RESULT
In this course, participants will acquire a practical introduction to the Dutch language to CEFR A1–. This course is mandatory before you start with the Dutch A1 course and provides insight into what to expect from the level-based courses. Participants receive a certificate of participation after completion.
CONTENT
Introduction to Dutch was developed to ease you into the process of learning Dutch. The course focuses on everyday language which you can immediately put into practice, such as greetings, common signs, useful phrases for shopping, travel, ordering at a restaurant, etc. The course is self-paced, meaning that you can decide for yourself when you will work on it. However, you are not completely alone: in every unit there is at least one opportunity to interact with other learners and the course's teachers and you can always ask for help in each unit's dedicated help discussion.
Although you can take as long as you want for this course up to the final deadline, we strongly recommend trying to complete it within three weeks, working on it twice a week (one module each time, with the final quiz mentioned below as a last 'study' session). This way you can simulate the rhythm of the level-based courses (A1 and up) and make it easier to later combine those with your studies and/or work.
After the fifth unit there is a mandatory quiz. This quiz is a final and mandatory part of your Introduction to Dutch course. It offers you a preview of the level-based courses (A1 and up) and helps ensure that you know what to expect when starting these courses. You have to complete the quiz with a grade of 9 or higher, but you can retake it as many times as you need to before the deadline for your A1 course (see below).
DURATION AND TIME INVESTMENT
The course consists of five modules. Students should spend approximately one hour on each module to study the materials, complete exercises and review if necessary. The mandatory test at the end of the course takes at least 35 minutes. The study load for this course is roughly equivalent to 0,2 ECTS.
Please note: to make sure you can start with A1 when you want to, keep the following points in mind:
- If you are planning to take A1 in a coming quartile, make sure to register as soon as you can, even if you have not finished Introduction to Dutch yet. If you wait too long, the A1 courses will fill up before you finish Introduction to Dutch and you will have to wait an extra quartile.
- You have to complete Introduction to Dutch at least four weeks before the start of the quartile you plan to take A1 in. For the academic year of 2025-2026 that means there are the following deadlines:
- To start with A1 in Q1 25/26: finish before August 4 2025 23:59
- To start with A1 in Q2 25/26 or later: finish before the course closes on August 31 2025 23:59.
- If you register for an A1 course, but do not finish Introduction to Dutch before the corresponding deadline, your registration will be cancelled. It is not possible to get your administration fee refunded or to transfer it to register for a later A1 course.
- September 2025 a new course will start. If you don't finish the current course before the end of August you will have to register for this new course. (Course and administration fee will have to be paid again.)