Who are our students?
For general information about our students (country of origin, previous education, etc.), please scroll down
Photo: Summer course 2019, from beginner to level A2 in four weeks
Meet our students: former students answering the following questions:
Why did you come to the Netherlands?
Which exams did you take after your course?
What kind of work or study are you doing now?
How do you look back on the courses at De Taalvraag?
How have our courses helped you?
Students are listed in descending chronological order based on the year they finished their last course.
Ayla from Turkije
Ayla was a student at De Taalvraag from September 2020 to January 2021. She has followed a course from B1 to B2.
Why did you come to the Netherlands?
I came to the Netherlands for personal reasons.
Which exams did you take after your course?
I had already taken State Exam 1 (B1) before coming to De Taalvraag. After the course, I took an entrance test for the degree that I am following now. In June 2021 I passed the NT2 State Exam 2 (B2).
What kind of work or study are you doing now?
I am a physicist. In my country I worked as a physics teacher. Here in the Netherlands I also want to work in education. For this reason I am following a part-time course at the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences.
How do you look back on the courses at De Taalvraag?
We talked a lot during this course. We have also talked about our memories. Sometimes we cried together, sometimes we laughed together.
How have the courses helped you?
My speaking and reading skills have improved greatly due to my course at De Taalvraag. My teachers encouraged me to work as a teacher in the Netherlands. I would like to thank the teachers of De Taalvraag for bringing me a step closer to achieving my dreams.
Rafaella from Brazil
Rafaella followed a summer course in the summer of 2019: she went from beginner to level A2 in one month. After that, she took courses to B1 and B2 from September 2019 to June 2020. In less than a year, she went from beginner to level B2. Rafaella answers the questions:
Why did you come to the Netherlands?
I came to the Netherlands because I have a Dutch partner.
Which exams did you take after your course?
I passed the NT2 State Exam 2 (B2).
What kind of work or study are you doing now?
In Brazil, I worked as a general practitioner. In the future, I would like to work as a doctor again. At the moment I am a vaccination employee. I also have a job at the Municipality of Vlaardingen, where I work on a research project to prepare the new integration law. I also work as a mediator between immigrants and the municipality.
How do you look back on the courses at De Taalvraag?
My time as a student at De Taalvraag is one of the happiest memories of my new life here in the Netherlands. I always felt motivated by the teachers and my classmates. During the classes we practiced all skills: listening, writing, speaking and writing. We also had time for games.
How have the courses helped you?
The courses gave me the skills to pass all NT2 exams. Moreover, it allowed me to have conversations with people and understand newspapers and magazine. I am still learning, because learning a language is an ongoing process. However, I wouldn’t be where I am without the course.
Obada from Syria
Obada was a student at De Taalvraag from June 2018 to June 2019. In one year, he went from level A1 to B2. He wanted to quit when he had attained level B1 because he felt he had used enough of his DUO loan and wanted to go to work. Marilene was able to persuade him to attain level B2. With a degree, he would be much more able to ‘pay back’ to society.
Obada answers the questions:
Why did you come to the Netherlands?
I came to the Netherlands as a refugee.
Which exams did you take after your course?
I passed the State Exam 2 (B2).
What kind of work or study are you doing now?
I am now following the Biology and Medical Laboratory Research degree at the Leiden University of Applied Sciences. I have passed all subjects so far.
How do you look back on the courses at De Taalvraag?
I look back with great pleasure on the courses I followed at De Taalvraag. Marilene and Ruth always taught in a structured way and corrected my pronunciation. As student at De Taalvraag you are not only a student but also a person, a loved and appreciated person. That is how I felt when I took classes there I will be forever grateful for that.
How have the courses helped you?
The courses I took at De Taalvraag were the foundations of my life here in the Netherlands. Because of the courses I followed, I was able to pass my State Exam 2 and started pursuing a degree within a short period of time. Even Dutch people are impressed by the level of proficiency that I have reached, thanks to De Taalvraag! At work, I always get compliments about my level of Dutch. I am very satisfied with the courses I followed at De Taalvraag.
Natalia from Argentina
Natalia took private lessons at De Taalvraag to pass the AKV test. The AKV test is an exam for foreign doctors who want to work in the Netherlands. After that, she also followed a course to attain level C1. Natalia was a student at De Taalvraag from May 2016 to June 2017.
Natalia answers the questions:
Why did you come to the Netherlands?
I came to the Netherlands because my husband is Dutch.
Which exams did you take after your course?
I had already passed the State Exam 2 before I came to De Taalvraag. After the private lessons, I passed the AKV test.
What kind of work or study are you doing now?
I am now in training as a general practitioner at Erasmus Medical Center.
How do you look back on the courses at De Taalvraag?
I have had private lessons and group lessons at De Taalvraag. I remember that we laughed a lot. I certainly learned a lot, not only about the language but also about the culture and Dutch customs. For me these are valuable memories of a period in which I was insecure about my level of Dutch. Together with Marilene, these insecurities have become much smaller.
How have the courses helped you?
I turned to De Taalvraag a month before the AKV test. Marilene was able to give me four more private lessons. Beforehand, we were afraid that these four lessons were not enough. However, I passed! The AKV test was my last exam on the Dutch language before registering my medical degree. After a number of knowledge tests, I was able to complete the registration and work as a doctor in the Netherlands. My life has changed a lot. I still get a lot of compliments about my Dutch language. I know Marilene has had a lot to do with that.
Rubén from Spain
Rubén answers the questions:
Why did you come to the Netherlands?
