- Corporate departments and roles
Emma learns about the various departments and daily functions within a Dutch company.
Vocabulary
- de afdeling (the department)
- het afdelingshoofd (the head of department)
- de werknemer (the employee)
- het management (the management)
- de functie (the position)
- dagelijks (daily)
- de sector (the sector)
Objectives
- Summarize written texts about work environments
- Identify key corporate departments
- Specialists and HR managers
James meets different specialists while networking across the company.
Vocabulary
- de IT'er (the IT professional)
- de jurist (the lawyer)
- de bedrijfsjurist (the corporate lawyer)
- de hoogleraar (the professor)
- de hr-manager (the HR manager)
- de coördinator (the coordinator)
- de specialist (the specialist)
Objectives
- Discuss work and career choices
- Name specific organizational roles
- Experience and salary expectations
Emma drafts a cover letter and considers the value of her past experiences.
Vocabulary
- de opleiding (the education)
- het talent (the talent)
- verdienen (to earn)
- het salaris (the salary)
- de werkervaring (the work experience)
Objectives
- Write a short, formal application letter
- Discuss compensation and experience
- Management and ownership
James discusses leadership styles with the co-owners of a startup.
Vocabulary
- het overleg (the consultation)
- het personeel (the staff)
- de ondersteuning (the support)
- de vertegenwoordiger (the representative)
- de eigenaar (the owner)
- de mede-eigenaar (the co-owner)
- ondernemen (to undertake)
Objectives
- Discuss work environments and professional life
- Describe business ownership
- Guessing specific professions
Emma and James play a game at a language café trying to guess jobs.
Vocabulary
- de topsporter (the top athlete)
- de reisleider (the tour guide)
- de docent (the teacher)
- de marketingconsultant (the marketing consultant)
- de manager (the manager)
- de luchtverkeersleider (the air traffic controller)
- de beveiliger (the security guard)
- de huisarts (the general practitioner)
Objectives
- Ask targeted yes/no questions to guess a specific profession
- Discussing gender stereotypes
Emma reads an article about typical gender roles in certain sectors.
Vocabulary
- mannelijk (male)
- vrouwelijk (female)
- de mannenbaan (the men's job)
- stereotiep (stereotypical)
- de stereotypering (the stereotyping)
- domineren (to dominate)
- de minderheid (the minority)
- de sekse (the sex/gender)
Objectives
- Discuss gender stereotypes in various professions
- Frustrations at work
James listens to colleagues talk about the unnecessary hassles in their projects.
Vocabulary
- afschrikken (to scare off)
- frustreren (to frustrate)
- het gedoe (the hassle)
- de onzin (the nonsense)
- storen (to disturb)
- onterecht (unjustified)
- niks (nothing)
Objectives
- Summarize written texts about professional life
- Express workplace frustrations
- Essential professional competencies
Emma updates her CV to highlight her ability to work under pressure.
Vocabulary
- assertief (assertive)
- creatief (creative)
- delegeren (to delegate)
- energiek (energetic)
- gedreven (driven)
- motiveren (to motivate)
- overtuigend (convincing)
- stressbestendig (stress-resistant)
Objectives
- Discuss professional competencies required for specific jobs
- Ambition and personality traits
James mentors a junior employee about developing a serious and enterprising mindset.
Vocabulary
- integer (having integrity)
- de durf (the nerve)
- durven (to dare)
- ondernemend (enterprising)
- de ervaring (the experience)
- het inzicht (the insight)
- serieus (serious)
Objectives
- Discuss personality traits required for specific jobs
- Reacting positively to proposals
Emma enthusiastically reviews a new marketing campaign suggested by a colleague.
Vocabulary
- Heel interessant (Very interesting)
- Daar word ik helemaal enthousiast van (That makes me really enthusiastic)
- Goh, wat een goed idee (Wow, what a good idea)
- Daar kunnen we zeker wat mee (We can certainly do something with that)
- Klinkt interessant (Sounds interesting)
- Zou kunnen (Could be)
Objectives
- React to an idea using positive expressions
- Reacting negatively to proposals
James has to tactfully reject an unfeasible restructuring plan.
Vocabulary
- Er zitten interessante elementen in (It has interesting elements)
- Daar kunnen we nog over nadenken (We can still think about that)
- Dat zie ik niet zitten (I don't see that happening)
- Ik vind het niks (I don't like it at all)
- Wat een waardeloos idee (What a worthless idea)
Objectives
- React to a proposal using evasive or negative expressions
- Presenting new proposals
Emma stands before her team to outline the strategic choices they must confirm.
