Dutch Language

The aim of this course is to improve students’ written and oral communication skills, as well as their comprehension of original texts, reports, and video excerpts written and produced in Dutch. The materials are sourced from Dutch-language media (Flanders and the Netherlands) and address legal issues related to societal topics. Students are expected to synthesize these materials in a structured way and explain key passages containing important information. They are also invited to read a book written in Dutch and to revise the basic grammar of the Dutch language.

The course is delivered onsite during both the first and second terms, with one hour of instruction per week. To emphasize oral communication, students are assigned to a group -“beginner,” “intermediate,” or “advanced” - based on their language background and proficiency in Dutch. Once assigned, students may not change groups.
Note: Joining the “beginner” group is only possible under very strict conditions. A formal request must be submitted to the faculty administration, which reserves the right to accept or reject applications for admission to the group.
This interactive course is based on:
- The processing of several files made up of texts from the press and visual and sound recordings (VRT, VTM, NOS, YouTube,...). The course includes exercises on their content and discussions, as well as the study of their vocabulary.
- Theoretical reminders of grammar are given in class, and practical exercises are mainly done at home. Corrections are made using the keys provided and revisions made in class.
- Reading the book Hoe ik talent voor het leven kreeg (Rodaan Al Galidi, Leeslicht, 2017, 134 pages). Students read the book at home, and its content is discussed in class with the teacher and in small working groups.
Students are expected to be punctual and actively participate in class. They must bring the required materials and, if necessary, complete any assigned preparations. Teachers reserve the right to exclude students who fail to comply with these expectations.
If students encounter difficulties or wish to explore a topic further, they may attend a weekly tutoring session. A collective Q&A session is also organized at the end of each term to provide additional support from the teacher.
All information regarding homework and preparations is communicated orally and via the Moodle platform. It is essential that students consult Moodle weekly and read all announcements to come prepared for class and exams.
Attendance is mandatory. An absence is considered justified only if students submit a medical certificate or other valid documentation (subject to the discretion of the jury president) by email (students keep the original document up to one year after the absence) to both the teacher and the faculty administration (droit-slb@uclouvain.be) no later than the day following the end of the impediment. If this day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, September 27, or a public holiday, the deadline is extended to the next working day. In accordance with article 17§3 of the Faculty of Law Regulations, unjustified absence from more than one session results in a absence grade of 0/20 (0A/20) for the entire course unit (not just the learning activity, but also the associated course). In case of justified absence, students are responsible for catching up on the material covered and completing any assigned homework.

An exemption test is organized in person at the beginning of the academic year. Students must register for this test, which is taken online at the University. If students obtain a score equal to or higher than 16/20, they are exempted from the course. This test is optional and is held only once a year, under conditions published by the faculty administration. No rescheduling or deferred participation is allowed, even in the case of a justified absence. The result of the exemption test is recorded and retained as the final grade for the course until the end of the academic year. On the day of the test, students must bring their student or identity card and headphones. If students cannot prove their identity, they will not be allowed to take the test.
For students who are not exempted, the evaluation covers all course material and includes:
- A written exam in the first term, held outside the exam session in mid-December, accounting for 40% of the final grade. The exam covers the files and grammar studied in class, as well as the comprehension of an unseen text. Students must answer the questions in Dutch unless otherwise specified. Evaluation criteria include the ability to memorize and reproduce theoretical content, apply basic grammar rules to new examples, and extract information from an authentic unseen text.
- An exam in the second term, consisting of two parts and accounting for 60% of the final grade:
The written part, held outside the exam session in mid-May, accounts for 40% of the final grade. It covers the files and grammar studied in class, as well as the comprehension of an unseen text. Students must answer the questions in Dutch unless otherwise specified. Evaluation criteria are the same as for the first term exam.
The spoken part, held during class hours in the middle of the second semester (exact dates available on Moodle), accounts for 20% of the final grade. Two or three sessions are reserved for the exam. It consists of an individual presentation in Dutch of a press article related to a relevant social issue. Evaluation criteria include the ability to follow clear instructions, speak Dutch in front of an audience, and respond spontaneously to questions related to the topic. On the day of the oral exam, students must bring a printed copy of the article, and the completed and printed form available on Moodle. Failure to comply with these requirements results in a grade of 0/20. If students who have not yet presented the oral exam are absent and provide a medical certificate (see section on absences), they will receive a grade of 0M and may not present their article during the other scheduled oral sessions. No exceptions are granted.
If student choose to use generative artificial intelligence tools while preparing for the oral exam, they are required to comply with the University’s AI guidelines. These rules state that students must use generative AI tools responsibly, as a complement to their learning and without attempting to bypass academic requirements. Students remain fully responsible for the content of their work, regardless of the sources used. To ensure that the student’s work is personal, evaluation criteria such as originality, critical thinking, creativity, and the use of examples (drawn from their own experience) will be taken into account. The teacher may, at any time, ask students to explain how they used AI tools in their preparation.
If students score below 10/20 in December, they must retake a full-year exam in May. This exam convers material from both terms, with unchanged modalities.
If students score below 10/20 in June, they must retake an exam in August covering the entire year’s material, with unchanged modalities. This exam includes a written part (80% of the grade) and an oral part (20% of the grade), but students may be exempted from the oral part if it was successfully completed in March.
In case of absence from any exam or exam component, students receive a final grade of 0A. The grade obtained for the completed part is not retained. If students justify their absence with a medical certificate sent to the faculty administration within 24 hours of the exam, they receive a final grade of 0M and may retake the exam in August (but not in January or June). No exceptions are granted (see articles 102 and 103 of the Règlement general des études et des examens). If students justify their absence from the first semester exam, they may retake an exam covering both semesters in June.

Communication with the teacher: If students wish to contact their teacher, they must include the name of the course unit (BDROI1153) in their email. If the course unit name is not mentioned, the teacher reserves the right not to respond.
Dutch-Language press: Students who wish to read Dutch-language press may refer to the resources listed below.
•          https://www.wablieft.be/nl/ (level 1)
•          www.taalblad.be (level 1)
•          http://www.metrotime.be/ (level 1)
•          http://www.hln.be/ (level 1)
•          http://www.nieuwsblad.be/ (level 2)
•          http://www.deredactie.be/ (level 3)
•          http://www.dewereldmorgen.be/ (level 3)
•          http://www.vandaag.be/ (level 2)
•          http://www.brusselnieuws.be (level 2 / 3)
•          http://www.nrcnext.nl/ (level 2 / 3)
•          http://www.trouw.nl/ (level 3)
•          http://www.nu.nl (level 3)

The course materials (grammar and audio files) are made available on Moodle.

Livre de lecture
Al Galidi, R. (2017). Hoe ik talent voor het leven kreeg. Leeslicht, 134p.
Grammaire
Les éléments grammaticaux à maîtriser figurent dans le syllabus et sur Moodle. Toutefois, l’étudiant·e est invité·e à consulter l’ouvrage suivant :
Bouselle, A. (2024). La grammaire néerlandaise. Van In.
Références du cours
Les éléments bibliographiques pertinents sont indiqués dans le syllabus.