Language can be a barrier for many expat families in the Netherlands, especially for children eager to connect with their Dutch peers. It is not helping that many Dutch people speak English and often don’t understand that your child needs to practice Dutch to learn it.
I will not give a spoiler alert as the many benefits of multilingualism include well-being, cognitive and social skills, and language proficiency. This is true, but it is far deeper than that.
For expat children (as for expat parents), it is challenging and sometimes nerve-wracking to live in another country and not speak the language. Many children find speaking a new language incredibly challenging because of factors such as needing more experience, needing more practice (different language at home and school), being afraid of making mistakes, and sounding different from Dutch kids.
Gaining confidence is a very important value for learning Dutch. Socialization and integration in the Netherlands are another one. This is different for adults than for most children. Children are more likely to have Dutch social interactions when playing at playgrounds, doing sports, and being outside.
A mother told me they had lived in the Netherlands for two years. Before this, they lived in the VS for her husband’s work. They are a Turkish family, and her daughter, who is nine years old, speaks Turkish and English and now has a foundation in Dutch.
She attends an International School where she receives international education in English. She also gets two hours of Dutch lessons a week there, but her mother is disappointed in her progress.
Her daughter is extroverted and likes to talk to her Dutch neighbors in the stores and on the street. However, her mother sees that her daughter regularly comes home sad because, for example, at the playground around the corner from their house, she has been bullied or fallen out of the group because of her accent and because she cannot get her words out properly.
The mother finds this to be such a pity, especially because her daughter is so social and, so far, only enjoys her multilingualism, and it does not seem to work with the Dutch language. The mother cannot help her because she has only just started learning Dutch, and the girl is in a Dutch class at school. However, as many expats know, the levels there are so different. New children come in, and children leave: the teacher in the class concentrates mainly on the newcomers, so the level at which she practices her Dutch remains steady but basic.
“Help us,” her mother literally said. And, of course, we did.
Now, her daughter returns from the playground joyfully, and her speaking skills have improved significantly. This is because we provide one-on-one teaching tailored to her level, focusing on her current proficiency and what she needs to progress. In her case, this means enhancing her speaking skills, socializing, making friends, and similar aspects.
Our online Dutch language school offers personalized lessons tailored to each child’s needs, ensuring they gain confidence and fluency. This helps children like the Turkish girl to thrive socially and linguistically, building friendships and feeling more at home in the Netherlands.
That last part is crucial for our expat kids: They must be able to stand up for themselves and express themselves beyond the first “hello”—this will allow them to get closer to Dutch children, have friendships, and have deeper conversations.
Our professional and native Dutch teachers all have experience teaching Dutch as a second or third language to expat children worldwide. Some of our teachers have even learned some essential conversation words and sentences in Turkish, Italian, and Spanish, and, of course, their knowledge of English always works.
(Call to action: If you recognize the story and want your child to have extra help with his Dutch, please email me at info@dutchforchildren.nl, and we can always have a no-obligation conversation about options for your child).
Free tips about immersion in Dutch
When your child learns Dutch, the most important thing is that he can use the language right away. Immersion in Dutch will speed up his learning process considerably. Our tips: https://www.dutchforchildren.nl/childrens-television-childrens-radio-and-podcasts-for-children/
Written by Wendy van Dalen
www.dutchforchildren.nl