Vocabulary
- de keuze (the choice)
- bevestigen (to confirm)
- extra (extra)
- de plaats (the place)
- stellen (to state)
- begeleiden (to guide)
- behandelen (to treat)
Objectives
- Write and present a proposal or idea to a group
- Using relative pronouns
James describes unique individuals he works with using descriptive clauses.
Vocabulary
- de andere (the other)
- dezelfde (the same)
- uniek (unique)
- knap (handsome/clever)
- van nature (by nature)
- strategisch (strategic)
Objectives
- Use relative pronouns (die, dat) to provide extra information about people
- Fixed prepositions at work
Emma adapts to a new team structure after consulting with her manager.
Vocabulary
- zich aanpassen aan (to adapt to)
- aansluiten bij (to connect with)
- accepteren (to accept)
- afwijken van (to deviate from)
- opzien tegen (to dread)
- in overleg met (in consultation with)
- passen bij (to fit with)
Objectives
- Use correct fixed prepositions with specific verbs
- Idioms for the workplace
James navigates the complex social dynamics of his office using Dutch idioms.
Vocabulary
- de knoop doorhakken (to make a decision)
- iets in stand houden (to maintain something)
- het maakt niet uit of (it does not matter whether)
- in elkaar zitten (to be put together)
- iets helemaal zien zitten (to completely see something happening)
- in zijn handen drukken (to press into his hands)
- goed in je vel zitten (to feel good about yourself)
Objectives
- Apply idioms when discussing work situations
- Irregular verbs in context
Emma talks about the policies that applied to her previous job.
Vocabulary
- aantrekken (to put on / to attract)
- gelden voor (to apply to)
- geven om (to care about)
- huilen om (to cry about)
- ingaan tegen (to go against)
- lenen aan (to lend to)
Objectives
- Conjugate and apply specific irregular verbs in the past tense
- Expressing struggles and change
James reflects on the amount of work he currently struggles to manage.
Vocabulary
- het aantal (the number)
- in plaats van (instead of)
- plakken op (to stick on)
- rondlopen (to walk around)
- uitmaken (to matter / to break up)
- uitoefenen (to exercise / to practice)
- vastzitten (to be stuck)
- wegjagen (to chase away)
- worstelen met (to struggle with)
Objectives
- Use separable verbs to express actions and changes
- International work culture
Emma compares the costs and community values of her Dutch company to London.
Vocabulary
- het vakantiegeld (the holiday pay)
- de kosten (the costs)
- de community (the community)
- het instituut (the institute)
- het fenomeen (the phenomenon)
- mede (partly)
- het vak (the profession)
- het personeelsmanagement (the personnel management)
Objectives
- Discuss differences in international work cultures
- Summarize texts about work environments
- Unconventional wellness professions
James reads a surprising article about the growing trend of beer yoga.
Vocabulary
- de yoga (the yoga)
- de bieryoga (the beer yoga)
- de yogadocent (the yoga teacher)
- het huidinstituut (the skin institute)
- de schoonheidsspecialist (the beautician)
- het schoonheidsproduct (the beauty product)
- tutten (to fuss / to doll up)
- zorgzaam (caring)
- de verzorging (the care)
- de schoonheid (the beauty)
Objectives
- Discuss career choices in various unconventional professions
- Attending professional trade fairs
Emma gathers brochures and scopes out new perspectives at a local trade fair.
Vocabulary
- de beurs (the fair)
- de vakbeurs (the trade fair)
- de folder (the brochure)
- de eis (the requirement)
- eisen (to demand)
- het perspectief (the perspective)
- de kunstenaar (the artist)
Objectives
- Summarize written texts about professional networking
- City versus rural life
James listens to a podcast about the technological divide between cities and the countryside.
Vocabulary
- het huurappartement (the rental apartment)
- de bouw (the construction)
- de techniek (the technology)
- technisch (technical)
- de IT (the IT)
- het vakgebied (the field of expertise)
- duwen (to push)
- de zonnebril (the sunglasses)
- de schoen (the shoe)
Objectives
- Understand comparisons between city and rural life through listening comprehension
- Sentence stress and emphasis
Emma practices placing correct stress in her sentences to sound more natural.
Vocabulary
- het beeld (the image)
- het label (the label)
- terug (back)
- opnieuw (again)
- inmiddels (meanwhile)
- achteraf (afterwards)
- hierdoor (because of this)
- het hokje (the box)
Objectives
- Use sentence stress to create contrast and emphasize meaning in spoken sentences
- Neuropsychology and brain health
James immerses himself in a study regarding chronic stress and the brain.
