Dutch Language Students – Testimonials

Adriana – Colombia / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, 2022

Maria – Poland + Francesca – UK / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, 2017

Kelsey US / Course: 4 weeks Drenthe, 2023

Anna – Poland / Course: Drenthe (2016 + 2017 + 2018)

Lucy – UK / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, 2022

Maria – Russia / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, 2019

Aina – Spain / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, 2022

Margarida – Portugal / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, 2022

Michele – Italy / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, 2022

Jordan – Scottland / Course: Drenthe, 2019, 2022

Patricia – Portugal / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, 2022

Ferrus (Zane) – South Africa / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2017

Flavia – Italy / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, 2018

Conrad Webb – United States / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, 2018

Stuart – United States / Course: 8 weeks Amsterdam, July + August 2017

Hanna – Ukraine / Course: 4 weeks Drenthe (2022)

Maksym – Ukraine + Carole – France / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2017

Veronica – United States / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe (2022)

Daniel – Costa Rico | Course: 8 weeks Drenthe, 2022

Farzana – Kenya/Belgium | Course: 4 weeks Drenthe, July 2017

Claudio – Italy / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, 2018

Iratxe – Spain / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, 2019

Oleksandr – Ukraine / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2017

Matilda – Ghana / Course: Drenthe, 6 weeks (2015) + 2 weeks (2016) + 2 weeks (2017)

Irina – Romania / Course: Drenthe, 4 weeks (2019)

Ammar – Syria | Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, July 2017

Fabien – France | Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, July 2019

Sandy – United States | Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, August 2017

Maria – Russia | Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, 2018

Gabriella – New Zealand | Course: 6 weeks Amsterdam, 2018

Tom – United Kingdom / Course: Drenthe (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022)

Polina – Russia / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, July 2017

Aty – Canada| Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, 2018

Noriko – Japan + Menandro – Philippines | Course: Drenthe, July 2016

Anthony – US / Course: Amsterdam (2015 + 2016), Drenthe (2017, 2018, 2019)

Moriyuki – Japan / Course: Drenthe, 2018

Christal – South Africa / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2017

Matthew – United Kingdom / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, 2019

Raffaelle – Italy / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, August 2017

Malcolm – India / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2017

Cynthia – Brazil / Course: Drenthe (2017, 2018, 2019)

Paulina – Poland / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, July 2017

Romina – Paraguay / Course: 6 weeks Amsterdam, July/August 2017

Ada – Mexico / Course: 4 weeks Amsterdam, 2018

Liana – Russia / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, 2022

Lidia – Russia / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, 2022

Natalia – Russia / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, 2022

David – Indonesia / Course: Drenthe (2016, 2017)

Candice – United States / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, July 2017

Haris – India / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, 2018

Brandon – United States / Course: 4 weeks Drenthe, July/August 2017

Shrushti – India / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, August 2017

Hoang – Germany / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2017

Andrei – Estonia / Course : 2 weeks Amsterdam, August 2017

Aigul – Kazakhstan / Course: 4 weeks Drenthe, July 2017

Nicolas – France / Course: Drenthe (2016, 2017, 2018, 2022)

Scott – Australia / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, August 2017

Angelicque – Canada + Carol – UK / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, August 2017

Adrian – UK / Course: Drenthe, 2018

Anita – USA / Course: Drenthe (2017, 2018)

Melanie + Dave – Canada / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, July 2017

Thary – Cambodia / Course: 4 weeks Drenthe, July/August 2016

Annalisa – Italy / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, August 2017

Selma – Tanzania / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, 2018

Nicolas – France / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, August 2017

Ralfs – Latvia + Marcel – Germany | Course: Drenthe, July 2016

Zainab – Bahrain / Course: 4 weeks Amsterdam, July/August 2016

Randy – United States | Course: Drenthe, July 2017

Nathalie – Argentina / Course: 8 weeks Drenthe, July/August 2016

Susanne – Germany / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, July 2016

Dylan – United States / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, July 2016

Emmanuel – France / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, 2018

Rakesh – India / Course: 4 weeks Drenthe, August 2016

Mia – South Africa / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2016

Geri – United Kingdom / Course: Amsterdam (2016) + Drenthe (2018)

Beatriz – Brazil / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2017

Fedor – Russia / Course: Drenthe (2016, 2017)

Solène – France / Course: 4 weeks Amsterdam, 2018

Shu – China / Course: 8 weeks Drenthe, July+August 2016

Alexis – Canada / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2016

Anastassiya Malykh (23) – Kazachstan / Course: 4 weeks Amsterdam, July 2016

The best experience ever! Everybody I met, everything I learnt will stay in my heart and my memory forever! My level of dutch was extremely increased. Accommodation was superb. Approach, how Bart does his business and how he puts all his soul in it gives you additional energy to learn, to create, to change:)

Reile Jarv (35) – Estonia / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, July 2016

Hoi Allemaal, I truly enjoyed and loved the time having this course from zero to A1 level. The teachers were amazing and also fellow students at my group. Had a lot of fun during the lessons, what helped to gain the knowledge faster. I recommend to have the intensive course, if you want to learn dutch fast and you are dedicated to do it – spending everyday minimum 4h for homework’s. I personally recommend to spend more time for homework and self-studies after classes, because this is one time opportunity to take as much out of it from learning point of few as possible. Tot Ziens en Veel Success! Xoxoxo

Pieri Rank (64) – USA / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, July 2016

I chose the rural location before trying Dutch in the big cities. No worries, however, the Nederlanders are so fluent with English and so helpful. The rural countryside of Drenthe was beautiful, and there was plenty to do among the lively crowd of our group and trips to Westerborg and the surrounding areas. I found Bart’s course very well organized and all his staff very caring individuals. I give it a thumbs UP.

Elena Vitik (37) – Russia / Course: 4 weeks Drenthe, July 2016

I joined the Dutch Summer School in Drenthe for 4 weeks, levels 0-A2. I liked it very much. The teachers Harke-Jan and Kirsten were excellent. I also liked the online course of Dutch grammar on learndutch.org. I advise future students to do some lessons on this site before the course starts, because the course is very intensive.

Darren Green (39) – UK / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, July 2016

Having moved to Belgium and wanting to learn Dutch I found it difficult to find a suitable course or online learning that enabled me to learn the basics of the Dutch language. I found the online course, learndutch.org which helped me understand Dutch. Having studied some of the online course I visited Drenthe for a 2 week course which was an excellent course and enabled me to understand the language. Since this course I am now able to have basic conversations in shops and restaurants, I am also able t o understand what others are saying to me. I would highly recommend this course.

Helen Welch (50) – UK / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2016

I have thoroughly enjoyed the two weeks I spent in Drenthe. I very much like the balance of teaching and free time, and I think it’s great that your tutors are so willing to join in with the social activities.

