Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student should be able (individually or in group) to:


  • introduce themselves orally in a professional manner (level B2+);
  • answer oral reflection questions in detail on topics related to the business world, using the necessary vocabulary and grammatical structures (level B2+);
  • use professional vocabulary (level B1+);
  • demonstrate mastery of grammatical structures (level B1+);
  • deliver professional presentations, individually or in groups, on a previously prepared professional topic (level B2+);
  • present a press file orally (level B2+);
  • take part in a telephone conversation (level B2+);
  • participate in a meeting on a professional topic (level B2+);
  • negotiate in Dutch (level B2+).


Goals

The course ECDLM421 builds on the Dutch courses taken during the Bachelor’s program. It aims at achieving B2+ level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in oral expression skills (with or without interaction). The other skills will be practiced and assessed at B1+ level, so that students who completed "Parcours 1" in the Bachelor’s program can follow the course without too much difficulty. Achieving B2+ level will be easier for students from "Parcours 2". Students who did not take Dutch courses at UNamur during their Bachelor’s program will be required to take a diagnostic test to assess their level.

The main objectives of the course are:


  • deepening grammar knowledge (B1+ level) as well as thematic vocabulary related to the topics covered in class;
  • applying grammar and vocabulary in the different receptive and productive skills, at the targeted level;
  • preparing for the professional world and oral communication in professional contexts (e.g. giving presentations, making phone calls, participating in meetings, negotiating, applying for jobs);
  • developing transversal skills (autonomy, cooperation, analysis, critical and synthetic thinking, stress management, time and deadline management, etc.).


Content

In this Dutch course, you will further develop the basic knowledge (vocabulary, grammar, etc.) acquired during your Bachelor’s program through activities that put your communicative skills into practice (oral expression with or without interaction), based on documents (reading, listening) related to the professional environment.

Teaching methods

Interactive seminar (max. 30 students per group).

The course takes place every week.

The course will be partly based on the flipped classroom principle: students prepare materials (texts, videos) and exercises (oral, written) before class, in order to use them during presentation and exchange activities proposed by the teacher. Therefore, students’ attendance and active participation are absolutely essential for the proper progress of the course.

Assessment method

  • The course can only be passed if all parts of the grade have been completed and none of the components is below 7/20. Any component not completed, or any unjustified absence from an evaluation, 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 need to retake the parts for which they did not obtain at least 10/20.
  • The course aims at B1+ level, except for oral expression which targets B2+ level. Recurrent grammar mistakes below this level (A1–A2–A2+–B1) may lead to failure in written and oral productions.


Continuous assessment (60%)

• Oral or written productions in class (30%)

The student’s overall engagement during the course will be assessed. For some tasks, the instructor will simply check whether the task has been completed. In other cases, a more detailed evaluation will be applied. These assessments will focus mainly on oral skills (but sometimes also written skills) and will be carried out individually, in pairs, or in groups. The grade will be based on the mathematical average of the different assessed tasks.This component cannot be retaken in the resit session.

• Language tools – Grammar and vocabulary (30%)

Two tests will be organized during class hours over the year:

  • B1-level test (10%)
  • B1+-level test (20%)

January exam (40%)

  • Written preparatory part for the oral exam (prerequisite to access the oral exam): a reading dossier to be submitted by Sunday, December 21, 2026 at the latest.
  • Oral exam (40%)

Optional activities

In the first session, students who have actively, regularly, and with motivation taken part in lunchtime conversation tables will be granted a 0.5 bonus point.

August resit session

Only the parts for which the student did not obtain at least 10/20 must be retaken in the resit session. The grade for the component oral or written productions in class is carried over without the possibility of improvement from the January to the August session.


Important note: Passing this course unit does not lead to certification.

Sources, references and any support material

The course materials will be available on WebCampus one week before each class.

Textbook: S’exprimer en néerlandais – aide à la conversation

Evolutieve en contrastieve grammatica (CDL syllabus – see WebCampus) up to level B1+

Language of instruction

Dutch