UCL CENTRE FOR LANGUAGES
& INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
Course Units 2015-2016
Dutch Syllabus B
Prerequisite for entry
Successful completion of a similar course to Dutch Syllabus A at the UCL CLIE and have limited experience of dealing
with authentic material.
Course duration
20 x 2-hour classes.
Self-Study
80 hours in total.
Course codes
LCDU6002, LCDUG002, LCDUM002, LCDU6012, LCDUG012, LCDUM012 (together with Dutch syllabus A), LCDU6023,
LCDUG023, LCDUM023 (together with Dutch syllabus C).
Aims and Objectives
The aim of the course is to give students an opportunity to revise their survival skills and acquire more sophisticated ways
of dealing with practical matters. This includes revision and consolidation of vocabulary, grammar, morphology, syntax
and phonetics.
Students should be able to communicate in and understand Dutch on practical everyday matters related to aspects of
Dutch culture. Cultural awareness will be developed. Language learning skills, including autonomous learning and how to
approach authentic material, will be enhanced. Some transferable skills will also be covered.
Functions
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revision and more in-depth applications of functions covered in Syllabus A;
describing student activities, referring to university life;
describing daily and weekly routines;
expressing wishes and stating preferences;
speaking about one’s family and friends;
having conversations while sharing meals or drinks;
giving and asking for directions;
stating locations;
describing holidays or short trips;
making biographical statements, understanding famous people’s biographies (e.g. artists, scientists).
Course Content
Main topics/selection of themes to be covered
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student life, degree courses;
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working life, jobs, working in a Dutch-speaking country;
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family relationships;
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hobbies, leisure, weekday, weekend, holiday activities;
types of accommodation, house, flat, student accommodation;
means of transport, directions, locations;
food and drink, meals, social occasions;
health, ill-health and well-being;
shops in the high street, shopping, internet shopping;
cultural events, festivals.
Linguistic Structures
Phonetics
Students are expected to pronounce Dutch reasonably well when commencing the course. Where necessary, attention
will be paid to improve pronunciation through reading and oral practice. In addition, tapes specifically targeted at
pronunciation are available to students for self-study in the Self-Access Centre.
Grammar
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revision and more in-depth study of grammar covered in Syllabus A;
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perfect tense;
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demonstrative pronouns;
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compound nouns;
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introduction to prepositions;
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irregular verbs;
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personal pronouns;
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comparison of adjectives: comparative and superlative;
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conjunctions;
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adjectives: attribute use;
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the use of ‘er’: introduction;
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relative clauses: introduction;
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diminutives;
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dates;
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subordinate clauses.
Learning Resources
Syllabus B Course Books
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Nederlands in Gang, Chapters 10-18 (Coutinho) – ISBN: 9789046902257
Teach Yourself: Dutch Grammar all you really need to know (McGraw-Hill) – ISBN: 9781444189544
Syllabus B/C Course Books
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Nederlands in Actie (Coutinho) – ISBN: 9789046902981
A selection of authentic material will also be used (e.g. press articles, internet websites).
Online audio and video resources
Bilingual dictionary (e.g. Routledge, Van Dale)
In addition there is a wide range of language learning materials available for self-study in the Self-Access Centre.