Learn Dutch Flemish

Learn Dutch Flemish

At the Dutch Flemish Language Institute, we offer language and culture instruction tailored to your needs. Our experienced, native-speaking teachers have helped second language speakers and native-speaking students alike. What sets us apart is the personal contact with our highly skilled and certified teachers. We pair you with a Dutch or Flemish teacher of your choice.

Services

Native Student
We follow the current Dutch/Belgian curriculum for language and culture. Our objective is to help the student avoid falling a grade behind, due to a lack of Dutch/Flemish language education during their time abroad.

Second Language
We teach Dutch as a second language based on your needs: to talk to family in the Netherlands/Belgium, to prepare for a move overseas, or to stay in touch with your heritage.

Business Classes
We offer business classes for extended stays abroad. We help you understand the local business culture and the specific language for your industry. Group lessons are possible.

Test Prep
We offer preparation for a number of exams including Dutch AKV Exam, Inburgeringsexamen, Staatsexamen, CNaVT and more.

Instructors

Alexandra van Oeteren, founder, Flemish
Alexandra has a Masters in Dutch/English, a high school teaching certificate, a diploma in Theatre Science and an NTC Leadership Certification. She also has an MBA in General Management. She has taught adults and children both in classroom and private settings for over 20 years. She is a certified examiner for the CNaVT (Certificate Dutch as a Foreign Language) and was an academic Dutch tutor at Northwestern University. She was the principal of an NTC school in the US for over 15 years. She lives in the Chicago Suburbs and teaches small groups, private lessons and online lessons. Alexandra loves to read, pretend to garden and cook.

Sarah Soetewey, Flemish
Sarah has a Masters in Orthopedagogy and worked in various schools in Antwerp, Belgium. She is a Learning Specialist in an elementary school in Oregon and works with children with learning and behavioral disabilities, autism, cognitive delays and gifted students. Sarah beliefs that building a positive relationship with students and their families is the key to success. Sarah and her American husband have two young children. Sarah loves to run, bake, read, and wants to instill her love for reading and language in her students.

Esther Sunnex, Dutch
Esther has a grade school teaching degree. She taught in various primary schools before moving to New Zealand. Besides being a homeschooling mother of five, Esther had her own small company sewing and selling baby carriers and worked in a Dutch pancake house. She also translates books from Dutch to English. She lives in a small town in New Zealand that was the location of the Hobbiton Movie set.

Irene van Kimmenade, Dutch
Irene has two master degrees in teaching and remedial teaching. While living overseas, she worked for the Dutch Language School, teaching children and adults the Dutch language. She also gained experience working in different parts of the world like Australia and the Caribbean teaching children of different cultures and backgrounds. Irene also taught Dutch as a second language in a number of international schools. In her own words: "I would love to help students who like to learn or improve the Dutch language, at any level. I'm innovative and I keep the lessons interesting and varied."

Glenn De Bont, Flemish
Glenn has a BA in Education and an AA in Theatre Arts. Glenn was a language teacher in Sweden and taught at several Flemish elementary schools in Brussels before moving to LA in 2011. He taught drama and was a teacher at the Dutch School of Southern California. Glenn has also recorded English and Dutch voice-overs, has worked as an English-Dutch translator and actor. He was hired as a linguist to check Dutch and Flemish dubbing and subtitles of Hollywood movies. He currently lives in Downtown LA.

Lida Hofman, Dutch
Lida has a teaching degree in Early Years, Primary and Learning Disabilities. She has taught in the Netherlands, Curaçao, China and South Korea. Lida has experience with homeschooling in Spain and in Puerto Rico. She also has experience teaching the Dutch language to the Chinese employees at the Dutch consulate in Guangzhou in China. One of Lida's many passions in life is to interact and teach children. She encourages them to become curious and enthusiastic learners. Lida currently lives on beautiful Geoje island in South Korea teaching Early Years students at an international school.

