Knowing Which Dutch Exam Is Right For You
Learning Dutch can be a challenge but also an opportunity to grow in your new life in the Netherlands
. Everyone has his or her motivations for learning Dutch, such as increasing your chances on the job market, earning your entry ticket to an educational institute, improving your social life, acquiring a feeling of integration, feeling more empowered, wanting to understand the culture, etc. Whatever your goals, mastering the language will prove advantageous. But before diving in to Dutch, take into account your personal ambitions, research any legal civic requirements that may apply to you, and understand these various types of exams to choose from in order to succeed.
Levels of learning:
There are certainly many ways to reach your language goals. Self-study, e-learning, joining a group course at a commercial language school, having private lessons with a tutor, joining an Adult Education course, etc. Whichever learning environment best suits you, determine your target level of language first. When you research the various books and courses available you will see that they have a code indicating a particular level of Dutch. These codes are derived from the CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The framework describes the skill level that the student needs in the four different areas of language aptitude: reading, writing, speaking and listening. The codes range from A1, a basic level, up to C2, which implies a proficient aptitude of the language. The system helps you match various courses and exams to your personal language goals. Then you know what to aim for when learning the language. Please check the Council of Europe website for a more detailed description of theCEFR.
A worthwhile time investment:
Whether you are working towards a basic or advanced level of understanding, you should be prepared to invest time in studying and practicing. Obviously the time investment depends a lot on peoples talent for languages, but allow for at least100-150contact hours complemented with double that amount of homework in order to be able to converse freely with sympathetic native speakers and reach a B1-level. Children will learn much faster than adults and people who have already learnt foreign languages will benefit from those skills and experiences, too. Speakers of languages with Germanic roots will move a lot faster as they are used to a very similar word order structure. Still, all that time spent will mean a greater proficiency and comfort with Dutch.
Different goals, different exams:
Within the Dutch language learning landyou will come across three types of exams, each with a different purpose. The specifics can seem a bit inundating but the basics are broken down here to make it less confusing. The three types of exams are:
1. NT2 Staats examen Programma I & Programma II (NT2 = Nederlandsals Tweede Taal, or Dutch as a Second Language);
2. Inburgerings examen (Civic Integration test);
3. Korte Vrijstellingstoets (Short Exemption test);
Please note that all three exams can be used to fulfill the Inburgerings requirement, if need be.
1. The NT2 Staats examen ProgrammaI and II exams are excellent ways to prove that you have mastered a certain language level to either (future) employers or educational institutes for which Dutch comprehension is a requirement. You do not necessarily have to begin with ProgrammaI and then move on to Programma II. Instead the exams are targeted for people with different educational backgrounds. The highest, most difficult level is the Programma II exam. Contact your municipality when in doubt.
Because the NT2 Staats examen ProgrammaI and II both require level B1 or higher (B2 level), passing either of these exams makes you exempt from having to sit the inburgerings course and final exam to obtain a residence permit in case you are not exempt for another reason. In addition, you will have gained more confidence with the Dutch language as a result of more thorough study at the B level. The next section describes the requirements for the inburgerings examen so you can decide whether an inburgerings course (vs. the Staats examen programma ) is the way to go.
2.The Inburgerings examen is relevant to the group that is obliged to follow
Dutch language training including skills and knowledge about the Netherlands in order to qualify for a residence permit. For more information on this topic, please check the separate article on Inburgering.
3.The KorteVrijstellingstoets (Short Exemption test) can be an interesting option for those who already have a quite good command of the language. Passive listening and reading are tested at a B1 level, but at a very high speed. This test can only be taken once. The exam is offered at DienstUitvoering Onderwijs.
by: iqbalhami
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