Dutch Level 3

Dutch Level 3

Course Description

Level 3 Classes: This course is suitable for people who feel comfortable with what is covered in Levels 1 and 2. You will already be able to communicate simple, basic needs, use familiar everyday expressions and talk in a very simple way about yourself, using the present tense. By the end of this course, you will be able to express some of your past experiences, compare options and express simple future plans.  

In Level 3, we work at the A2 level of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages*).  

Term duration 10 x weekly 2-hour classes, Tuesday evenings, 18:15 - 20:15

 Communicative themes may cover:  

• Expressing oneself or understanding others when talking about leisure activities and passions.  

• Describing homes and comparing types of accommodation.  

• Describing people’s characters.  

• Recounting/understanding people’s accounts of recent experiences and holidays.  

• Talking about key life events (moving house, meeting a partner etc.).  

• Making social arrangements and plans during a trip or going out.  

• Expressing a simple opinion about healthy living and well-being.  

• Developing ability to talk about shopping for food, clothing and everyday items.

• Talking about health (body parts, common illnesses, symptoms). 

Key grammatical points covered include:  

• Consolidating accurate use of the present simple (e.g., ik woon) and present continuous forms (e.g., ik zit te denken/ik ben aan het denken)
• Adjectives: regular and important irregular comparative and superlative forms, e.g., klein, kleiner, kleinst ;  goed, beter, best
• Form and use of regular simple past tense, e.g., ik woonde, ik maakte
• Form and use of regular present perfect, e.g., ik heb gewoond
• Use of hebben or zijn as auxiliary for present perfect, e.g., ik ben gegaan, ik ben verhuisd.
• More on form and use of future tense with zullen and gaan, e.g., ik zal je bellen, ik ga je bellen.
• Demonstrative pronouns (deze/die/dit/dat), e.g. deze hond v. die hond; dit huis v. dat huis.
• Simple relative pronouns (die/dat), e.g. de kat die ik zie is zwart; het huis dat je ziet is groot. 

Please note that we adapt the pace of the class to the needs and interests of the group, so the listed themes and grammar may be subject to change and are not meant to be exhaustive.  

Homework may be set between classes, though we do understand that the constraints of everyday life may make it difficult to complete at times. You are under no obligation to complete the homework, but revision of the weekly lessons is strongly encouraged to allow you to make excellent progress and benefit fully from the course.  

Each week you will practise most if not all four communicative skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing). You will be encouraged to take an active part in all activities which can include games, pair and group work as well as individual tasks. We aim to establish a friendly, inclusive atmosphere in the classroom so that all students can express themselves freely and increase their confidence.  

*CEFR levels indicated on our level descriptors are not a guarantee that you can take the associated CNaVT exam (Certificaat Nederlands als Vreemde Taal) for this level. If you would like to take the CNaVT (there is an exam centre at UCL in London – the first level is A2), please speak to your tutor to discuss what they think would be most appropriate.