Learning outcomes

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


  • introduce themselves in writing in a professional manner;
  • present in writing projects they have participated in;
  • answer in writing, in detail, reflection questions related to the business world, using the necessary vocabulary and grammatical structures;
  • use professional vocabulary at B1+ level;
  • demonstrate mastery of grammatical structures at B1+ level;
  • summarize two documents (oral and/or written);
  • read and understand the minutes of a meeting on a professional topic;
  • read, understand, and write professional letters and emails.


Goals

The course ECDLM422 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 written expression skills. 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 should not be a problem 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 developing written communication skills in professional contexts (e.g. writing letters, emails, reports, meeting minutes, CVs, and cover letters);
  • 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 (written expression) into practice, 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 instructor. 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 components of the grade have been completed and none of them is below 7/20. Any component not submitted or any unjustified absence from an assessment will result in a grade of 1/20 for the entire course. However, for the August session, if the overall course average does not reach 10/20, each student will only need to retake the components for which they did not achieve 10/20.

• The course targets level B1+, except for written expression, which targets level B2. Recurrent grammar mistakes from lower levels (A1–A2–A2+–B1) may result in 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 teacher will simply check whether the task was completed or not. In other cases, more detailed evaluation will be applied. These assessments will mainly involve written skills (but sometimes also oral skills) and will be evaluated individually, in pairs, or in groups. The grade will be based on the mathematical average of the various graded tasks. This part of the grade is not subject to remediation.
  • Language tools – Grammar and vocabulary (30%)
  • Two tests will be organized during the year during class hours:
  • B1 level test (10%)
  • B1+ level test (20%)

• June written exam (40%)

• Optional activities

In the first session, students who actively and repeatedly participate in the lunchtime conversation tables will receive a 0.5-point bonus.

• August session

Only the components for which the student did not obtain at least 10/20 must be retaken in the second session. The grade for the “oral or written productions in class” component is carried over without the possibility of improvement between the June and August sessions.

Important note: Please note that passing this course unit does not result in 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