Abel Bahmani (18) – Italy / Course: 2 weeks in Drenthe, july 2016

This course was the best experience of my life, i made a lot of new friends, i learned much more than what i expected: Now i’m able to understand almost everything in Dutch and i can even have a decent conversation with my mum too. My teacher was amazing, and the lessons were not boring at all! I would immediatly suggest this course to all of my friends, THANK YOU!!

Samanatha (24) – UK / Course: 4 weeks in Drenthe, July + August 2016

Four weeks ago I could barely ask ‘Hoe gaat het met jou?’ and I could only offer two responses, ‘Prima!’ or ‘Goede!’. Now I can express my mood on good and bad days! Not only that but this course has allowed me to settle into Dutch culture whilst giving me some lasting tools to help me further my learning of the Dutch language. I can now understand so much of what is being said around me as well as now being able to decipher some Dutch texts. That being said my speaking has come on leaps and bounds but is not at the level of my reading, however that is usually the case with language learning and the only way to get better is to keep speaking! The course has been a great stepping stone for me to move to the Netherlands. I have made so many friends and have been able to discover the nuances of the Dutch culture with a great group of people.

Read more about Samantha’s experiences in this blog.

Louis (18) – Guatemala / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, July 2015

I’m have a Dutch nationality and Dutch blood, but I never lived in The Netherlands or spoke the language. That’s why I decided to take a Dutch course in Amsterdam because there is no better way to learn a language other than being right in the middle of the action. I found the BLC Dutch School purely by chance while searching for “Dutch summer courses in Amsterdam” on google. Honestly, I had no expectations, and was fully blown away by the well-arranged accommodations at the student residence, and the kindness and good service of the coordinators and instructors. The lessons are fun and engaging, and I learned so much more than I thought I could in two weeks. I admit that after spending only a couple of weeks on this course, I wished I had arranged to for a longer time. Highly recommended if you wish not only to learn Dutch, but have a pretty good time.

Mikal Postel-Vinay (19) – France / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, July 2015

I’m Mikal, a 19 year old French girl. I’m currently living in Paris but will move to Amsterdam this August to begin my studies at the UvA (in an English-taught program about social sciences). I’m learning Dutch in order to feel entirely integrated in the country in which I will live for the next four years, and also to reconnect with my Dutch roots on my mother’s side. I’ve had a great time in Drenthe learning Dutch with people from all around the world and from widely different backgrounds. Living and studying in the same houses created a very friendly atmosphere and a stimulating community spirit. Thanks to our energetic teacher Tanja, we could see ourselves making progress each day. This successful experience in Drenthe encourages me to continue perfecting my Dutch. I’ll remember the good times I spent there.

Ulrich Roth (61) – Germany / Course: 4 weeks Amsterdam, July/August 2015

My name is Ulrich Roth, and I teach German language at Barcelona University. While learning Dutch is just a hobby for me, I do take it seriously. Before the course I had studied on my own for about a year, which made me eligible for levels A1/A2 and subsequently A2/B1, of two weeks duration each. My expectations from the course were to get a more systematic grip on the grammar, and, above all, to practice speaking, which is obviously difficult on your own. All in all, I am more than happy with my four weeks in Amsterdam at Dutch Summer School.

Here are a few points that stand out for me:
– The courses are well organized and the atmosphere in the school is relaxed and friendly.
– The groups have a maximum size of 8, so speaking is practised a lot.
– The teachers are well prepared and take a genuine interest in your progress.
– All groups have two different teachers (two hours with each), which makes it more varied.
– The combination Dutch Summer School & student residence (including your own bike and an excellent canteen) is a winner.
– Learners of Dutch tend to be very interesting (and sometimes slightly crazy) people!

Things to keep in mind:
– A good command of English is paramount, since in class this language is used a lot as a common reference.
– The teachers give quite a bit of homework (easily 2-3 hours per day), and that is a good thing if you want to make fast progress. Major leisure activities are thus largely restricted to weekends.

Abhranil Bhowal (20) – India / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2015

Hoi allemaal. My name is Abhranil and I am very lucky to have been part of the first batch of students for the ‘Dutch Summer School’. It was a unique experience; learning Dutch in a close and supporting environment for two weeks. Language classes are often considered to be strict, boring environments which almost become a chore for most people. However, what the Dutch Summer School so successfully manages to do is break the ice between participants very easily since we all live together.

Once that is done and we start feeling more comfortable among friends, learning the actual language becomes a fun, everyday activity, just like the many barbecues and dinners we invariably end up having together. ‘Het Timmerholt’ is located in a serene environment where you can get away from your everyday routine and really relax, while making productive strides towards becoming a fluent Dutch speaker. The teachers are also extremely supportive and they attempt to always make the classroom as stimulating an environment as possible. Students are made to feel extremely comfortable since the ‘classroom’ is at most a 30 sec walk from your bedroom.

I am currently a Masters student at the Delft University of Technology and having done my Bachelor studies here, this is my fourth year of living in The Netherlands. I have always been interested in languages but I started learning Dutch seriously about a year ago, and since then, I’ve been hooked. It’s always interesting to see the same language being taught using different methods and all I can say about the Dutch Summer School is, ‘Dank jullie wel voor alles!’ Tot volgende jaar, Abhranil

Cory Ter Smitte (46) – Canada / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, July 2015

After many years of listening to Dutch being spoken in my family with limited understanding and even less ability to speak it, I decided to enroll in the two week beginner’s course based out of Amsterdam. I live in Canada, so this was an opportunity to strengthen my ability to communicate in a native Dutch speaking environment, but also accelerate the learning through direct immersion in the culture. This was a great decision! The entire program, from pre-enrollment to graduation was well organized and thorough. BLC was able to address any questions or concerns that I had, and even provided a series of videos in advance for any newcomers to Amsterdam (how to buy/use the OV chipkaart, transit instructions on how to get to the accommodation, etc) which was very helpful. The accommodations were just what I needed, and the included bike really made getting around painless and fun!

My class had about 8 people attending, so it was not overcrowded, and the pace and quality of the instruction was good (a shout out here goes to Jonathan!). The mornings focused on grammar while the afternoons focused on strengthening of vocabulary and expanding conversation through sentence construction. Homework was on average 2-3 additional hours per day, but was easily managed before and after class allowing for free time in the afternoons to see the sights in NL. The attendance was truly global as people attended from New Zealand, Panama, Spain, England, Ireland, etc, with the same shared goal of learning the basics of Dutch. Overall my experience was fantastic; as I now have a more solid understanding of the language and can have basic conversations with my family! I’m looking forward to returning to advance my skills even further.

I recommend this program to anyone who is considering accelerating their learning of the Dutch language.

