private_Dutch_classes

I offer both group and private Dutch classes.
Please see below a comparison of the options.
If in doubt, get in touch!

Private Dutch classes

Dutch group classes

If you want to learn Dutch for a specific purpose, are an advanced speaker, have an irregular schedule or simply enjoy private language classes, these are the classes for you.

If you are an absolute beginner or lower-intermediate who enjoys learning in a group, I have got you covered. Small class sizes of up to 6 students will ensure you get enough practise time.

Levels offered

Private Dutch classes are available at any level. Before your first class, I will send you a written level assessment test and will then have a chat with you to discuss your needs. The intake call is free and usually lasts around 45 minutes. This is where you have the opportunity to let me know what you would like to learn, what you struggle with and what you are unsure about.

Dutch group classes are available at absolute beginner, beginner and lower intermediate level. These levels correspond to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels 0, A1 and A2. Higher levels will be offered if there is sufficient demand. If you are unsure what your level is, get in touch or have a look at the self-assessment grid of the CEFR.

When and where?

My private classes are taught over Zoom. Zoom is free video call software that you will have to download and install before the first intake. This means you can learn from anywhere and are not bound by my whereabouts. If you live in Glasgow and would like to have face-to-face classes, that is also an option. All private Dutch lessons are scheduled Monday to Friday, between 9am and 9pm GMT.

Group classes are taught over Zoom. Zoom is free video call software that you will have to download and install before the first intake. Each block of classes is 8 weeks. Starting dates are usually mid January and mid June. Absolute beginners are usually scheduled on Mondays 7:00-9:00pm, beginners on Tuesdays 7:00-9:00pm and lower-intermediates on Thursdays 7:00-9:00pm. Bespoke group classes are also possible. Get in touch to discuss the options.

What will you learn?

For standard teaching you will learn all the skills as outlined in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, starting with the alphabet, pronunciation, basic greetings, ordering food, asking for directions and other functional language you are likely to need when going to The Netherlands. At the higher levels we will look at more complex sentences, the differences between the various past and future tenses, the uses of "er", advanced vocabulary and passive construction, to name a few.
The course book we use in these classes is called Contact. How much we can cover per week depends on the amount of time you have available to self-study and on your experience with learning languages. At the lower levels the emphasis will be on building up your vocabulary.

In language coaching the content is entirely up to you. Coaching sessions are a bespoke service that are created around your needs and the way your brain learns. Don't worry if you are unsure about what you need to learn and how to do it, I will be there to guide you through the process. If this is your first foreign language, we will look at activities you enjoy doing and will then model your language learning tasks on those. We will discard the strategies that don't work and develop the ones that do, giving you a deeper understanding of your own learning mechanisms and helping you become the driver on your language learning journey.
In coaching we don't use a book. All the materials will be collected or created by the coach, to suit your specific needs.

Absolute beginners: we will cover basic spelling and pronunciation rules, greetings, booking a hotel/taxi, buying train tickets, thanking people, asking for directions, introducing yourself and other people, describing objects and people, filling in forms, writing postcards and invitations. The grammar we will cover is verbs in present tense, starting with "to have" and "to be", basic questions, numbers, basic word order, negation, adjectives, separable verbs, simple conjunctions, different types of pronouns and some prepositions.

Beginners: We will build on the absolute beginners course and will cover shopping scenarios, menus and timetables, you will learn how to talk about your home and your work, your preferences, how to make suggestions, how to agree and disagree, how to describe places and people in more detail. The grammar we will cover is verbs in past tense, common irregular and modal verbs, more conjunctions, word order in more complex sentences, the uses of "er", continuous tenses and reflexive verbs.

Lower-intermediates: You will learn how to talk about your hobbies in more detail, about the differences between countries, about things that happened in the past, about future plans, about education and work related topics and about books/films you have seen/read. Grammar: you will learn how to use passive constructions, how to recognise and interpret different types of subordinate clauses, how to use the infinitive, how to soften your tone in requests, various future tenses and the difference in meaning between them.

Pricing

The price depends on the package you book. Contact us for individual package prices.

As a guide, standard language classes are between £20 and £30 per hour depending on the level requested and the number of hours booked. Language coaching ranges from £50 to £80 per hour, depending on the number of hours in your package. Half hour or 45-minute slots also available for both standard classes and language coaching.

The price for an 8-week course with 2 hours per week is £275 per person, based on a group of at least 4 people.

included in the package:
free intake and level assessment
correction of homework
teacher always available to answer language-related questions
8 weeks of language lessons with 120 minutes of live lessons per week