Vocabulary
- de neuropsychologie (the neuropsychology)
- het brein (the brain)
- de hersenen (the brain)
- stressloos (stress-free)
- het stresshormoon (the stress hormone)
- chronisch (chronic)
- de werkdruk (the workload)
Objectives
- Read and comprehend an informative article about neuropsychology
- Physical tension and stress
Emma learns vocabulary related to physical health and muscle tension at her gym.
Vocabulary
- fysiek (physical)
- mentaal (mental)
- de hartfrequentie (the heart rate)
- het hart (the heart)
- de spierspanning (the muscle tension)
- de spanning (the tension)
- de doorbloeding (the blood flow)
Objectives
- Categorize vocabulary relating to the human body and stress
- The Dutch educational system
James looks into continuing his education by reading about assessments and dissertations.
Vocabulary
- het onderwijs (the education)
- de lezing (the lecture)
- het proefschrift (the dissertation)
- de beoordeling (the assessment)
- het beoordelingsgesprek (the assessment interview)
Objectives
- Research and navigate information regarding the Dutch educational system
- Focus and studying
Emma talks with a university student about maintaining optimal focus.
Vocabulary
- doceren (to teach)
- zich concentreren op (to concentrate on)
- regulier (regular)
- optimaal (optimal)
- het neurosysteem (the neurosystem)
- de media (the media)
Objectives
- Conduct a conversation about past school experiences or current studies
- Expressing full agreement
James fully supports his colleague's ideas during a team brainstorm.
Vocabulary
- Dat vind ik ook (I think so too)
- Je hebt gelijk (You are right)
- Ik ben het met je eens (I agree with you)
- Daar ben ik het mee eens (I agree with that)
- Ik ben het ermee eens (I agree with it)
Objectives
- Express agreement in a discussion setting
- Disagreement in a discussion
Emma politely pushes back on an argument she finds to be absolute nonsense.
Vocabulary
- Dat is misschien wel zo (That might be true)
- Dat hangt ervan af (That depends)
- Dat vind ik niet (I don't think so)
- Ik ben het er niet mee eens (I disagree with it)
- Wat een onzin (What nonsense)
Objectives
- Express partial agreement and disagreement in a discussion setting
- Medical emergencies and evidence
James watches a documentary showing life-saving measures and emergency departments.
Vocabulary
- levensreddend (life-saving)
- redden (to save)
- de spoed (the haste)
- de spoedeisende hulp (the A&E department)
- de hulp (the help)
- de veiligheid (the safety)
- het bewijs (the proof)
Objectives
- Read and comprehend an informative article about brain health and safety
- Performing under pressure
Emma analyzes her performance metrics after a busy service period.
Vocabulary
- pieken (to peak)
- presteren (to perform)
- multitasken (to multitask)
- de controle (the control)
- het computerscherm (the computer screen)
- het scherm (the screen)
- de dienst (the service)
Objectives
- Categorize vocabulary relating to work environments under pressure
- Arguments and structured responses
James constructs a written counterargument to a complex opinion piece.
Vocabulary
- betogen (to argue)
- de uitdaging (the challenge)
- uitdagen (to challenge)
- ingewikkeld (complicated)
- de tegenstelling (the contrast)
- adviseren (to advise)
- testen (to test)
- in tegenstelling tot (in contrast to)
Objectives
- Write a short, structured response reacting to an opinion piece or article
- Action and preventing failure
Emma discusses strategies to combat failure in a high-stakes project.
Vocabulary
- zich inzetten voor (to devote to)
- tegengaan (to combat)
- waken voor (to guard against)
- hanteren (to handle)
- tonen (to show)
- misgaan (to go wrong)
- onderuitgaan (to fall down)
Objectives
- Use correct fixed prepositions in combination with specific verbs
- Connection and empathy
James writes a thoughtful response regarding the collective balance of his team.
Vocabulary
- de balans (the balance)
- collectief (collective)
- de connectie (the connection)
- de empathie (the empathy)
- de negativiteit (the negativity)
- de stressreductie (the stress reduction)
Objectives
- Form complex sentences and connect clauses
- Stressing international words
Emma works on accurately pronouncing words derived from English and French.
Vocabulary
- actief (active)
- constant (constant)
- ideaal (ideal)
- innovatief (innovative)
- onvoldoende (insufficient)
- onbereikbaar (uncontactable)
- onszelf (ourselves)
Objectives
- Recognize and correctly pronounce international words in Dutch
- Apply correct word stress to international terms
- Work environments and personal time
James negotiates his right to uninterrupted personal time after leaving work.