Samira Leroux (21) – France / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, July 2015 (enrolled A1 – after online preparation with #dutchgrammar)

J’ai décidé de rejoindre la Dutch Summer School car j’ai l’intention d’étudier un semestre à l’université de Rotterdam. Même si les cours seront en anglais, je pense qu’il est important de savoir parler un peu néerlandais si l’on veut se sentir à l’aise dans le pays. J’ai rejoint le cours à Drenthe : le rythme des cours (4 heures académiques par jour) est intense. Les cours nous font essentiellement travailler la compréhension et l’expression orales, et les devoirs la compréhension et l’expression écrites. Le parc de bungalows dans lequel nous vivions favorisait la proximité avec les autres étudiants, et la bonne entente. Pour ce qui est de l’environnement, il était vraiment paisible, il y a beaucoup de circuits destinés aux cyclistes autour de la campagne, de quoi se relaxer après les cours, mais on pouvait aussi rester dans le parc et profiter de ses différentes installations. Je recommanderais ce cours et cette destination à quiconque recherche un enseignement de qualité, un environnement calme et une expérience sociale mémorable.

Translation:
I decided to join the Dutch Summer School because I plan to study one semester in the university of Rotterdam. Even if the class will be in English, I find it important to know at least a little of Dutch to feel more comfortable in the country. I joined the course in Drenthe : the rhythm of the lessons (4 academic hours per day) is intense, and while the class helps us improve mostly our speaking and understanding, the homework we have to do helps us with reading and writing in Dutch. The bungalow park in which the group stayed made it much easier to meet with the other students and to get along with each other. As for the environment, it was very peaceful, there are many specific tracks for cycling around the countryside and relaxing after the class, but we could also stay in the park and enjoy its facilities. I would recommend this course and destination to anyone who is looking for a quality tuition, a quiet environment and a memorable social experience.

Chris Wright (37) – UK / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, July 2015

As a new resident of the Netherlands, having relocated here from Canada to take up a new employment opportunity, I was excited to learn some Dutch – at least the basics! I hoped to integrate well into my local community and felt that learning some Dutch, other that “spreek u Engels?” would help. I searched online and am very glad that I found and signed up for the two week BLC language course in Amsterdam.

The class sizes were perfect – a maximum of six at any one time, and all those in my class were keen to learn, patient and friendly. I can not say enough about the Dutch teachers either. Both teachers that taught me were very knowledgeable, more than capable of explaining the course content and endlessly patient.

As someone who is in their mid-30s and who has been out of an academic environment for about 15 years, I must say that I found the course manageable, and very enjoyable. I would certainly recommend it to any beginner looking to learn the basics of Dutch grammar and conversation.

Larry Furlong (56) – UK / Course: 4 weeks Amsterdam, July/August 2015

Hi I’m Larry and I live in Macclesfield, in England. My wife is from the Netherlands and therefore I want to learn Dutch. I had already learnt some Dutch but I found that I was stuck and it was difficult to improve my Dutch further. I decided that it would be a good idea to take an intensive Dutch course in the Netherlands to help me make further progress.

I saw the course offered by Bart and thought it was reasonably priced compared to other courses and that it would be fun to live in Amsterdam for a month, which I did from mid July to mid August in 2015. One month would allow me to take 2 courses. As I knew some Dutch I decided to skip the introduction course and begin with the 2nd course (A1->A2), and to follow that up with the 3rd course (A2->B1).

I thought it was a very enjoyable overall experience and a great opportunity to immerse myself in the Dutch language. I found the teachers to be professional, enthusiastic and supportive as well as challenging. We had 2 sessions per day, one focusing more on grammar and the second on conversational Dutch. As part of the conversational Dutch we also covered how people would typically say things in the Netherlands which can be different from what you sometimes learn on courses. The sessions were largely conducted in Dutch which meant that we had a high level of exposure to the language. We were given notes on all the course material which was a well-thought-out set of material. We had homework each day which typically took a couple of hours to complete and sometimes more. This is a substantial course with a great opportunity to improve your Dutch if you are willing to put the time and effort in.

The other aspect of the course is that it was really nice to share the learning experience with an interesting and varied group of people from around the world. We laughed a lot but there was also a high level of commitment from everyone to improve their Dutch. I stayed in the student hotel accommodation which I thought was good quality, and also a good opportunity to spend time with the other students on the course outside of the lessons. Overall I would highly recommend this course.

Abby Onencan (39) – Kenya / Course: 4 weeks Drenthe, July/August 2015

I am Abby, a mother of a 10 year old boy. He goes to a public school and the language of instruction is Dutch. I came to the Netherlands about 2 years ago. Within this period, I tried to learn Dutch, but it was not easy. I did not see the urgent need to learn Dutch until I was required by my son’s teacher to help my son to read a Dutch book every evening after school. Then I realised that learning Dutch is not only an added advantage for me but it will help me to support my son in his education. I carefully chose BLC’s Dutch Summer School because as a working mother summer season is one of the few moments that I am relaxed and able to concentrate on a new language. I had a wonderful time in Drenthe. It is a wonderful location for learning. I enjoyed the bicycle rides to the nearby towns and a visit to the museums and the Kamp Westerbork. I also liked the fact that Gronigen was very near and I could easily go there when I need to watch a movie. My fellow students and teachers were very friendly and social. I miss the barbecues and the Bingo nights.

I have very good memories of my summer school in Drenthe. I had two teachers and both were wonderful. They approached their task professionally and ensured that they taught us to the best of their ability. One thing I will never forget is the positive feelings that my teacher Tanja instilled in me about learning Dutch. Through her I realised that learning Dutch is not hard and it can be fun. However, you need to make a conscious choice to love the language, its people and culture. I remember her urging us to watch dutch movies. Everyone in class was a Hollywood lover but she convinced me that day to dedicate time watching Dutch movies as a strategy to continue learning Dutch. I was so inspired that after I left Drenthe all I have been watching are Dutch movies. I now understand them much better than when I started watching. In addition, I find Dutch movies more realistic than the Hollywood movies. In the process, my Dutch has improved significantly: while I watch movies that I like. That is what I really like about BLC’s teaching approach. They inspire you to learn Dutch and give you very simple and practical ideas on how to continue learning the language, after the summer course. They do this in a very friendly and relaxed environment. I highly recommend them.

Aleksandra Stronska (26) – Poland / course 2 weeks Drenthe, July 2015 (enrolled A1 – after online preparation with #dutchgrammar)

Mam na imię Ola i jestem ubiegłoroczną absolwentką turystyki i zarządzania. Na co dzień pracuję z językiem angielskim w multinarodowym środowisku. Podczas moich studiów miałam okazję wyjechać na pół roku do Belgii w ramach programu Erasmus i tak zaczęła się moja przygoda z językiem niderlandzkim! Początki były ciężkie, a Dutch w ogóle mi się nie podobał. Potrzebowałam trzech lat by zrozumieć, że nauka tego języka potrafi sprawić ogromną frajdę. Uczę się go, ponieważ uwielbiam poznawać nowe języki obce. Wierzę, że znajomość języków pomaga w lepszym zrozumieniu życia mieszkańców danego kraju oraz poznania ich kultury. Kurs, w którym miałam okazję uczestniczyć w Drenthe, był niezapomnianym przeżyciem! Po pierwsze: bardzo profesjonalnie zorganizowana struktura zajęć. Każdy z uczestników miał okazję się wypowiedzieć i już po dwóch tygodniach czułam, że mogę swobodnie rozmawiać z panią w recepcji czy w sklepie. Po drugie doświadczyłam fantastycznych przyjaźni z osobami z każdego zakątka świata. A na sam koniec spróbowałam holenderskiego przysmaku: naleśników z bekonem i syropem klonowym – i nie żałuję!

