At the end of the course, the student should be able to: • GRAMMAR - VOCABULARY : • demonstrate mastery of basic and thematic grammar and vocabulary (level A2) in tests, demonstrate mastery in reception activities (reading, listening), and use them in production activities (writing, speaking). • READING : • read a text and extract global or detailed information from it/explain its content/demonstrate understanding through an explanation in French. • apply reading techniques/strategies to improve comprehension of written messages. • HEARING : • listen to an audio extract and extract global or detailed information/explain the content/demonstrate understanding through an explanation in French. • apply hearing techniques/strategies to improve understanding of spoken messages. • ORAL EXPRESSION : • express him/herself orally on simple everyday subjects, alone or in interaction (introduce him/herself, describe a situation, ask and answer questions, etc.) • in a short video, introduce themselves and report on a discovery related to the Dutch-speaking cultural world. • WRITTEN EXPRESSION : • write a short text related to everyday situations (sms, e-mail, short message, comment...)
In view of the different levels of knowledge and ability in Dutch, differentiated teaching is organised from the first year. Two learning paths (Parcours) for Dutch throughout the bachelor's degree are therefore proposed: one with a target level of B1 (independent user level) at the end of the third year (ECDLB 191), and the other with a target level of B2 (advanced level, expected on the labour market for professional practice in Dutch) at the end of the third year (ECDLB 181). The final objective of the Dutch course (Parcours 1 and 2) is to prepare students for professional life, through daily life situations and the business world. The ECDLB 191 course aims to achieve the A2 level of the Common European Framework for Languages in all skills, with the following main objectives • emphasis on reading and listening to a variety of texts related to everyday and student life: reception strategies and understanding of content; • oral and writing exercises based on simple and concrete situations related to daily and student life; • revision of grammar and basic and thematic vocabulary related to the topics covered in the course; • application of grammar and vocabulary in the different skills at the desired level: reading comprehension, listening comprehension, writing, speaking (with or without interaction); • discovering Flemish and/or Dutch culture through a personal challenge; • development of autonomy in learning (in general, and learning Dutch in particular); • development of certain soft skills: stress management, communication, deadline management, etc.
At the beginning of the academic year, a diagnostic test is organised to give students an indication of their level: from A0 (complete beginner) to C2 (excellent mastery). On the basis of this result, students make a choice as to the learning pathway: Parcours 1 (target B1 at the end of the third year) or Parcours 2 (target B2 at the end of the third year). For this cours (EELVB191), learning will take place through activities related to everyday life and student life: reading texts, listening to videos/audio excerpts, simple oral and writing exercises, discovery of Dutch-speaking culture. Students will also be encouraged to review/learn grammar at the expected level, as well as basic and thematic vocabulary/useful expressions. The materials and content of the course will be broadly the same for all students in Parcours1. Specific materials will be offered to beginners to help them learn autonomously. Most of the materials are available on Webcampus.
The course will be based, among other things, on the principle of the flipped classroom: students prepare materials (texts, videos) and during the course the teacher provides additional insight into both language comprehension and reading and listening techniques. Oral expression (based on the preparation) will also be worked on. The writing of short texts will also be requested, in preparation or in class. In addition, you will be asked to do some independent cultural discovery work, at the end of which a short individual video presentation will be evaluated. Classes will take place one hour per week. Students are placed in a group of no more than 30 students. Students who have not taken Dutch before or who have taken very little Dutch are grouped together so that the teacher can adapt the pace of work and the points of attention. However, the assessments are the same for all students in the same course. A compulsory diagnostic test is available on the Webcampus virtual course platform for all sections to give students an indication of their level, which will enable them to choose the most appropriate course for them. Certain skills (reading, listening, vocabulary and grammar) are tested according to the CEFR descriptors. This test is compulsory for all (even those who have taken the course in 2024-2025) and must be completed by 21/09 at 23:59 at the latest.
Continuous work/regular learning is essential for the success of this course.
The final evaluation will mainly focus on receptive skills: reading comprehension and listening comprehension.
Reading and listening comprehension will be tested during a year-end exam: after reading or listening to a text within a set time, the student will report what they understood through various exercises (summary, fill-in-the-blank text, report, etc.).
Written and oral expression will be practiced and assessed during the year as part of “continuous assessment,” through oral and written activities as well as the creation of two short videos (Q1: formative, Q2: summative) presenting one or more cultural discoveries related to the Dutch-speaking world.
Over the course of the year, four tests will be organized to check mastery of grammar and vocabulary:
Q1
Q2
Students will explore Dutch-speaking culture and report their findings in two short videos (Q1: formative, Q2: summative).
To foster autonomy in their learning, each student must keep a learning journal (“Carnet de Bord”) in which they describe their efforts and initiatives and document their engagement in improving their Dutch learning throughout the year. This must be submitted at the end of the year on Webcampus.
Any part not presented, or any unjustified absence from an assessment, will prevent us from calculating the student’s grade and will result in a score of 1/20 for the entire course.
However, in the August resit session, if the overall course average is below 10/20, each student will only retake the parts for which they did not achieve at least 10/20. Students who joined late in the year due to reorientation must take in the second session the parts they were unable to attend during the year.
Grammar – Vocabulary – Written expression
Video project, cultural challenge – 15%
Reading/Listening comprehension
Learning journal (“Carnet de Bord”) – 5%
Important note: Please note that passing this course unit does not grant official certification.
- Course materials (texts and videos) will be available online, on Webcampus
- Evolutieve en contrastieve Grammatica” (Deel 1: Theorie en voorbeelden, Deel 2: Oefeningen) + additional exercises online, on Webcampus.
- Vocabulary :
o “Le néerlandais au quotidien / Het Alledaags Nederlands” (LNQ) lexicon (CDL syllabus available on Webcampus in 2 parts: Q1 and Q2)
o Thematic vocabulary for all texts and videos seen
- Tips for revising basic grammar:
o book: la pratique du néerlandais de A à Z (Didier Hatier)
o book: Nederlandse Oefenbijbel (Didier Hatier)
o The above materials are available in bookshops.
| Training | Study programme | Block | Credits | Mandatory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor in Political Sciences : General | Standard | 0 | 3 | |
| Bachelor in Business Engineering | Standard | 0 | 3 | |
| Bachelor in Economics and Management | Standard | 0 | 3 | |
| Bachelor in Information and Communication | Standard | 0 | 3 | |
| Bachelor in Business Engineering | Standard | 1 | 3 | |
| Bachelor in Economics and Management | Standard | 1 | 3 | |
| Bachelor in Information and Communication | Standard | 1 | 3 | |
| Bachelor in Political Sciences : General | Standard | 1 | 3 |