Vocabulary
- het recht op (the right to)
- de privétijd (the personal time)
- combineren met (to combine with)
- dienstverlenend (service-providing)
- verlaten (to leave)
- zolang (as long as)
- daardoor (as a result)
- tussendoor (in between)
Objectives
- Categorize vocabulary relating to the human body, education, and work environments
- Feeling overwhelmed
Emma admits to feeling buried in work, using colorful Dutch idioms to express it.
Vocabulary
- met z’n allen (with all of us)
- naar boven komen (to surface)
- iets in gang zetten (to set something in motion)
- er is niks mis mee (there is nothing wrong with it)
- niet zoveel op hebben met (to not care much for)
- het loopt je over de schoenen (it becomes too much)
- op zijn tijd (from time to time)
Objectives
- Express feelings using idiomatic phrases
- Science and behavior verbs
James reviews a paper that attempts to prove how certain behaviors go together.
Vocabulary
- bewijzen (to prove)
- drijven (to drive)
- opkomen in (to come up in)
- samengaan (to go together)
- handelen (to act)
- reguleren (to regulate)
- kortom (in short)
Objectives
- Use irregular verbs to discuss scientific concepts
- Complaining and decisions
Emma listens to a popular Dutch song about the hopeless complaining in society.
Vocabulary
- het geklaag (the complaining)
- hopeloos (hopeless)
- de prikkel (the stimulus)
- prikkelen (to stimulate)
- de beslissing (the decision)
- gerust (safely)
- klagen over (to complain about)
Objectives
- Listen to and comprehend a Dutch song
- Identify correct lyrical phrases
- Milestones in learning Dutch
James celebrates reaching a new milestone in his language learning journey.
Vocabulary
- de moedertaal (the native language)
- de moedertaalspreker (the native speaker)
- de voertaal (the main language)
- het relocatieprogramma (the relocation program)
- inburgeren (to integrate)
- de uitspraak (the pronunciation)
- de mijlpaal (the milestone)
Objectives
- Read and understand personal accounts regarding the challenges of learning Dutch
- Motivations and obstacles
Emma shares the ambitious patterns she uses to overcome hurdles in her studies.
Vocabulary
- de motivatie (the motivation)
- de doorzetter (the go-getter)
- het obstakel (the obstacle)
- de ambitie (the ambition)
- het patroon (the pattern)
- hinderen (to hinder)
Objectives
- Discuss personal experiences, motivations, and problems encountered while learning
- Cadence and melody
James works on a crossword puzzle, finding synonyms for rhythmic words.
Vocabulary
- de klank (the sound)
- de cadans (the cadence)
- de melodie (the melody)
- het ritme (the rhythm)
- de omschrijving (the description)
- het synoniem (the synonym)
- de vergelijking (the comparison)
Objectives
- Describe words by providing definitions, synonyms, or antonyms
- Positive feelings and confidence
Emma feels a surge of self-confidence after successfully ordering coffee entirely in Dutch.
Vocabulary
- blij (happy)
- vrolijk (cheerful)
- tevreden (satisfied)
- opgelucht (relieved)
- levendig (lively)
- verrast (surprised)
- het zelfvertrouwen (the self-confidence)
Objectives
- Identify, express, and differentiate between a wide vocabulary of feelings
- Negative emotions
James expresses his frustration when a local switches to English mid-conversation.
Vocabulary
- bang (afraid)
- angstig (anxious)
- boos (angry)
- kwaad (mad)
- chagrijnig (cranky)
- somber (gloomy)
- triest (sad)
Objectives
- Express and differentiate between negative emotions
- Complex feelings and disappointment
Emma deals with feeling nervous and lonely during her first week abroad.
Vocabulary
- eenzaam (lonely)
- jaloers (jealous)
- nerveus (nervous)
- zenuwachtig (jittery)
- ontevreden (dissatisfied)
- teleurgesteld (disappointed)
- verwarrend (confusing)
Objectives
- Identify and discuss complex emotional states
- Empathy and condolences
James sends a message to a colleague offering his sympathies during a tough time.
Vocabulary
- Wat jammer (What a pity)
- Ik leef met je mee (I sympathize with you)
- Ik denk aan je (I am thinking of you)
- Gecondoleerd (My condolences)
- Ik begrijp hoe je je voelt (I understand how you feel)
- Wat erg (How terrible)
Objectives
- Express empathy and offer condolences in various situations
- Offering reassurance
Emma reassures her friend that the upcoming language exam will be fine.