Translation:

My name is Ola and I’m a last year’s tourism and management graduate. I’m working with English in a multinational environment on a daily basis. During my studies I was given the opportunity to study for half year in Belgium and then my adventure with Dutch has begun! The beginning was though and Dutch was not my cup of tea at all. I needed three years to understand how much fun this language can bring. I am studying it, because I love exploring foreign languages. I believe that knowledge of languages helps in better understanding of different cultures. The course, in which I had the opportunity to be, was an unforgettable experience! Firstly: professionallyorganized structure of classes. Each participant had the chance to speak and after two weeks I felt that I could talk freely at the reception or in the store. Secondly, I experienced a fantastic friendship with people from every corner of the world. And at the end I tried Dutch delicacy: pancakes with bacon and maple syrup – and I don’t regret!

Maria Saykina (35) – Russia / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, July 2015 (enrolled A1 – after online preparation with #dutchgrammar)

Я влюблена в Нидерланды и изучение языка для меня – это прежде всего возможность поближе узнать страну и ее жителей. Когда я решила записаться на двухнедельные курсы Dutch Summer School, моей целью было прежде всего полностью погрузиться в атмосферу Нидерландов и начать наконец говорить на голландском. В результате я получила все, что хотела и даже больше. Dutch Summer School – это не только интенсивное изучение языка. Это международная команда единомышленников, с которыми интересно как на занятиях, так и за их пределами. Это возможность узнать страну «изнутри» и получить информацию о таких местах, традициях и особенностях, о которых не напишут в путеводителях. Великолепная атмосфера, замечательно подобранные материалы и прекрасные преподаватели – все это Dutch Summer School.

Translation:
I fell in love with the Netherlands and studying the language is for me in the first place a possibility to get to know the country and its people better. When I applied for the 2-week course of the Dutch Summer School, my main goal was to feel the atmosphere of the Netherlands and to start speaking Dutch. The result that I got, was what I wanted and actually more than that. The Dutch Summer School, is not just an intensive language course. It is an international environment of people with the same minds, with whom it is interesting to be in class and outside the lessons. It is a possibility to get to know the country from the inside and to find out about places, traditions and peculiarities which are not written in travel guides. A fantastic atmosphere, good course materials and excellent teachers. That is all – the Dutch Summer School.

Naomi (23) – UK / Course: 6 weeks Amsterdam, July + August 2015

My name is Naomi and I am an English student that had the pleasure to take part in Dutch Course Amsterdam for 6 weeks. I was hoping to learn Dutch in order to continue living in Amsterdam and continue my studies at a Dutch University! I had a wonderful experience with the course, made many friends from different parts of the world and was tutored by patient, friendly and fun-loving teachers. Although the homework was at times rigorous and challenging, I would definitely take part in the course all over again if I could, as I learned so much in such a short space of time! I’m forever grateful to the Barts (1,2 and 3), the teachers and all the students I was fortunate enough to meet. I would absolutely recommend this course to anyone that was considering learning Dutch!

Swagata Deb (52) – USA / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, July 2015 (enrolled A1 – after online preparation with #dutchgrammar)

Being married to a Dutch man, and visiting Netherlands every summer, I had picked up some very basic Dutch words and sentences, but was unable to go beyond the basics. I had been looking for short summer courses that I could enroll in during my summer visits, so understandably, I was thrilled to find this course, broken up in convenient two week segments. The classes were fast paced and intense, but were presented in contexts through short stories, and the teacher very experienced, so learning came very easy. I had only two weeks time this summer, so could do only the second level course, In just those two seeks, it is amazing how much I learnt. My vocabulary and grammar expanded hugely. Now I am able to understand and speak a lot more Dutch than ever before. I hope to be able to take the third level next summer. Great idea, Bart!! Wish you veel succes!!!

Annie Glavey (26) – Ireland / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, July 2015

I really enjoyed Learning Dutch in the summer school. The staff are very friendly and patient. It’s a very intensive course and I was impressed with the progress I made as I started with no Dutch at all. The student accommodation was very clean, modern and comfortable, also it was great having a bike so you can get around Amsterdam very easily.

Jihane (29) – Morocco / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2015

With the wish to improve my Dutch language skills for a more fluent communication and a better immersion in the Dutch society, I am happy to have found and followed the Dutch summer school in Drenthe. It has been a wonderful experience; learning Dutch in a beautiful, relaxing environment. Also with a lot of fun while meeting people from all over the world. I would definitely recommend it. Many thanks for the organisers of this event.

Wilma Selkälä (17) – Finland / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, July 2015

Odotukseni kurssia kohtaan eivät olleet hirveän korkealla, ajattelin päivien koostuvan lähinnä perusfraasien opettelusta ja yksinkertaisesta sanastosta. Opetussuunnitelma oli erilainen kuin mihin olen tottunut, mikä osoittautui todella hyväksi jutuksi. Kurssilla rakennettiin kielen opiskelulle vakaa pohja, joka on tehnyt opiskelun jatkamisesta ja esim. sanaston laajentamisesta kotona merkittävästi helpompaa. Opin siis todella paljon enemmän ja tehokkaammin kuin mitä alkujaan oletin. Opettajat olivat hyvin erilaisia, joka toi mukavaa vaihtelua päivään, mutta kaikki olivat ehdottomasti asiansa osaavia. Intensiivikurssilla tahti on tietysti tiukka, muttei millään tavalla liian kiireinen vaan sulattelulle ja kertaamiselle oli aina aikaa. Kaiken kaikkiaan en voi muuta kuin suositella mikäli todella haluaa oppia kieltä enemmänkin kuin vain oluen tilaamisen verran – ei sillä ettei sitäkin toki olisi opeteltu.

Translation:
I am planning on moving to the Netherlands anytime soon, so learning the language is essential to me. My expectations for the course weren’t very high, I assumed we’d go through some basic vocabulary and phrases. I ended up learning tons more than expected and in a different way than usually. I think the course gave me an excellent base to continue studying by myself. The curriculum was very well planned and the days weren’t exhausting but neither too easy. You have to be motivated to keep up with the lessons, but it’s definately made as easy as possible by the great teachers.

