Smiling Dutchman
Tailor-Made Dutch Language Courses
Click on the orange button below to learn more or scroll down to see the Smiling Dutchman's teaching approach
Click on the orange button below to learn more or scroll down to see the Smiling Dutchman's teaching approach
Smiling Dutchman language courses in a nutshell
Support, Explanation, Participation, Individualisation, Knowledge Retention and Flexibility!
Availability
Always available for questions, advice and help; even outside the classroom, along with flexibility for busy professionals, rescheduling is not a problem
The Setup
Personal interview to customise the course to your needs and group courses, private courses, intensive courses, in-company training
Certifications
Preparation for the naturalisation exam and NT2 exam. Certificates available upon successful completion of a course
Learning Dutch should be fun and rewarding!
The Smiling Dutchman believes in a friendly learning environment in which each student can thrive, click below to learn more!
About the instructor
Bally Bakker is the Smiling Dutchman
He is a certified Dutch instructor and (in)company trainer who teaches with a smile and a positive attitude. Bally has an academic and real world background in communications and educational sciences. This makes his knowledge about designing training sessions and creating educational material above average. Additionally, Bally has a diploma of Dutch language teaching.
Bally has worked with several language institutions in The Hague and Rotterdam. He specialises in working with expats and has taught employees from companies such as Domino's Pizza, Oracle, Shell and Unilever .
The fact that he has also taught in the civic integration program – where he conducted exam training, teacher training and ordinary civic integration courses – demonstrates his ability to work with people from all kinds of backgrounds. Bally works in various language related fields, from simple language training to complicated business training sessions.
Dutch can be a challenging language to learn. However, Bally's informal yet structured method has proved to be very effective. He is a Dutch native who has mastered the language and knows the Dutch culture in detail. He tries to ensure a thorough understanding of every student's needs but will still challenge them to learn more and aims to create a social learning environment where questions and conversations are encouraged. Bally's enthusiasm and love for teaching makes learning Dutch fun!
He is a certified Dutch instructor and (in)company trainer who teaches with a smile and a positive attitude. Bally has an academic and real world background in communications and educational sciences. This makes his knowledge about designing training sessions and creating educational material above average. Additionally, Bally has a diploma of Dutch language teaching.
Bally has worked with several language institutions in The Hague and Rotterdam. He specialises in working with expats and has taught employees from companies such as Domino's Pizza, Oracle, Shell and Unilever .
The fact that he has also taught in the civic integration program – where he conducted exam training, teacher training and ordinary civic integration courses – demonstrates his ability to work with people from all kinds of backgrounds. Bally works in various language related fields, from simple language training to complicated business training sessions.
Dutch can be a challenging language to learn. However, Bally's informal yet structured method has proved to be very effective. He is a Dutch native who has mastered the language and knows the Dutch culture in detail. He tries to ensure a thorough understanding of every student's needs but will still challenge them to learn more and aims to create a social learning environment where questions and conversations are encouraged. Bally's enthusiasm and love for teaching makes learning Dutch fun!
Language Course Information
The Smiling Dutchman is specialised in working with busy professionals and he is one of the few language teachers that offers you support outside the classroom. You cannot learn a language only by sitting in the (virtual) classroom and absorbing knowledge. Therefore, you can contact your language teacher outside the (virtual) classroom through telephone or e-mail for all of your questions and remarks. This way, you do not have to wait for the next lesson, but you can move on! Furthermore, field trips are organised, as it is of a high importance to learn a language at the location where it will be used and to conduct further practice there. There will be get-togethers as well, in order to enhance the method's social aspect and speak Dutch in a relaxed atmosphere.
New beginner's courses will start when 4 or more people sign up. If enough people sign up, Intermediate courses will be scheduled as well.
Our services
Tailor made 1-on-1 Dutch courses at the office or from home
Each student has a different way of learning. Some are more prone to learning through communication, whilst others rather gain knowledge by using more classic methods. Therefore, the Smiling Dutchman carefully designs learning environments in which each student can thrive. He uses individualised instruction to address the learning challenges of each and every student and he will teach you wherever you feel most comfortable, at a place that is convenient for you.
Learning to use the Dutch language with self confidence and trust
1. With the Smiling Dutchman you can learn Dutch in a way that suits you; in a classroom, at work, at home or at another preferred location; with friends, in a group of people, with your family or in 1-on-1 sessions. The Smiling Dutchman will always strive to make your experience in learning Dutch as comfortable as possible, adjusted to your needs. In our (virtual) classroom, you can say what you want to say, do what you want to do and especially make the mistakes you need to make in order to reach your goals.
(in-company) Group courses
Prefer learning with friends, colleagues or with other students? Want to be able to communicate with like-minded people? Contact the smiling Dutchman and he will let you know as soon as he has a group of people that might suit you.
Individual Skype sessions
Corona, business abroad, maternity leave or you just don’t feel like physically meeting up? The Smiling Dutchman will make sure you can keep on learning and the lessons can take place via Microsoft Teams, Skype, WhatsApp or any other medium of your preference.
Dutch courses on the spot
Your brain learns through association. Therefore, many people believe it would be best to learn on the spot; at places where you will use the things you study. Besides, wouldn’t it be fun to go places instead of only being in the classroom? During our lessons this can be made possible.
Casually learning basic Dutch and improving your Dutch skills while having fun
If your focus is on getting to know new people and having fun and learning Dutch is not your main goal, ‘but hey, why not learn a bit of this new language while we’re having a good time’, this should also be possible. Join the Smiling Dutchman in the pub, on a walk through the city or maybe even in an expedition along the beach.