Vocabulary
- Maak je geen zorgen (Don't worry)
- Het komt wel goed (It will be alright)
- Kop op (Cheer up)
- Het zal wel meevallen (It won't be that bad)
- Maak je niet zo druk (Don't worry so much)
- Fijn om te horen (Nice to hear)
Objectives
- Reassure others in spoken conversation and written text messages
- Practical language goals
James organizes a schedule to get started with his new relocation program tasks.
Vocabulary
- aan de slag gaan (to get started)
- in staat zijn om (to be able to)
- de organisatie (the organization)
- de situatie (the situation)
- regelen (to arrange)
- voorbereiden (to prepare)
- invullen (to fill in)
Objectives
- Reflect on personal language learning progress and formulate practical goals
- Writing a short poem
Emma is inspired by a music video and attempts to put her feelings into a short Dutch poem.
Vocabulary
- de videoclip (the music video)
- het museum (the museum)
- het artikel (the article)
- uiten (to express)
- zich uiten (to express oneself)
- verwoorden (to put into words)
- de emoji (the emoji)
Objectives
- Write a short poem expressing personal feelings about the Dutch language
- Narrating a cohesive story
James uses story dice with his classmates to build up a tale about an unexpected guest.
Vocabulary
- de gast (the guest)
- de gedachte (the thought)
- het geluid (the sound)
- ruziemaken (to argue)
- nadenken (to think about)
- opbouwen (to build up)
- vergelijken met (to compare with)
Objectives
- Invent and narrate a cohesive story based on visual prompts
- Verbs of motion and action
Emma completes a grammar exercise distinguishing between bare infinitives and te-infinitives.
Vocabulary
- bewegen (to move)
- doorgaan met (to continue with)
- nadoen (to imitate)
- klaarmaken (to prepare)
- openmaken (to open)
- afronden (to finish)
- afsluiten (to close)
Objectives
- Construct sentences correctly using verbs followed by a bare infinitive versus verbs followed by te + infinitief
- Daily life and posture verbs
James describes his morning routine in his apartment to practice verbs of posture.
Vocabulary
- de flat (the apartment)
- de huisgenoot (the roommate)
- verhuizen naar (to move to)
- tandenpoetsen (to brush teeth)
- hoesten (to cough)
- de stroom (the flow)
- de radio (the radio)
Objectives
- Understand and apply specific grammar rules for verbs of posture and motion
- Adverbs for smooth narration
Emma constantly improves the flow of her stories by using proper transition words.
Vocabulary
- bovendien (moreover)
- daarnaast (in addition)
- doordat (because)
- ronduit (simply / outright)
- ten slotte (finally)
- voortdurend (constantly)
- zoiets (something like that)
Objectives
- Invent and narrate a cohesive story
- Connect sentences smoothly in personal accounts
- Reflecting on language progress
James evaluates how his conversational skills are gradually becoming less problematic.
Vocabulary
- gestaag (steady)
- langzamerhand (gradually)
- gelijk (right away / equal)
- vlakker (flatter)
- problematisch (problematic)
- contraproductief (counterproductive)
Objectives
- Reflect on personal language learning progress
- Word stress shifts
Emma consults with a teacher to correct her tendency to misplace stress on certain adjectives.
Vocabulary
- de tip (the tip)
- de neiging (the tendency)
- de neiging hebben tot (to have the tendency to)
- op mijn gemak (at my ease)
- stimuleren (to stimulate)
- communiceren (to communicate)
- overleggen (to consult)
Objectives
- Identify and apply correct word stress, including stress shifts when nouns become adjectives
- Health insurance and volunteering
James connects with his local community by signing up for volunteer work.
Vocabulary
- de zorg (the care)
- de zorgverzekering (the health insurance)
- de verzekering (the insurance)
- de vrijwilliger (the volunteer)
- het vrijwilligerswerk (the volunteer work)
- verbinden met (to connect with)
Objectives
- Formulate practical goals for using Dutch in daily life
- Notes and future success
Emma looks back on a whole lot of vocabulary and looks forward to her future success in the Netherlands.
Vocabulary
- vergaan (to perish / to fare)
- de advocaat (the lawyer)
- het succes (the success)
- een heleboel (a whole lot)
- het niet meer zien zitten (to no longer see a way out)
- notities maken (to take notes)
Objectives
- Conjugate and apply specific irregular and separable verbs in the imperfectum and perfectum tenses
- Discuss personal experiences and summarize the learning journey