Gísli Leifsson (44) – Iceland / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2015 (enrolled A1 – after online preparation with #dutchgrammar)

My name is Gísli Leifsson and I took the Dutch Summer School course for two weeks at the start of August, 2015. Before arriving to the Netherlands, I finished the #dutchgramar course online which I liked very much. Learning languages has been sort of a hobby and this was the 5. time I was taking a language course like that. I chose to take it in Drenthe and not Amsterdam because of the lower price and being in the peaceful contryside appealed to me.

The classes were very nicely laid out and after class there were lots of activities on hand for our group. I must say that we were very lucky with the weather. There were not many days when we were not barbequeing in the evening and enjoying the good weather. Being a bachata teacher, I even managed to spice up the evenings with some dance lessons. I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to learn Dutch. Whether it’s it’s for living in the Netherlands or, as in my case, you just married a Dutch girl.

Marie Declerfayt (19) – France / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2015

I took part in the Dutch summer school in Drenthe the two first weeks of august. I am going to study in the Nederland and I wanted to begin my learning of Dutch with other people with the same goals as me and in an intensive way. The Dutch summer school has perfectly matched my objectives. I have met amazing people from all around the world, had great times with them and progressed a lot in Dutch, thanks to a great teacher! I strongly recommend this summer school.

Juan Pablo Atencio (32) – Argentina / Course: 4 weeks Drenthe, August 2015

Hola a todos! Mi nombre es Juan Pablo Atencio y he tomado parte del curso intensivo de Holandés dictado en Drenthe. El curso duro 4 semanas y fue fantástico!. Las clases fueron muy dinámicas y practicas; desde como se pronuncia cada letra hasta juegos de rol para poder poner en practica lo aprendido. Para mi fue una experiencia muy interesante ya que logre aprender y perder el miedo a dar mis primeros pasos en el idioma Holandés y también poder compartir momentos muy lindos con la gente que estudiaba conmigo.

El grupo de educadores es muy bueno, y eso se nota en cada clase dada. Tienen paciencia y siempre dispuestos a ayudarte aun cuando no están dictando clases. Para resumir, altamente recomiendo este curso para esas personas que quieren aprender y disfrutar de unas lindas semanas. Saludos y exitos!

Gorka Sillero (32) / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2015

My name is Gorka, I’m from the Basque Country, and after having been studying dutch by myself and with an online teacher for about 4 months, I decided to jump forward and take the 2 weeks program in Drenthe. While I was more or less comfortable with the Grammar, the classes were like a shock treatment for me, which gave a boost to my conversational and “real-life dutch” skills, having had about 4 hours a day of classes plus at least 2 for homework.

Besides, while that might sound quite strict and kind of boring, the dynamism of the classes, and the lovely environment of Westerbork made the experience super fun and enriching.

I can say that I have acquired not only some dutch skills and a “push” in order to keep me going, but also some good friends I expect to see soon!

Jennifer Izuora Adanna (29) – Nigeria / Course: 6 weeks Drenthe, July/August 2015

Before the Dutch Summer School in Drenthe, I had been learning Dutch on and off for a few years in abroad. Dutch is important to me because my husband is Dutch and his family are non English speakers. When I found this program online, with the option to go from beginner to B1 level in six weeks, I found it both interesting and ambitious! I took the challenge and I can confirm that this is possible……if you attend all classes and do your homework!

I spent six wonderful weeks at the Dutch Summer School in Drenthe; I was also on TV speaking Dutch!

It was amazing how much I learned in such a short amount of time. The facilities at the school were good and the Dutch instructors were patient and engaging. There were small classes (8-12 persons) with people of comparable ability, with a good mix of grammar and conversation. It is important to know your level and join the right class. Private classes are also available.

The classes are about 4 hours each day and alternate between mornings and afternoons. There is a lot of material covered and you receive an average of two hours of homework. It is not easy but it is fun.
The school is also very helpful with arranging tours and trips on the weekends; this is dependent on the weather and number of interested students.

On the social side, the Drenthe School was more fun than I expected, each block (2 weeks) had an average of 25 students in residence from over 10 nationalities. On Wednesdays we played bingo at the reception. On sunny days, we made nice barbecue parties, played volleyball, swam, went bicycle riding or kayaking in the lake. On rainy days we cooked meals together, played card games and drank beer and cheap wine!

Whatever your motivations for learning Dutch are, the Dutch Summer School in Drenthe is the perfect atmosphere to achieve your language goals. Learn Dutch, meet new people and have some fun!

David Stewart (65) – United Kingdom / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2015

I am 65. At the end of last year I retired from the sea after a career of 38 years. During this time I visited the Netherlands quite often and on one occasion I lived in Vlissingen for a few months. It was there that I developed a liking for cycling around the Dutch countryside and I made up my mind to do more of this during my retirement. I also thought it would help to know some Dutch, hence my attendance at the the summer school in Drenthe. The course was well organised, the teacher was very good and very patient. All the other students and all the staff were very friendly. I would recommend the summer school to anyone who wishes to mix business and pleasure, because half the day is given to studying Dutch and the other half is your own free time (after you’ve done your homework, of course). I intend to continue with my studies and I hope to return to Drenthe next year.

Rebekka (26) – Germany / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2015

Ich heiße Rebekka, komme aus Deutschland und habe den Kurs A1/A2 in der Dutch Summer School besucht. Da ich Sprachen sehr mag und Freunde in den Niederlanden habe, hatte ich beschlossen, Niederländisch zu lernen. Wir hatten eine fantastische Lehrerin- Tanja-, die es schaffte, unserer Gruppe in kürzester Zeit eine Menge Niederländisch beizubringen. Der Unterricht war alltagsnah, lebendig und interessant. Es war super, in kleinen Gruppen mit anderen gemeinsam zu lernen, die alle sehr motiviert waren, ihr Sprachlevel zu verbessern. Wir waren aus aller Herren Länder und haben uns sehr gut miteinander verstanden.

Die Wörter und Sätze, die ich gelernt habe, konnte ich noch am gleichen Tag jeweils verwenden und es war unglaublich, wie schnell es möglich war, mit Niederländern Gespräche zu führen! Trotz des vielen Unterrichts und der Hausaufgaben blieb genügend Zeit fürs Grillen, Sport und Ausflüge in die nähere Umgebung. Das Gelände ist weitläufig und bietet viele Freizeitmöglichkeiten wie Tennis, Kayak fahren und Schwimmen.

Ich kann die Dutch Summer School uneingeschränkt weiterempfehlen, ich selbst war sehr froh über die Zeit, die ich dort verbracht hatte.