Gerard Woestenenk, Dutch
Gerard is a certified teacher who lives in Bangkok, Thailand. Gerard has been teaching Dutch as a second language in Bangkok for over 10 years, mainly to students from Thailand, the Philippines, India, China, Argentina and Saudi Arabia. He specializes in teaching Level A1 - B2, the preparation for the Dutch State Exams NT2 and students planning on studying in the Netherlands. He trains the local Embassy of the Netherlands staff in Bangkok. When he is not teaching, Gerard likes to eat the delicious Thai food. He often goes cycling and fishing.

Nathalie Haemers, Flemish
Nathalie has a Masters in Linguistics and Literature and is certified to teach. She was a language teacher in a secondary school in Leuven, Belgium. Recently she moved to Copenhagen, Denmark where she is teaching Dutch, French and Spanish online. Nathalie has taught adults and children both in classroom and private settings. When she is not teaching, she is cooking and trying new recipes. She is also an avid traveler who likes to discover new cultures and foods in foreign countries.

What Makes Us Different

We offer you the choice between Dutch and Flemish. We acknowledge that the standard language is Dutch, and that there is officially no such thing as the Flemish language. However, we also know that there is a distinct difference in the Dutch and Flemish pronunciations, use of idioms, vocabulary and sentence structure. Even for a beginning student, the two variants sound very different, comparable to British English and American English. Flemish sounds softer, while Dutch has more noticeable gutturals. Customs and culture are also different in both countries. Because of these differences, some students might prefer to focus on Dutch or Flemish.

We Specialize in Test Prep
**Enrollment CNaVT from Feb. 15 to March 15**

CNaVT (we are also examiners for this exam)
lnburgeringstraject Dutch
Staatsexamen
Medical Assessment exam

Learn More

To apply for a Provisional Residence Permit (in Dutch: Machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf, or MVV) you need tot pass the Civic Integration Exam, a test about Dutch Language and culture. We can help you prepare for the Inburgeringsexamen.

As a condition to start a study at a Flemish or Dutch Institution of higher education you need proof of Dutch language proficiency, we can help you with that. Both the Staatsexamen and the CNaVT (Educatief Startbekwaam) are accepted proof.

If you are planning on taking the Medical Assessment exam we can prepare you for the Dutch language element of the the General Knowledge and Skills test.

We Specialize in Test Prep
**Enrollment CNaVT from Feb. 15 to March 15**

CNaVT (we are also examiners for this exam)
lnburgeringstraject Dutch
Staatsexamen
Medical Assessment exam

Learn More

Pronunciation Sessions

We specialize in helping students with their pronunciation. We have group sessions and individual lessons with a native linguist who is also a classical singer, trained in teaching pronunciation. Those pesky diphtongues or strange vowels will no longer trip you up after a couple of sessions.

Business Prep

We prepare executives to communicate with their Dutch speaking colleagues. The business prep lessons will be tailored to the level of the students and the language used in your industry will be integrated in the lessons.

Overseas Travel

If you are planning to get the most out of your trip to a Dutch speaking country, we can help. On top of the basic vocabulary, we will help you out with the details such as how to catch a bus or train, where to change money and get some delicious food.

Intensive Learning Course

If you need to learn Dutch in a fairly short amount of time, we offer an intensive individual or group course, to teach you the skills you are looking for: conversational Dutch, business Dutch, intensive exam prep or more. All at a rate of learning that works for you.

Testimonials

Our 2 kids needed specialized support with their spoken and written Dutch in order to be ready for re-entry into the Belgian school system. A key milestone was the full day admissions test of the local school. Both passed with flying colors and this is truly thanks to the many hours of training.

Mieke

anchor: contactUsLearnDutch

contact form

Contact Us!

Call Alex at +1 630-664-2937, use the buttons below, or fill out the contact form to schedule your free introductory lesson. Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page to see more about us.

Navigation

Home
Learn Dutch
Learn Dutch Flemish
CNaVT

Language and Cultural Education Tailored To Your Needs

Services

Instructors

What Makes Us Different

Learn More

Learn More

Testimonials

contact form