By Anne Roetman, secondary Dutch teacher
At ISU we offer four different levels for Dutch Language Acquisition. Students begin in phase 1 and if they are interested and capable they can progress through the phases until eventually they reach proficient, the highest level within the MYP programme.
Reading, writing, listening and speaking
As in all phases, students in proficient work on all four language skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. This year we started with a unit about the future. As part of a speaking assignment, students worked in pairs to design an invention. They were asked to think about what is missing at school or in their personal lives and come up with a creative solution. During the assessment, the pairs had to pitch their idea in three minutes to the rest of the class, without using notes. This task challenged students to speak spontaneously, structure their ideas and convince the audience of the need for their invention. They rose to the challenge, showed a high level of confidence and were very persuasive.
In the second unit we explored the topic of rights and acceptance of the LGBTQ-community. The Netherlands is often seen as a pioneer in this area, since it was the first country to legalise same sex-marriages. Students discussed if this is still true today. They also researched the rights of the LGBTQ-community in other countries and compared different international contexts. They practiced analysing information and expressing their opinions.
Second World War project
The same skills we are now applying in a different context. At this moment we are examining the Second World war, using the story of Anne Frank as well as a range of videos and texts about this topic. The unit helps students to engage with historical content while developing their ability to reflect and communicate effectively in Dutch. As an early introduction to the type of speaking tasks students may encounter later in the Diploma Programme, students practise speaking for two minutes about a given stimulus and making connections to their own lives or to current global issues. While this can be challenging, several students have already shown strong progress by making thoughtful and relevant connections to the world around them.
How to improve your Dutch skills
Below are some tips to improve your Dutch outside school, by yourself or as a family. The main thing is to practice regularly.Try to speak Dutch as much as possible outside school.
- Join a Dutch-speaking (sports) club or activity.
- Follow Dutch-Language social media accounts related to something you are interested in.
- Watch the Jeugdjournaal regularly and talk about it afterwards.
- Read Dutch newspapers, magazines or books.
- Practise grammar and spelling using online resources.