Dutch for adults

On location

Online

At the moment, all group lessons for adults are online. If there is sufficient interest, group lessons on Saturday mornings at the school locations are also possible

Perhaps your partner speaks Dutch or Flemish, or you intend to move to the Netherlands soon. Or maybe you would like to communicate with family or friends in Dutch. Whatever your reason, we can teach you Dutch. 

"Who are you, what do you do and where do you come from?"  With the "Introduction to Dutch for adults" course, you will learn the basics of the Dutch language in a group setting. You will learn how to introduce yourself, how to have a simple conversation,  how to ask for directions, and more. No prior knowledge of the language is required for this introduction. 

In addition to the beginners level, we offer lessons at intermediate and advanced level.  

What will you learn? Apart from learning basic grammar, we pay a lot of attention to conversation, pronunciation and enriching your vocabulary in order to develop good oral language skills, using different situations as a basis. 

When? Online group lessons are held on weekdays in the evening at 7:30 pm. The course is held over 2 semesters of 17 classes each.  The 1st semester is from September to the end of January, and the 2nd semester from February to the beginning of June. Registration for one single semester is optional. If there are enough students we can also start new groups in between. 

Where? At the moment, all group lessons for adults are online. If there is sufficient interest, group lessons on Saturday mornings at the school locations are also possible. 

Levels: Our lessons are available at various levels (A1-B2). See more information below.

Our online classes: Lessons are between 1 and 1.5 hours, depending on the number of students. Our groups are small (minimum of 3 students and maximum of 5 or 6 students). The lessons are live via zoom with one of our professional online teachers. 

Cost: Tuition is $660 per semester. If your company pays the tuition, the fee is $1,000 per semester. Tuition for 1 semester can be paid either in one single payment with a 5% discount (total of $627) or in 2 installments of $330.

Curriculum: We use the latest interactive online teaching method, so that you can continue practicing and do homework in between lessons. The cost of the online program is $50 for a year for levels A1 (beginner), A2 (intermediate) and B1 (advanced). The cost of the online program is $90 for a year for level B2 (expert) and includes books and shipping.

CNaVT: If you wish, you can obtain a Certificate of Dutch as a Foreign Language (CNaVT); you just follow the level that suits you best. The Dutch School of Southern California is an official examination location for conducting exams on behalf of the Language Union. Examinations take place every year in May. Click here for  more information about the CNaVT.

Summer classes: we also offer a summer program. Click here for more information.

Levels

ERK A1: Basic I (1 semester) and Basic II (1 semester)

At the end of both semesters you can:

- understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type.

- introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has.

- interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

At the end of the Basic II course, students are ready to take the Inburgeringsexamen (integration examination for immigrants from outside the EU)

ERK A2: Basic Advanced I (1 semester) and Basic Advanced II (1 semester)

At the end of both semesters you can:

- understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).

- communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.

- describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.

At the end of the Basic Advanced course, the student can take the Profile 'Maatschappelijk Informeel'l language proficiency test from CNaVT.

ERK B1: Basic Advanced Plus I (1 semester) and Basic Advanced Plus II (1 semester)

At the end of both semesters you can:

- understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.

- deal with most situations likely to arise while traveling in an area where the language is spoken.

- produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.

- describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

At the end of the Basic Advanced Plus course, the student can take the Profile 'Maatschappelijk Formeel' language proficiency test from CNaVT.

What a student says...

"In 2020 I was fortunate to receive my Dutch citizenship. Having extended family in the Netherlands it has been a dream of mine to learn the language.  As an adult this can be challenging. I was trying some of the self guided apps, although helpful, I was not learning about the structure of the language and how to converse in real time. So I decided to try the online class through the Dutch School of Southern California. Laura Ligthart was fantastic to work with in getting me setup and my teacher Judith has been very helpful. I look forward to my online weekly classes, it keeps me motivated, I am experiencing progress, and I am having fun.  Also a side benefit that I have discovered is that the exercise of learning a language has help me stay sharp mentally. If you are an adult serious about learning Dutch, nothing beats class room learning. The Dutch School of Southern California is a great way to go. Invest in yourself, you won’t regret it."