"I feel that I now live in the Netherlands."
Blog Reham Zakhari, with the support of Rachel Zuilhof (NT2 teacher)
Speaking Dutch has changed my life! Let me explain why. From an early age, it was my dream to become a dentist. I did everything I could to get into the dental programme at the university in Egypt, but unfortunately I was not selected. I didn't give up – I studied microbiology and started looking for other opportunities. This even meant that I emigrated to the Netherlands in 2021.
I love languages very much. My mother tongue is Egyptian Arabic. I speak English and Italian and I have delved into Coptic so that I can read the texts in the church.
In the Netherlands, I started a new chapter in my life. Now I'm learning Dutch at VU-NT2. At VASVU, I am preparing myself for studying at VU Amsterdam. The university is giving me the opportunity to achieve my dream.
At first I was afraid to speak Dutch and I preferred to speak English. After the first language course, I made connections in and outside the classroom. I find Dutch to be a logical and straightforward language. You have a lot of words that you can combine, such as 'hand' and 'schoen' (hand and shoe) to get ‘handschoen’ (glove)! And there is nothing hidden in the language. That’s not the case in Egypt, but it suits me well.
At VU-NT2, you not only learn the language, but the teachers and other students make you part of society. I am very proud that I can now do everything independently, such as sending mail and filing tax returns.
It's also fun in the group, because we always work together. The other day I was sick and someone sent me a recipe for soup. Another person gave me a box of extra vitamin C. That creates a sense of family. That's very nice, because most of us are here without family. Recently, I even started an internship with a dentist. For this, I had to take the initiative myself.
As I said, speaking Dutch has changed my life. I feel that I now live in the Netherlands. I’m no longer isolated.
Reham Zakhari (2000) is from Egypt and has been living in the Netherlands for two and a half years. Her dream is to become a dentist. That is why she is currently following the Language Transition Programme at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
About VU-NT2
VU-NT2 is a department for Dutch as a second language. What started in 1963 as a language lab for (prospective) VU students is now an education and expertise centre (30 employees) that provides language courses for approximately 1,200 students, staff, status holders and expats per year. In addition, the staff members train around 200 new NT2 teachers every year, conduct applied linguistics research and develop numerous teaching methods and courses. To this end, the department collaborates with partners within and outside VU Amsterdam, such as researchers, municipalities, publishers and other educational institutions. VU-NT2 has contributed to the integration and personal growth of thousands of people, driven by the social importance of inclusion, equal opportunities, understanding of each other's languages and respect for each other's cultures.
Contact and more information: vu-nt2@vu.nl or vu.nl/nt2
magazine for humanities alumni december 2023