UCL CENTRE FOR LANGUAGES
& INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
Course Units 2015-2016
Dutch Syllabus D
Prerequisite for entry
Successful completion of similar course to Dutch Syllabus C at the UCL CLIE or if you are reasonably fluent in the language
and are able to discuss a range of issues (low ‘A’ level grade).
Course duration
20 x 2-hour classes.
Self-Study
80 hours in total.
Course codes
LCDU6004, LCDUG004, LCDUM004, LCDU6034, LCDUM034 (together with Dutch syllabus C).
Aims and Objectives
The aim of the course is to enable students who already have a good knowledge of Dutch to acquire an advanced fluency
in the language. Students should be able to communicate in everyday-life situations within Dutch speaking countries.
Students will be able to converse with native speakers, follow debates and give presentations relating to their degree as
well as discussing current issues (local and worldwide) using more complex and linguistically accurate structures.
Cultural awareness will be further developed and raised within a European/global context. Language learning skills,
including autonomous learning and how to approach authentic material, will be further enhanced to enable students to
study in a Dutch speaking university. Various transferable skills will also be covered and the confidence in using these
skills in a variety of situations will be improved.
Functions
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talking about working life, leisure time and habits;
giving and discussing one’s impressions and opinions;
offering and giving advice and recommendations;
talking about basic aspects of Dutch politics and history;
considering pros and cons;
presenting one’s case and arguing one’s point;
presenting and evaluating basic statistics;
talking about one’s past experience and about plans;
summarising texts;
writing and responding to formal and informal texts, e.g. emails, letters, reports, reviews, adverts;
identifying and evaluating cultural difference.
Course Content
Main topics/themes to be covered (selection)
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Everyday living;
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Work, leisure, voluntary work;
Family; interpersonal relationships; generations;
Climate change and environment;
Migration; travelling and working in the Netherlands and abroad;
Dutch-speaking countries and regions;
School and education;
Memories and biographical information;
Dutch national and regional history and politics;
Cultural difference.
Skills
Reading
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reading for gist (skimming), scanning for specific information;
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comprehension and discussion of texts on current topics in newspapers, magazines and online
Writing
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short essays, summaries;
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brief review of and commentary on articles and other materials;
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note taking;
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letter writing
Listening
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targeted audio material (i.e. listening exercises in accordance with topics covered in class)
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TV and video recordings;
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presentations
Speaking
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formal and informal discussions and debates in class;
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individual and shared presentations;
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role-play
Linguistic Structures
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preparing oral contributions in different situations;
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consolidating and improving listening and reading skills by dealing with a variety of authentic materials;
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recognising different registers;
Grammar
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revision and consolidation of fundamental grammar (sentence structure, tenses, prepositions, declension of
nouns, adjectives and article words);
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separable and inseparable verbs;
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pronominal adverbs;
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the use of ‘er’;
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use of tenses;
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active and passive;
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use of modal and reflexive verbs;
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the uses of ‘zou’;
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word order;
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subordinate clauses: relative clauses; conditional clauses; clauses of time, cause or reason, concession; purpose;
indirect questions;
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coordinating and subordinating connectors;
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prepositional adverbs.
Learning Resources
Course Books
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Nederlands in Actie (Coutinho) – ISBN: 9789046902981
Teach yourself: Dutch Grammar you really need to know (McGraw-Hill) – ISBN: 9781444189544
Additional Material
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A selection of authentic material will also be used to supplement the course books (e.g. press articles on current
affairs, websites).
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Discovering the Dutch: On Culture and Society of the Netherlands (Bessamusca / Vermeul)
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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. Also,
there will be regularly updated information on cultural events connected with the Netherlands and Flanders, Dutch
language and culture, which can be accessed through the Language Centre website.