"Attention to mother languages and cultures creates a sense of home." Blog Camille Welie
There are many people who learn Dutch as a second language - refugees, migrant workers, expats. These people often differ from one another in various ways, such as educational background and cultural values and norms. Even within a Dutch as a Second Language (NT2) classroom, there is a superdiverse mini-society with people from different countries and cultures.
Mother Languages
Such a diverse mini-society sounds wonderful, and it truly is. But how do you acknowledge, value and make use of that diversity? One way is by giving the mother languages of NT2 learners a place in education. For a long time, the belief was that the best way to learn Dutch was to be 'immersed' in a 'language bath' of only Dutch. While a large amount of input and output in Dutch is of course essential for learning the language, it is now clear that even better results are achieved when mother languages of NT2 learners are included in the learning process.
This has many cognitive reasons: a well-developed first language serves as a springboard for a second language. But the emotional aspect is just as important. Paying attention to mother languages contributes to a feeling of home. If the mother language of an NT2 learner is given a place, then as a teacher you implicitly indicate that someone's whole self is welcome. This also builds an emotional connection. Start your lesson with two sentences in Farsi and your NT2 learners from Iran will feel a connection with you. Although NT2 learners may speak Dutch at a low level, they have already had a life full of learning and bring valuable experience with them. It is important to acknowledge that.
Open dialogue
Cultural diversity also deserves a place in NT2 education. For example, by having NT2 learners read literary stories together in which cultural differences play a role. Give them space to engage in an open dialogue with one another about the characters and their motivations. That can sometimes create tension, but education is the perfect place to discuss differences and to work on global citizenship. Various forms of diversity – language, culture and gender – are under pressure in the current political climate, but they can and must be given a place in the NT2 classroom. Only in this way can we understand each other and learn from each other. Many people choose to teach NT2 precisely because it allows them to learn so much about themselves and others. Let's cherish this open attitude, both within and beyond NT2 education.

Camille Welie is an assistant professor and NT2 lecturer at VU-NT2. He coordinates the departments of VU-NT2 Professional (teacher training NT2) and VU-NT2 Research. On 13 February 2025, the second VU Mother Language Day will take place, where all Faculty of Humanities alumni are welcome.
magazine for humanities alumni december 2024