ABOUT LEARNING DUTCH
The Dutch language is a difficult, but beautiful language. Dutch is not, as some people think, a combination of German, French and English. It may seem like a mix because many foreign words are used in Dutch. Dutch is an independent language and, like German, falls under the Germanic language family.
In order to participate better in Dutch society, it is important to learn Dutch. People sometimes joke that English is spoken a lot in Amsterdam. That is true, but not everyone speaks English, certainly not outside Amsterdam. By speaking Dutch yourself, life becomes a lot easier. You will have a stronger position at work and you can participate much better in social life in the Netherlands (and Belgium). Communication with companies and the government is also easier if you speak Dutch.
What is NT2?
NT2 (Nederlandse Taal 2) means Dutch as a second language. Anyone who learns Dutch and has a different mother tongue is learning NT2. NT1 is Dutch for Dutch people, such as children, students, but also adults who want to improve their Dutch.
How do you learn Dutch?
As soon as you come into contact with the Dutch language, you are already learning. To learn the language faster and better, you can take a language course. At Pineto Taaldiensten you receive individual coaching. The personal attention will help you learn Dutch even better. As described in START LEARNING, together we can make a plan for your individual journey in the Dutch language.
Language levels
The language level indicates how much of a language you already master. The first level is A1 and the highest level is C2. Below is a brief description of the levels:
A1-A2: Basic user. You can apply the Dutch language in simple situations.
B1-B2: Independent user. You speak Dutch well and you can also apply the language in more difficult situations.
C1-C2: Skilled user. You have an excellent knowledge of the Dutch language and you can apply the language without difficulty, regardless of the situation.
These language levels are based on the CEFR European reference framework. More information about the language levels can be found on the European Union website.
What language level do you need?
It depends entirely on your personal situation which language level you need. For compulsory integration, you must take an exam at at least A2 level. In addition to the integration, there are two State Examinations. In order to study in the Netherlands at MBO level, you must take State Exam I. For this you need language level B1. In order to study at HBO or university level, you must take State Exam II. For this you need language level B2.
You can find more information about integration on the DUO website. More information about the State Examinations can be found on the website of the Board for Testing and Examinations.
At Pineto Language Services you can receive coaching to properly prepare for the exams.
You are often not obliged to integrate and in your situation it is not necessary to take a State Exam. In that case, we look at the language level you can start with and continue to improve your Dutch for as long as you want.
After reaching level B2, the standard training program for Dutch as a second language ends. There are also no state exams for the C1 or C2 level. Naturally, you will always continue to improve your knowledge of the Dutch language in daily life. After reaching the B2 level, I can also coach you further to perfect your Dutch.
Books
If you already speak English or Spanish, there are course books that allow you to learn Dutch with English or Spanish as a basis. There are also good books to learn Dutch with Arabic or Turkish as a basis. If you hardly speak Dutch yet, this is quite useful. Most course books are entirely in Dutch. It is a bit more difficult in the beginning, but you also learn Dutch quickly. For example, if your native language is Italian, Portuguese or Danish, there are not many course books based on your own language. You can then immediately start with a course book in Dutch. If you have already made some progress with the Dutch language, all books are completely in Dutch.
At Pineto Taaldiensten you can work with your own course book, but I can also recommend a good course book. I work a lot with Boom's teaching materials. These course books are based on Dutch lessons with the help of a teacher. You can also log in on their website to do extra exercises online. There are different books for different language levels. There are also different books for different learning paces. You can choose a slightly easier book or a book that is a bit more difficult. Read more about Boom's books here.
Of course you also need dictionaries. Many dictionaries for many different languages can be found in bookstores. It is important that the Dutch words indicate whether the word is feminine, masculine or neuter. I can help you choose the right dictionaries.
How much do the books cost?
Go to the PRICES page to get an idea of the costs of the books.
