{"id":106239,"date":"2019-11-21T15:38:01","date_gmt":"2019-11-21T14:38:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=106239"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:24:34","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:24:34","slug":"why-learning-dutch-as-an-international-student-is-useful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2019\/11\/21\/why-learning-dutch-as-an-international-student-is-useful\/","title":{"rendered":"Why learning Dutch as an international student is useful"},"content":{"rendered":"

Should international students invest time and other resources into learning Dutch? A non-Dutch speaker might not seem to have any problems getting around because classes are in English and, according to a recent survey, the population of Rotterdam apparently<\/a> has the best command of English as a second language in the world. However, they say that appearances can be deceiving.<\/p>\n

Whether you want to blend in socially, understand the culture or prepare for your future career, learning the language is important. Career advisor Laura de Reus: \u201cThere aren\u2019t very many vacancies for which Dutch is not required. And students often face this reality quite late on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Planning one step ahead <\/h2>
\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>

Master's student Domen Peder is learning Dutch: "It\u2019s much nicer to be able to communicate with the people you work with in their own language."<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMilena Chopova<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Domen Peder (master\u2019s in Clinical psychology) started going to Dutch classes in June and has just finished the beginner level. Initially, he wasn\u2019t planning to stay very long in the Netherlands. Having realised that he liked the country, however, he started learning Dutch. Besides being useful for reading and understanding official letters, Domen feels that learning the language is just the right thing to do when you live in a foreign country. \u201cIf I want to work here, I\u2019ll have more opportunities if I\u2019m bilingual. And even if I find an English-only job, it\u2019s much nicer to be able to communicate with the people you work with in their own language. I believe it helps establish good professional relationships.\u201d He also emphasises the importance of networking and the fact that most networking events are in Dutch.<\/p>\n

Learning Dutch can also help you blend in socially, says Domen. He\u2019s found some segregation between international and Dutch students, which is partly down to the language barrier: \u201cThe two groups don\u2019t really mix, also because Dutch students prefer to speak their own language. But if you show an interest and motivation to integrate and learn about their culture, that might change.\u201d<\/p>\n

Culture that comes through the language<\/h2>
\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>

Dutch bachelor student Mariam Shaaban is doing an English study programme and has a lot of international friends: "Dutch is useful to keep up with and understand the culture."<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMilena Chopova<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u201cDutch is my mother tongue\u201d, says Mariam Shaaban (bachelor in Management of international social challenges). \u201cBut I\u2019m doing an English course, which is why I have a lot of international friends. Most of them speak some basic Dutch \u2013 things that you learn through simple interactions in stores, for example. But none of them speak the language fluently. I do feel that learning Dutch is important to be able to communicate in other environments, not just in academic circles. It\u2019s also useful to keep up with and understand the culture.\u201d<\/p>\n

In terms of the work environment, Mariam feels that the need to learn the language tends to depend on the nature of the job. \u201cIf you have a more manual job, speaking Dutch and being able to contribute to cultural discussions isn\u2019t really relevant. Many of my international friends have been able to get jobs quite easily.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, if integration and getting a good feel for Dutch culture is what you\u2019re going for, Mariam feels that the most interesting aspects are hidden in the language. \u201cMuch of Dutch culture is expressed in language. It\u2019s very dry and down to earth and that\u2019s reflected in the expressions we use. For example, \u2018met de deur in huis vallen<\/em>\u2019 might be hard for an international student to understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Directions for future career<\/h2>
\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>

Career advisor Laura de Reus: "It seems easy to be an international student in the Netherlands. In practice, however, there aren\u2019t many jobs available to them."<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMilena Chopova<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

International students often tell\u00a0Laura de Reus, career advisor at Erasmus University, about the lack of time they have to learn Dutch. \u201c\u2018The Netherlands is such an international country!\u2019 This is what I often hear students say when we warn them about future job requirements. We do tell them that there aren\u2019t many vacancies for purely English speakers. Obviously, it also depends on the kind of work you want to do. If you\u2019re going to work for a Dutch client, then your Dutch needs to be really good.\u201d<\/p>\n

De Reus blames Dutchies for creating some confusion. \u201cWe probably like to show how open-minded we are. We offer lots of study programmes in English. We create an image, which is very positive for non-Dutch speakers, that it\u2019s easy to be an international student in the Netherlands. In practice, however, there aren\u2019t many jobs available to them. Unfortunately, students only face this reality when they graduate and start applying for jobs. They aren\u2019t aware of the need until quite late. They come to us after two months of receiving rejection letters.\u201d<\/p>\n

Everyone has an equal chance of career success, whatever their study programme, De Reus says. And these chances are boosted by learning Dutch. Her main advice? \u201cStudents must try to have sufficient self-insight. They should try to understand what their qualities and values are. This could give direction to their future career, along with motivation and interest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Read more<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t