Teachers

We employ native speaking certified language instructors with experience in Dutch/Flemish Language instruction in a variety of settings. All of our teachers are allowed to administer the CNaVT.
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Alexandra van Oeteren, founder, Flemish, 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. 
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Katleen Speelman, Flemish, has a Masters in History and a high school teaching certificate, she has taught history and general subject courses s.a. Dutch for almost 17 years. She is passionate about food and the European culture. She loves to take her students on Virtual and Culinary Trips to Europe and provides European Cooking Classes. She lives in Milwaukee and teaches online lessons and private lessons. 
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Sarah Soetewey, Flemish, 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, has a grade school teaching degree. She taught in various primary schools before moving to New Zealand with her Kiwi husband. 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.
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​Irene van Kimmenade, Dutch, 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." 
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Glenn De Bont, Flemish, 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 as 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. Last year, he was hired as a linguist to check Dutch and Flemish dubbing and subtitles of Hollywood-movies. He currently lives by Downtown LA.  

Lida Hofman, Dutch, 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.
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Gerard Woestenenk, Dutch, 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.
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Nathalie Haemers, Flemish, 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 Incheon, South-Korea where she is teaching Dutch, French and Spanish online. Nathalie has taught aults 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 traveller who likes to discover new cultures and foods in foreign countries.