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Challenges When Arriving in the Netherlands

Moving to the Netherlands can be a challenging experience for you as an international student or expat. These are the most common problems you will face.

• Language barrier: One of the biggest challenges when moving to a new country is the language barrier. If the language of the new country is not your first language, you will find it difficult to communicate with colleagues, fellow students, and teachers, which can make it harder to make friends and take part in social activities.
• Cultural adaptation: Moving to a new country can also mean adapting to a new culture, which can be overwhelming if you are not prepared or do not understand what it means to be Dutch. This can include differences in food, customs, and social norms, making it difficult to feel at home in a new environment.
• Academic differences: Another challenge you may face is adapting to the academic system. This can include differences in teaching methods, curriculum, and expectations, which can affect your academic performance.
• Social isolation: Moving to a new country can also be a lonely experience, especially if you have left friends and family behind. It can take time to build new relationships and feel a sense of community in the new environment.

To help overcome these challenges, it is important to seek support within the new community. This includes connecting with other expats, enrolling in language classes, and learning about Dutch culture, habits, and traditions. Everything so you can feel comfortable in your new environment.

Fit4Taal: Learning Dutch with Purpose

Fit4Taal means "Fit for the Language" in English. We are an online language school that offers Dutch courses for professionals and students living in the Netherlands. Our name truly reflects how we approach the challenge of learning a new language. We have a unique approach in which we pay specific attention not only to language technique (grammar, structure, and logic), but also to conversation and pronunciation skills. Learning to speak in the specific rhythm of Dutch helps you dare and use what you are learning in daily life.

Our teachers are 100% bilingual from English and/or Spanish to Dutch. We work in small groups of a maximum of eight students and use innovative digital tools and apps, as well as textbooks and online study material. We offer beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels and ensure that our students are challenged at every level to improve their skills.

Our online Dutch classes run from 19:00 to 21:00 or from 20:00 to 22:00, two or three times per week from Monday to Friday. Two hours per class means a total of four to six hours per week plus one hour of homework. Each level is delivered in a module that lasts 10 weeks and includes an exam to ensure you have reached the desired level.

With a success rate of 86% and more than 1,000 expat students to date, we are also a large community of professionals in the Netherlands. Many student groups interact with each other outside of Fit4Taal to practise Dutch, discuss their careers, and share the cultural challenges they experience away from home. Last but not least, we specialise in taking native English and Spanish speakers to true Dutch fluency within our innovative and fun environment.

At the intermediate levels, we analyse the business language required for each student in the groups. The conversation and coaching classes address hot topics in today’s business climate (rising costs, social media strategies, energy transition, sustainability, etc.).

Summer Intensive Week in Rotterdam

Every summer, we organise a week of classes in Rotterdam. These seven days are offered at the end of each level, where students apply everything they have learned from A0-A2 in real-life situations. In addition to two hours of class per day, there are career orientation sessions, museum visits, and a boat trip through the incredible port of Rotterdam. BBQs and a graduation ceremony on the beach. Full Dutch immersion will solidify the basics you have learned throughout the course and let you apply them in real life for an entire week. This is also a wonderful opportunity to socialise and build new relationships with other newcomers to the Netherlands.

Take the First Step

So, if you are a new Dutch resident, join our online Dutch courses and start feeling part of the Netherlands today.