Patrycja Wahlborg (43) – Poland / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, August 2015

I am 43, originally coming from Poland but live in Sweden. Languages have always been my passion, I speak English, Swedish, Polish, German, learned a bit of Portugese and Italian in the past. Now I decided to take up Dutch as I work in an international company that has operations in the Netherlands and I work a lot with my Dutch colleagues. I also have some friends here. I bumped into Dutch Summer School on the internet and decided to enroll. The course was great fun, well organized. The amount I learned during the two weeks definitely exceeded my expectations. From not knowing anything to understanding a lot in daily situations. I can really recommend this course to anyone.

Colin Berlanger (19) : Belgium / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2015

Voilà, je m’appelle Colin et je vis à Bruxelles en Belgique. Comme beaucoup d’étudiants à Bruxelles j’ai des difficultés avec le néerlandais que j’ai plutôt mal appris à l’école. Mais sachant à quel point il est important de le parler, j’ai décidé de faire un stage pendant les vacances. Et un peu par hasard, je suis arrivé à Drenthe aux Pays-Bas pour deux semaines de stage. Beaucoup de gens pensent que c’est une corvée d’apprendre le néerlandais mais de cette façon, c’est loin d’en être une ! Une vie en communauté qui te permet de rencontrer des gens qui viennent de partout dans le monde et d’apprendre plein de choses sur leur culture et des cours dynamiques avec des professeurs qui te font aimer le néerlandais. Bref, une expérience inoubliable que je te conseille vivement !

Translation:
Hi, I’m Colin and I live in Brussels, in Belgium. Like many students in Brussels, I have troubles with the Dutch language that I didn’t learn well at school. But knowing how important it is to speak, I decided to do language holiday. And by chance, I ended up in Drenthe in the Netherlands for two weeks of training. Many people feel it as an obligation to learn Dutch, but this way is far from that! Living in a community with people from all over the world, makes you learn a lot about different cultures. And the dynamic courses of the teachers make you love the Dutch language. In short, an unforgettable experience that I can strongly recommend!

Carole Chatelet (45) – France / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, August 2015 (enrolled A1 – after online preparation with #dutchgrammar)

J’ai commencé à apprendre le néerlandais en mai 2015 dans le but de partir travailler aux Pays-Bas.Les cours de grammaire online m’ont permis d’acquérir les bases. La présentation, les explications, les exercices permettent un apprentissage rapide. Ils sont ludiques et complets pour débuter en néerlandais. Toutefois, il me semblait indispensable d’approfondir mon apprentissage « en immersion » aux Pays-Bas, j’ai donc suivi deux semaines de cours intensifs en juillet au BLC à Amsterdam. J’ai beaucoup apprécié le déroulement de cette « classe d’été » : des professeurs motivés et dynamiques, des locaux agréables et bien situés où on se sent comme à la maison, des rencontres enrichissantes avec des étudiants du monde entier… Une expérience très « gezellig » ! Merci à tous.

Translation:
I’ve started to learn Dutch in May in order to find a job in the Netherlands. The grammar online curses allowed me to get the basis quickly. They’re really helpful to start in Dutch with a pleasant lay-out, a lot of explanations and varied exercices. As I wanted to complete my learning in the Netherlands I followed a 2-week-summer class at BLC in Amsterdam. I did appreciate everything : the dynamic teachers, the school and the classrooms where you feel at home and the rich experience resulting from the worldwide students meeting. Thanks a lot. It was very « gezellig ».

Stefan (29) – Serbia / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2015

Cao, drugari! Zovem se Stefan, i ove godine sam proveo 10-ak dana u zivopisnom holandskom mestascetu na kursu holandskog jezika. Bilo je jako interesantno, jer nas je bilo gomila, iz celog sveta – razlicite licnosti, razne kulture… Kurs je bio intenzivan, imali smo predavanja ili pre, ili posle podne, ali smo se i prilicno zabavljali!! Stekao sam mnogo prijatelja, pa, sada, gde god da odem, imam sa kim da popijem kafu! Helaas pindakaas, bilo je prekratko, pa planiram da iduce godine odem i na duze… Vrienden, ik heb genoten van alles, vooral “te praten over koetjes en kalfjes!!”

Translation:
Hi, guys! My name is Stefan, and this year I spent around 10 days in a really picturesque Nederlands place in a Dutch (language) summer school. It was real fun, for there was a bunch of us, from all over the world – different people, different personalities, different cultures… The course was somewhat intense, we had lectures either in the morning, or in the afternoon, but we also had so much fun!! I made a lot of friends, so, now, wherever I go, I have someone to have coffee with! Helaas pindakaas, it was too short, so, next year, I plan to stay longer… Vrienden, ik heb genoten van alles, vooral “te praten over koetjes en kalfjes!!”

Ernest Spitzer (35) – Peru / Course: 6 weeks Drenthe, July/August 2015

The Dutch Summer School in Drenthe… great sightseeing, grapjes, intensive classes, good (very good) new friends… after some days, the sense of belonging to a new small community is amazing… all friendly students with very different backgrounds and interesting stories, supporting each other, planning a time to go running, to cook together, time to do the huiswerk, time for BBQ (!!!), even (if you are lucky) time to learn bachata and salsa from an expert. Amazing summer days with a nice lake to go kayaking… more classes, extra afternoon lessons during the weekend (!!!), before going for dinner to the closest town… een beetje praten, and BBQs under the rain… 6 weeks – fantastic experience! Don´t miss the Wednesday Bingo at Timmerholt! – Ernest (Cardiologist from Perú working in Rotterdam).

Ekaterina Golikova (19) – Russia / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, August 2015

Я учу голландский уже два года. Как и при изучении других языков, знания одной грамматики недостаточно. Поэтому основной моей целью было улучшить свой разговорный голландский. За две недели интенсивных занятий я стала намного смелее, значительно чаще стала пользоваться голландским, нежели чем английским. По-другому, наверное, и не вышло бы, ведь из четырех часов в день два часа отводились специально на разговорную часть. Непринужденная обстановка и дружный преподавательский коллектив настраивают на общение. В такой обстановке обучение проходит легко и приятно, а главное начинаешь думать на голландском, так что выходя из класса невольно продолжаешь говорить на нем.

Translation:
I have been studying dutch for 2 years. Like with studying other languages, knowledge of only grammar is not enough. So my main goal was to improve my Dutch conversation skills. After 2 weeks of intensive courses, I became much more confident, and started to use Dutch more than English. That’s a result of having 2 hours per day (of 4 tuition hours in total) completely devoted to conversation. An environment without obligations and a friendly team of teachers makes you speak. In such an environment it is easy and comfortable to communicate, and most important: you start to think in Dutch, and that makes that when you leave the classroom, you automatically continue to speak the language.