Smiling Dutchman's learning Method
Support
The biggest advantage to learning Dutch with the Smiling Dutchman is that he offers you support outside the classroom. This way you do not have to wait until the next lesson to move on, but you can deal with language issues as soon as they arise. You can contact your language teacher via WhatsApp or e-mail for all your questions and remarks and he will help you out as soon as possible.
To make sure you do not lose contact with the language or forget what you have just learnt, The Smiling Dutchman will even send you holiday assignments and organise Skype-sessions to stay in touch with the Dutch language while being abroad.
Problem based approach
The perfect method is yet to be developed, and every method lacks a thing or two. However, as The Smiling Dutchman is grounded in educational design, he can develop the material needed for these overseen topics.
Besides using a proven method to master the Dutch language, the Smiling Dutchman deals with evolving problems on the spot, to keep the learning experience actual and make sure students can keep on going without questions remaining unanswered.
Flexibility
The Smiling Dutchman offers flexibility for busy professionals; rescheduling is not a problem. You never need to buy packages of lessons, so you do not need to pay for lessons you might not even use anyway. With the Smiling Dutchman you can learn Dutch in a way that suits you; in a classroom, at work, at home or at a specific location; with friends, in a group of people, with your family or in 1-on-1 sessions. The Smiling Dutchman will always strive to make your experience in learning Dutch as comfortable as possible, adjusted to your needs.
Participation
The Smiling Dutchman encourages participation and active learning during his lessons. Classes usually have a theme which is examined through the use of role play, games, guided practice, conversation and written assignments. Furthermore, field trips are organised to, amongst others, the post office, shops, and bars. These excursions give students the opportunity to practice language in an authentic setting, further demonstrating their level of language proficiency.
Individualisation
Each student has a different way of learning. Some are more prone to learning through communication, whilst others rather gain knowledge by using more classic methods. Therefore, the Smiling Dutchman carefully designs learning environments in which each student can thrive. He uses individualised instruction to address the learning challenges of each student.
Knowledge retention
Testing on a regular basis is of great importance. It not only shows what students already know, it also helps assess them and has been proven to be one of the best ways to reinforce learning. This is called the 'Testing-Effect'. The results of a test are important because it will tell student and teacher which things need extra attention.
The biggest advantage to learning Dutch with the Smiling Dutchman is that he offers you support outside the classroom. This way you do not have to wait until the next lesson to move on, but you can deal with language issues as soon as they arise. You can contact your language teacher via WhatsApp or e-mail for all your questions and remarks and he will help you out as soon as possible.
To make sure you do not lose contact with the language or forget what you have just learnt, The Smiling Dutchman will even send you holiday assignments and organise Skype-sessions to stay in touch with the Dutch language while being abroad.
Problem based approach
The perfect method is yet to be developed, and every method lacks a thing or two. However, as The Smiling Dutchman is grounded in educational design, he can develop the material needed for these overseen topics.
Besides using a proven method to master the Dutch language, the Smiling Dutchman deals with evolving problems on the spot, to keep the learning experience actual and make sure students can keep on going without questions remaining unanswered.
Flexibility
The Smiling Dutchman offers flexibility for busy professionals; rescheduling is not a problem. You never need to buy packages of lessons, so you do not need to pay for lessons you might not even use anyway. With the Smiling Dutchman you can learn Dutch in a way that suits you; in a classroom, at work, at home or at a specific location; with friends, in a group of people, with your family or in 1-on-1 sessions. The Smiling Dutchman will always strive to make your experience in learning Dutch as comfortable as possible, adjusted to your needs.
Participation
The Smiling Dutchman encourages participation and active learning during his lessons. Classes usually have a theme which is examined through the use of role play, games, guided practice, conversation and written assignments. Furthermore, field trips are organised to, amongst others, the post office, shops, and bars. These excursions give students the opportunity to practice language in an authentic setting, further demonstrating their level of language proficiency.
Individualisation
Each student has a different way of learning. Some are more prone to learning through communication, whilst others rather gain knowledge by using more classic methods. Therefore, the Smiling Dutchman carefully designs learning environments in which each student can thrive. He uses individualised instruction to address the learning challenges of each student.
Knowledge retention
Testing on a regular basis is of great importance. It not only shows what students already know, it also helps assess them and has been proven to be one of the best ways to reinforce learning. This is called the 'Testing-Effect'. The results of a test are important because it will tell student and teacher which things need extra attention.
Our Clients Love Us
"Bally has given me private tutoring focussing on personal challenges with the language made possible for me to improve my missing basics."
Asia Jeruzal
Coordination Manager at WorldWideBroker
"I recommend Bally to anyone who wants to learn Dutch while at the same time not wanting to enter into a complex, inflexible and formal language school."
Graham Mapp
"The teaching methodology was very problem oriented. Bally is always promptly available for you."
Gerald Lindinger
Maniging Director at Unilever
"Bally Bakker succeeds to combine culture of the Netherlands and linguistic information with grammar and vocabulary to make the learning process attractive and not boring."
Martine Vicari
Sign up
Please feel free to contact us on the form below if you have any questions and want to know more or if you are interested in taking dutch classes. I hope to hear from you!
FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US
+31 6 23 975 459
info@smilingdutchman.nl
info@smilingdutchman.nl
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Copyright 2012 The Smiling Dutchman
