In creating this course, In’to pioneered NT2 education in the Netherlands and developed the teaching materials itself. Marieke Elderman worked on this and explains why it is so important and valuable that this C1+ level course is now available.
In’to developed a C1+ level Dutch course
If you’ve already reached C1 level Dutch proficiency, what can you do to further improve your language skills? Most language schools do not offer group courses beyond the B2 and C1 level. C1 was also the highest level for group courses offered by Radboud In’to Languages. But this will no longer be the case: we have developed a new online Dutch C1+ course.
Why this course?
“We noticed that course participants who had achieved C1 level were still keen to continue learning,” Marieke explains. “Participants who have attained such a high level are often incredibly motivated and work in positions where they need to use Dutch at a professional or academic level. So the desire to develop their language skills from C1 further and to become more familiar with Dutch is definitely there. But there are hardly any language schools that provide these courses, and if they do, they only offer individual tailor-made training. With this online course, we would like to ensure that people throughout the Netherlands and beyond can take this step.”
Advantages of group courses
Besides group courses being more accessible in terms of cost than tailor-made courses, there are more advantages to learning in a group. Modes of instruction are specifically chosen for these courses, with participants working together so they can learn from each other. “For example, we do role plays, poster presentations and we work with peer feedback. This means you get much more out of the course as a participant. Not only because it helps to get feedback from different people, but also because you need to be critical when you give feedback yourself. This way, you actually reflect on your language skills as well.”
“You learn from each other when working in a group, which means you get much more out of the course”
How is the C1+ course organised?
The course is structured around six different themes, ranging from health to technology and from over tourism to water management. “We really focus on real life in this course and work with 100% authentic materials. This is where these themes stem from,” Marieke explains. “The idea is to delve into themes you may not be familiar with yourself, but which are relevant to the Netherlands. This is not so much about vocabulary, but about performing communicative tasks, such as having discussions, writing policy plans, presenting and so on. The assignments are made so that the skills are transferable to other situations in the student’s life.”
Confidence
The course does not cover any new grammar, as it has already been covered in the previous levels. “As a result, there is even more focus on the communication aspect, such as writing letters and emails, pitching ideas and discussing. All activities that participants have to deal with at work too.” Moreover, there is room to work on weaker points. “We regularly see learners who are still somewhat insecure due to their perfectionism, despite their high language levels. This course offers them the opportunity to improve the skills they are less good at, making them feel more confident when using the language.”
