Rubio Dutch Private Program

Effective Dutch for Busy People and Shy Speakers

We believe a busy life should not be an obstacle for learning Dutch.
We believe something different is possible: a guilt-free way of incorporating Dutch into your toolbox.
Our program offers a solid grammar base, tools to start communicating immediately and no traditional homework exercises.

A tailor-made program, focused on relevant skills: grammar, intercultural communication, tools and tricks to gain control over conversation and to lose the shyness to speak, Dutch to achieve your personal or professional goals.

What makes our method so special?
We are the first private language school to do schoolwork at home and homework at school. This means no homework from a book after class–just two or three 5-minute grammar instruction videos to prepare for next week’s class, and one mindset video to give you insight in the learning process and the tools to deal with the feelings and obstacles you might encounter. When you walk into the next class, you come in well-prepared and we can start practicing right away! No more guilty feelings about homework left undone, and the funny thing is, progress is just as good–if not better–than in a traditional setup.

How is that possible, if I don’t do any homework exercises?
One of the main goals of our method, is to create a solid bridge between theory and practice. Instead of studying theory in class and at home, we give you the tools and support to actively put to practice in your real life, what you have practices in class. Class time is optimized, because all the grammar explanation is done at home, on your sofa, whenever it suits you. You can watch the videos as many times as you want. In class, we practice through a wide range of exercises, role-play, games, challenges, and more. Then you use your daily routine as your Dutch playground: slowly we incorporate every time more Dutch into your life. After each class, you pick the new skills you’d like to incorporate into your routine, ranging from ordering in a cafe or asking a coworker for his weekend, and participating in meetings, to changing your mobile phone settings to Dutch, or switching off gmail translate for your Dutch incoming emails.

The hardest part for me is to speak to strangers, friends, family and co-workers. How can you help me break that barrier?
All those helpful Dutchies answering in English, and oh, that vulnerable feeling when you try to mumble some Dutch words… That’s where we get to the second component of our program…

We think learning a language is not just about words, grammar and practice. Learning a language puts you a in tight spot: you feel vulnerable, exposed, and maybe even dumb or silly. In our classes, we hand you the tools to gain control over communication. What are the options when you lose track? How can you feel mor confident and in control over your conversations? How should you switch from English to Dutch? How should you deal with shyness, panic, embarrassment, fear, or shame? How should you keep a conversation going, actively listen and respond, and use body language as part of communication? How should you deal with rude and impatient conversation partners?

For a little more advanced learners, we also look at the cultural component. Why can it be so hard to get something done, without causing irritation or misunderstandings? What are the unwritten laws you need to keep in mind when dealing with Dutch natives? Language is not just a one-on-one transcription from one language to the other: what sounds nice and polite in one language may be rude in another. Let us help you express yourself more truly to who you really are.