her Integration Exams. And even more important: she speaks Dutch with ease and confidence.

"I recently did some volunteering work," Rachel shares, "and I had to speak a lot of Dutch. It is something I wouldn’t have dared to do before the course. Thanks to the course, I am used to speaking Dutch now. I know I make mistakes, but that’s okay. It’s about building confidence."

Rachel’s story is just one of many success stories from students who have thrived at NedLes in courses using the Delft Method. As teacher Renske says, “We’re celebrating five years of the Delft Method at NedLes, but this is just the beginning. We’ll continue teaching with this method for many years to come.” The story that began five years ago is far from over. So if you wish, you can find your Dutch happily ever after at NedLes.

Do you want to learn Dutch with the Delft Method? NedLes, the Delft Method specialist in Amsterdam, offers a variety of courses at all levels and intensities. Check out their website or book a free intake session today!