I came to the Netherlands because my husband is Dutch.
Which exams did you take after your course?
I did not take any exam. It was not necessary for me as a European or for my job.
What kind of work or study are you doing now?
I have been working as a pharmacy assistant in a hospital pharmacy for four years now. I was promoted to senior pharmacy assistant two years ago, I now have more responsibility and additional tasks.
How do you look back on the courses at De Taalvraag?
The lessons at De Taalvraag were always very educational and enjoyable. I was very happy with teaching methods at De Taalvraag.
How have the courses helped you?
Thanks to the lessons at De Taalvraag, I learned a lot in a short time and overcame my insecurity. I have never had any problems with Dutch in my work.
Oren from Israel
Oren first came to De Taalvraag from September 2014 to June 2015 for private lessons. He then studied for an MBO degree and obtained level B1. He returned in September 2017. After private lessons and a group course in the evening, he gained level B2 in the summer of 2018.
Why did you come to the Netherlands?
I came to the Netherlands because I had a Dutch girlfriend.
Which exams did you take after your course?
I have taken the State Exams 1 and 2.
What kind of work or study are you doing now?
I now work as an NDT (Nondestructive testing) teacher and teach students to obtain their certification as NDT researchers. Two years ago, I passed my higher education degree as a sports psychologist and I hope to use this degree in the future for a job or as a hobby.
How do you look back on the courses at De Taalvraag?
There was a lot of personal attention: the learning took place in small groups. The curriculum suited my level right from the start. The quality of the lessons was the best I could. The atmosphere was always pleasant and friendly. The other students were just as passionate as I was and that motivated us to improve.
How have the courses helped you?
Initially, the courses helped me to pass my MBO training as an NDT technician. I was the only student during my MBO education (including my Dutch co-students) who did not need a re-exam! Shortly afterwards, I received a promotion at work and became a workshop manager and project planner. Three years later, I completed my higher education and nowadays I work as a teacher, speaking in Dutch myself. It would not have been possible without my studies with Marilene and De Taalvraag and I am grateful to this day that I ended up here.
Diploma from Oren
Claudia from England
Claudia took courses at De Taalvraag to attain level B1 and B2 in 2015 and 2016.
Claudia answers the questions:
Why did you come to the Netherlands?
I came to the Netherlands because my husband is Dutch.
Which exams did you take after your course?
I have taken State Exam 2 (level B2) and I now have the Dutch nationality.
What kind of work or study are you doing now?
I now work in several positions. I am a consultant for international and Dutch organizations and I also work as the artistic director of my own cultural foundation. I was the artistic co-director of Leeuwarden-Friesland European Capital of Culture 2018.
How do you look back on the courses at De Taalvraag?
I look back with great pleasure on the courses at De Taalvraag. Apart from the (very important) fact that the lessons were very useful for learning Dutch, I also enjoyed the lessons a lot! I also had very friendly students in my group, some of whom I am still in touch with. My private lessons were also a lot of fun and very helpful for my Dutch.
How have the courses helped you?
The courses eliminated the need for my colleagues to speak in English and my social life became much easier! Writing and reading emails, reading and understanding documents and giving presentations in Dutch were things I could do because of my time at De Taalvraag.
Information about the students of De Taalvraag
Where do the students of De Taalvraag come from?
Since the beginning of De Taalvraag, there have been students from 86 different countries. The most common countries of origin of our students (in descending order) are:
Syria, Turkey, Mexico, Spain, Brazil, China, Poland, Russia, Morocco, Thailand, India, Ukraine, Iran, Lithuania, Pakistan, United States, Philippines, France, Indonesia, Colombia, Greece, Japan, Argentina, Yemen, Large Britain, Hungary, Peru, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Italy, Romania and Vietnam.
Photos of the world map with flags of students
Why did the students of De Taalvraag in the Netherlands? (tracked since 2016)
Refugees: ever since De Taalvraag obtained the ‘Blik op werk’ quality mark (2017), many of our students have been refugees. This group consists almost entirely of status holders. Some are asylum seekers whose courses are paid by the UAF.
Family migrants: students who have a relationship with a Dutch person or with someone who has received a residence permit here.
Expats: highly skilled migrants who have a job in the Netherlands, for example as a medical specialist, dentist, engineer, assistant professor, IT specialist, manager, auditor or consultant. These students usually follow evening courses.
Other: for example foreign exchange students.
type of student | |
---|---|
refugee | 37% |
family migrant | 31% |
expat | 22% |
other/unknown | 10% |
How do the students end up at De Taalvraag?
Word-of-mouth marketing: De Taalvraag is often recommended by former students, by acquaintances of former students, former colleagues, etc.
Through the internet: for example through Facebook, Blik op Werk, the Expatdesk, Staatsexamennt2.nl, etc.
Via an organization: the UAF, the municipality, an employer, the library, etc.
heard about De Taalvraag through | |
---|---|
word-of-mouth | 43% |
internet | 36% |
through an organization | 14% |
other/unknown | 7% |
What is the education level of the students?
Our students have followed at least secondary school or vocational training in their own country. Most of our students have an education comparable to higher professional education or a university degree. This cannot be expressed in percentages, because study programs abroad are not always comparable.
The average score on the learnability test for the course is 85%. In general, 60% is the minimum required score to follow a course at De Taalvraag if there is sufficient motivation and availability.
Other information
Our students are mostly between 20 and 50 years old. The average age is approximately 35 years. Of our students, 70% are female and 30% male.