Mateusz Szleger (29) – Poland / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, July 2015

Witajcie, mam na imię Mateusz mam 29 lat i obecnie studiuję w Polsce. Wybrałem tę szkołę żeby się szybko nauczyć podstawy języka holenderskiego i w gruncie rzeczy sam jestem pod wrażeniem jak bardzo dobrze ta nauka mi poszła. Przyjechałem do Amsterdamu z zamiarem nauczyć się tylko podstaw jeżyka i strzeże nie myślałem o takiej komunikatywności i to tylko po 4 tygodniowym kursie. Muszę się jednak przyznać, że znam język niemiecki bardzo dobrze i to mi było wielką pomocą do nauki jeżyka holenderskiego. Polecam każdemu, chociaż poznać z profesjonalnej ręki podstawy gramatyki języka holenderskiego na początek, a reszta już przyjdzie z czasem.

Yuho Ohata (25) – Japan / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, July 2015

こんにちは。2015年夏に2週間、A1/A2コースに参加しました。オランダ語は個人的な関心で年初から勉強をしていました。大学は既に卒業しているため、ほぼ独学で文法の学習を行い、アムステルダムのサマースクールへ参加しました。社会人の方は、東京の大学などで開かれている公開講座の他でオランダ語（特に会話や聴解）を学ぶ機会を得ることは難しいと思います。その意味でこのサマースクールに参加する価値は充分にあると思います。授業中にはたくさんオランダ語を話しますし、先生方も質問に丁寧に答えてくださいました。また、参加者の年齢も国籍も多様ですので、輪に入れないのではないかという心配はいりません。

留意すべきこととして、少なくともA1/A2コースまでは、授業も生徒間のコミュニケーションも英語が中心です。よって、英語かオランダ語のどちらかがある程度理解できることは必須だと思います。オランダ語に関心のある方は、ぜひ参加してみてください。大畠

Translation:
Hello I’m Yuho and I live in Japan. I participated in 2 weeks A1/A2 course in Amsterdam. Last winter I began to learn Dutch just as a hobby. Because in Japan we don’t have much chances to talk in Dutch, I joined this summer school. The course gave me many opportunities to speak in Dutch and kind teachers taught us very friendly. I recommend all Dutch learners to join this course!

Dunskiy Mikhail (29) – Kazachstan / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, August 2015

Hoi allemaal. Ik heet Mikhail, 29 jaar en kom uit Kazachstan. Mijn moedertaal is Russisch, maar ik leer Nederlands omdat ik dit interessant vind en dat werd mijn hobby. Ik volgende cursus Nederlands (niveau A2B1) in BLC Dutch Summer School in Amsterdam van 3 tot 14 Augustus 2015. Les grammatica met Jonatan waren makkelijk en duidlijk voor mij en les conversatie met Bob waren tamelijk moeilijk. Maar nu weet ik dat ik verder moet doen om mijn Nederlands beter te doen.

Damir Dürrigl (22) – Croatia / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, August 2015

My name is Damir, I am a student from Zagreb, Croatia. So far I have been studying dutch because I find ,studying a language which is certainly not spoken by anyone, to be a comparative advantage in life. I have attended this program in August 2015 and I must say it has been a great experience. The atmosphere was great. Teachers Were extremly approachable and patient which Made me learn new things in Dutch with ease. I would recommend this program to anyone who has interest in learning Dutch, getting to know Dutch culture and meeting new people and teachers with great persona.

Hannah (19) – Switzerland / Course: 4 weeks Amsterdam, August 2015

My name is Hannah and I’m from Switzerland. I decided to study Dutch because I really love the Netherlands and I wanted to learn more about the Dutch culture and because it’s quite similar to German (so it’s not that hard). I really enjoyed my 4 weeks at the school. (I’m already planning to go back.) The teachers are great and make learning Dutch really fun. We had school from 10 to 14:30. So there was always enough time to explore the city with our bikes. I really recommend this program!

Ioan Jianu (67) – Romania / Course: 4 weeks Amsterdam, July 2015

Salut, sunt Ioan (Jan in Olanda) , am 67 de ani si sunt din Brasov. Am urmat Scoala de Vara Olandeza in Amsterdam din 2 iulie pana in 2 august 2015. A fost un curs intensiv, cu 4 ore zilnic, 5 zile pe saptamana. Am invatat multe lucruri interesante despre Olanda si olandezi si in plus am inceput sa inteleg bine limba olandeza. Profesorii erau tineri , foarte bine pregatiti si au folosit metode de predare moderne si distractive. Cursul este foarte util pentru cei care vor sa studieze, sa locuiasca sau sa lucreze in Olanda. A fost o experienta deosebita care trebuie incercata.

In het Nederlands (door Ioan geschreven):
Hallo, ik ben Ioan (Jan in Nederland), ik ben 67 en ik woon in Brasov. Ik was van 2 juli tot 2 augustus 2015 voor Nederlands cursus in Amsterdam gewest. Het was een intensief cursus , 4 uur dagelijk, 5 dagen per week. Ik geleerd hele interessante dingen over Nederland en Nederlanders een bovendien Ik begon heel goed Nederlands begrijpen. De leraren waren jongen, goed voorbereid en ze gebruikte moderne en amusante leermethoden. De cursus is dienstig voor iedereen die wil in Nederland werken wonen of studeren. Er is een bijzondere ervaring die je moet om te proberen.

Emilian Graure (49) – Romania / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2015 (completed #dutchgrammar to review after the Summer School)

Mijn naam is Emilian en ik kom uit Roemenie. Af en toe bezoekte ik de Nederland. Zo ondekte ik dat het Nederlanse taal en cultuur heel bijzondere zijn. De Engelse taal was goed genoeg voor mijn dagelijkse zaken in Nederland. Maar, als je sterker relaties ontwikkelen wilt, dan moet je Nederlanse taal en cultuur kennen. Om te beginnen, had ik wat kleine dialoog boeken en gramatica gestudeerde. Maar na twee jaren thuis studie voelde ik dat niet genoeg was om Nederlads te praten.

Op en dag, zag ik een reclame op dit BLC taalcursus in Drenthe op mijn computerscherm. Het leek goed voor mij en onmiddelijk registreerde ik me voor twee weken zommer school. Eerst had ik een taalniveau op BLCs internetsite gepasd en dit zette me op de groep A1 tot A2.Daarna had ik me voor de reis bereid.
Het leven in Drenthe is mooie en stilte, zo anders dan de bezige steden hebben. Hier studeren we en leven we samen – mensen vanuit alle wereld : Azie, Zuid en Noorden Amerika, Afrika, Europa.

Het dagelijks werktijd is goed georganiseerd en de vrije tijd is in je eigen administratie. De logeren condities zijn goed, mischien boven een universiteit kampus, denk ik. Binnen mijn groep de lessen zijn op een NT2/A2 niveau taalboek gebaserd, maar andere opties zijn ook mogelijk, als one-to-one les of per je aangevraagde thema.

