My tutoring is made-to-measure. I adapt everything to your needs and preferences, from the content we focus on to the format of the sessions.
Tutoring may take place at a location of your choosing in Amsterdam, or online.
When we meet for a trial session, I will ask you some questions about your goals and learning style.
Do you want to speak Dutch at the office or at the bar? Are you working towards an inburgeringsexamen? Do you want to prioritize speaking and listening or reading and writing? Are you a grammar perfectionist or do you just want to be albe to jump into any conversation at a party?
Have you learned a second language before? Do you like technical explanations or do you prefer to learn grammar rules through examples? How comfortable are you with coming up with sentences on the spot? Are you a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner? How much homework are you able to do, and what kind of homework do you enjoy?
When I have a sense of your goals and your learning style, I will offer some suggestions on how to spend our trial session. You will pick from my ideas or add some of your own. At the end of the session, we’ll evaluate what worked for you, what didn’t, and what you’d like to add. If you decide to continue, I’ll shape the next session based on this feedback and will continue to do so after each session until we have a format that fits you like a well-tailored suit.
Having struggled my way through the school system with ADHD, I know how frustrating it can be to have a different learning style from the majority. A tutor who adapts to your natural way of thinking and studying can make a world of difference.
During your lessons, we may…
read children’s books similar to your childhood favorites
listen to music in your favorite genres and translate the lyrics
read or watch news items related to your interests
browse social media to see how colloquial Dutch is used online
compare the same Wikipedia page in Dutch and in English
write fake (or real!) work emails in Dutch
take a walk around the neighborhood and talk about what we see
role play a phone call to customer service
take a deep dive into a grammatical construction
…and many, many more options!
Interested in what your perfect Dutch lesson might look like?