Tijdens de lessen zijn de docenten echt open op dialoogen voeren en alle studenten te participeren. Ik vond de cursus duidelijk en nuttig voor mijn grammatica en mijn gesprek te verbeteren. Een echt stap vooruit. En meer, heb ik nieuwe vrienden gemaakt, voor verder te praten en trainen, tot dan mijn Nederlands perfect wordt. Nu, kom ik terug aan mijn zaken met een goed gevoel van progress over mijn Nederlands.

Wael Soliman (33) – Egypt / Course: 6 weeks Drenthe, July/August 2015

My name is wael soliman or Soliman. I am Egyptian. i work in export vegetables and fruit company I export from Egypt to Nederland . from two years ago i started new company in Holland with my Dutch friend. is very important for me learn Dutch .

i was looking for how can I learn Dutch online and i find #dutchgrammar and BLC . i was two choices to go to Amsterdam or Drenthe after i thinking too much i choose Drenthe . i was very lucky for my this chose .

for six weeks i was try learn many rules , words and Dutch cultures . i have now most Dutch basics language and i will continue again .

i am very happy and very lucky i introduced to new friends from more than 40 countries . that is very wonderful trial.

i would like to say to my teachers and my friends thank you very much and i don’t regret !

انا اسمي وائل سليمان أو سليمان وانا المصري. أنا أملك شركة تصدير خضروات و فاكهه في مصر . من قبل عامين بدأت مع صديقي الهولندي انشاء شركة جديدة في هولندا . من المهم جدا بالنسبة لي ان تعلم اللغة الهولنديه

#dutchgrammar وBLC كنت أبحث عن كيف يمكنني تعلم الغه الهولنديه على الانترنت و بعد بحث و جدت

. وكان هناك خيارين اما الذهاب إلى أمستردام أو درينثي وبعد تفكير اخترت درينثي. كنت محظوظا جدا لهذا الاختيار.

لمدة ستة أسابيع كنت احاول تعلم العديد من القواعد والكلمات والثقافات الهولندية. لدي الآن معظم أساسيات اللغة الهولندية وأنا سوف استمر مرة أخري في التعلم .

أنا سعيد جدا ومحظوظ جدا لقد تعرفت على أصدقاء جدد من أكثر من 40 بلدا. هذه تجربه رائعة جدا

.أود أن أقول لأساتذتي وأصدقائي شكرا جزيلا لكم، وأنا لست نادما

Sergey Vandysheff (26) – Russia / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, August 2015

Август 2015 года навсегда останется в моей памяти. Связано это с участием в летних курсах голландского языка Dutch Summer School,организованных Bart Leenhouts и командой талантливых преподавателей (Jonathan, Bob, Bart).

Занятия проходили в дружелюбной,уважительной атмосфере и в рамках прекрасно построенного учебного процесса. Учебный материал составлен грамотно и в соответствии с уровнем владения языком каждого из участников и направлен на закрепление уже полученных знаний и освоение нового материала. Преподаватели открытые,отзывчивые и всегда готовы в индивидуальном порядке объяснить материал неусвоенный с первого раза.

Отдельное спасибо Bart Leenhouts за идею и реализацию столь значимого проекта,объединяющего самых разных людей мирового сообщества для изучения этого интересного языка,культуры,людей и этой замечательной страны-Нидерландов!

В Нидерландах я не впервые (8-й раз).И в эти волшебные две недели пребывания соединились две вещи: в очередной раз восхищение,наслаждение от чудесной страны и изумительного города и продуктивность в прохождении освоения голландского языка.

Спасибо BLC Dutch Summer School! Я никогда не забуду это время!

Translation:
August 2015 will be forever in my memories. That’s because my participation at the Dutch Summer School, organised by Bart Leenhouts and a team of talented teachers (Jonathan, Bob, Bart).

The lessons were held in a friendly atmosphere in an excellent built educational process. Well thought course materials related to the level of the participants and aimed at strengthening existent knowledge and acquiring new knowledge. The teachers are open, responsive and always ready to repeat individually elements that were not understood from from the first time.

A separate thanks to Bart Leenhouts for the idea and realisation of a significant project, that unites people from different parts of the world by studying an interesting language, the culture and the magnificent country the Netherlands.

It was not my first time in the Netherlands (8th visit). And these 2 weeks combined to things: delight, the pleasure of a wonderful country and an amazing city, and the efficient acquisition of the Dutch language.

Thank you BLC Dutch Summer School! An experience I won’t forget!

Mehdi Ould Rouis (37) – Algeria / Course: 2 weeks Drenthe, August 2015

Ce fut un grand plaisir pour moi de prendre part à ce stage, nous avons allié formation et détente, dans un cadre splendide en pleine campagne (Drenthe), un vrai dépaysement en somme!

Les cours étaient sérieux dans une ambiance décontractée, malgré la difficulté de la langue, je remercie d’ailleurs les professeurs/Staff pour leur patience, leur professionnalisme et leur bonne humeur.

En dehors des cours, nous étions obligés (si nous voulions suivre!) de faire quelques devoirs, c’était l’occasion de travailler ensemble et de pratiquer notre néerlandais, tout âge et toute nationalité confondus.

Le reste du temps, c’était: Ballades à vélos, Canoë, barbecues, et des soirées au calme avec de la bonne musique etc.

J’ai hâte de revenir pour une prochaine session.

Het was een groot genoegen voor mij om deel te nemen aan deze cursus hebben we gecombineerd training en ontspanning in een prachtige omgeving op het platteland (Drenthe) Dank aan de docenten voor hun professionaliteit en hun goed humeur!

Martin (33) – Slovenia / Course: 2 weeks Amsterdam, August 2015

I’m a computer programmer and I study Dutch as a hobby. Studying at BLC was a lot of fun and the teachers are great. Learning in the native environment was a unique advantage because there was more focus on the actual practical language skills, which boosted my knowledge and comprehension of Dutch beyond my expectations. Plus it gave me the ability to practice in every moment and learn about the Dutch culture and society. There was a lot of homework and writing with good feedback, which helped me improve my skills and confidence in using the language.

Cecilia (28) – Mexico / Course: 6 weeks Amsterdam, July-August 2015

Summer of 2015 was one of the best experiences of my life. I did not only start to learn Dutch in an amazing city but also made very good friends.

The school is excellent, the teachers are not only very good at explaining the language but also charismatic. The lessons are very well structured and the materials are very easy to follow. There are songs and games, so the classes are never boring. I was so impressed by how much I was learning and how fast I was speaking and writing Dutch.

The housing is also great. Although a bit expensive, it is completely worth it. The rooms are very comfortable, private, safe and surrounded by a community of international travelers.

For me, those six weeks were like a dream and the best possible way to start my new life in The Netherlands. I really recommend this course to anyone that wants to spend a lovely summer in Amsterdam, make a lot of international friends and learn Dutch in a fun way.

Disclaimer: this page describes the experiences of students of their program in a previous year. For the exact description of your program, always check the price calculation, program description, group size, learning method (book), facilities, location of the course you subscribe to.