Willy Brandt, voormalig kanselier van Duitsland
You would like to do business in Flanders, but you feel that your knowledge of commercial Dutch is too limited and undermines your confidence?
You can speak Dutch perfectly well, but do you often have the impression that you can’t understand Flemish people when they’re talking to you?
Do you feel that you don’t know Flanders well enough to conquer the Flemish market?
Do you recognise yourself in this scenario? If so, then it's time to bring in Prêt-à-Parler!
Ludwig Poppe
Founder
Prêt-à-Parler develops immersive language courses in Flanders for an audience of foreign language-speaking entrepreneurs, managers and expats. The focus is on perfecting a person’s general proficiency in Dutch and the acquisition of business Dutch. This includes networking, presenting, meeting, and negotiating in Dutch.
But knowledge of the language is often not enough. If you want to develop successful and sustainable trade relations in Flanders, an elementary knowledge of the Flemish economic context and infrastructure, and of Flemish sensitivities and culture is a great asset. To enable you to pick up all this knowledge in a smooth, efficient and pleasant way, Prêt-à-Parler has developed unique immersion pathways.
Well, as we said, the focus is on the Dutch language, both in a general and in a business context. But Prêt-à-Parler does that in its own way. Because - be honest - do you fancy spending the whole day in dusty classrooms or sterile training centres? Or do you like doing boring, long grammar or drilling exercises? No, no one does! The best way to learn a language is by generating interest and triggering emotions, as any good communication does. To achieve this, Prêt-à-Parler uses an intensive, oral communication-oriented approach in an authentic and relevant context. After all, we go to Flanders, to the Flemish provinces, to the Flemish cities, to the Flemish ports, and put you in contact with local entrepreneurs and politicians. Together with our teachers, they create a business context in which you learn to function in Dutch.
Through various pedagogical techniques and educational activities, you will become more and more familiar with the Dutch language and you will also get to know the Flemish region better in the fields of infrastructure, economics, administration, culture and current affairs. As if you were going prospecting, but organised and assisted by Prêt-à-Parler. Active immersion is what we call it: knowledge and acquisition of a language
And THAT's pretty unique!
Prêt-à-Parler is aimed at a broad audience of foreign-language speaking entrepreneurs and businessmen who are active or want to become active in Flanders and for whom proficiency in the Dutch language and a good knowledge of the Flemish economic reality is a means to achieve business successes.
In order to participate in this process, a basic knowledge of Dutch is a necessity. As the courses are conducted at level B1 (or B2) of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) the minimum level required is CEFR A2+. We therefore ask our course participants to take a level test at the first enrolment. The result of the test allows us to make groups as homogeneous as possible and to prevent course participants from leaving disappointed.
Prêt-à-Parler develops language courses at level B1 and B2 of the CEFR. The general language skills associated with these levels can be found in the FAQ section. Tailored to the sector of businesses and entrepreneurs, you will learn to do the following in Dutch:
In addition, depending on the immersion path chosen, you will acquire knowledge of:
In a nutshell: after participating in the active immersion pathways of Prêt-à-Parler, you will have a sufficient basis to enter the Flemish business world with confidence.
Are you interested in the Prêt-à-Parler method but don't find 100% what you are looking for in our immersion programme? Do you have precise needs or wishes, do you want a programme specific to your company or your employees? Prêt-à-Parler will develop for you an immersion pathway tailored to your needs. Don't hesitate to contact us and put your questions to us.
In the course of 10 years of experience in the industry, namely in the sale and installation of level and flow measurements on the Belgian waterways of the river Scheldt, the river Maas/Meuse and the river Samber/Sambre, I have often worked in Wallonia. I have also been in the classroom for 20 years, as a teacher of Dutch in French-language education in Brussels. Teaching was a revelation for me. The contact with young people was and still is refreshing, but motivating them for the Dutch lessons was quite a challenge. Over time, I discovered the power of stories: after that I avoided well-worn school books and preferred interesting stories. That is how I created a universe where I could take my students with me. After all, language is a means of communication and that communication must be relevant and interesting enough to trigger and strengthen the learning process. Prêt-à-Parler offers me the opportunity to put my knowledge and experience in this field at the service of an inquisitive and motivated audience.
Tour Of Flanders
Flanders has thirteen centre cities: two capital cities and eleven regional cities that play a central role in fields such as employment, care, education, culture and leisure. Our basic programme 'Tour of Flanders' is built around these thirteen important Flemish cities and therefore offers a general introduction to the highly urbanised Flanders.
The basic programme Tour of Flanders consists of 13 stages, one stage per Flemish centre city. Each stage is divided into an online section followed by an on-site course day in a Flemish centre city.
The online part of one of the stages consists of::
The onsite course day usually looks as follows:
Throughout the course, including during the breaks or meal times, only Dutch is spoken.
One module, online and on-site parts together, takes 2 weeks. The total basic immersion programme thus lasts 26 weeks (13 modules), without holiday periods.
In total, this basic immersion programme from Prêt-à-Parler offers:
A course day takes place in a Flemish centre city every two weeks.
In order to participate in this programme, a basic knowledge of Dutch is a necessity. As the course is being conducted at level B1 of the CEFR, the required minimum level is CEFR A2+. We therefore ask our learners to take a level test at the first enrolment. The result of the test allows us to make groups as homogeneous as possible and to prevent course participants from leaving disappointed.
Are you interested in the Prêt-à-Parler method but don't find 100% what you are looking for in our programme? Do you have precise needs or wishes, do you want a programme specific to your company or your employees? Prêt-à-Parler will develop for you an immersion pathway tailored to your needs. Don't hesitate to contact us and put your questions to us.
The length of our immersion courses depends on the chosen programme: from 5 days for the intensive programme 'Ports of Flanders' to 26 weeks for our basic programme 'Tour of Flanders'.
Both organisationally and pedagogically, the 'Tour of Flanders' is a complete unit. In terms of language learning, this programme includes a complete and logically constructed course. It is impossible to achieve the desired result with just a few modules.
That is unfortunately not possible. The chosen immersion course always consists of an online section and an on-site section. Participants always have access to the full programme online. In addition, all costs and reservations are made on-site and the price for the chosen programme is based on a certain number of participants.
No. Our programmes are developed at level B1 and above. The minimum level required to participate is CEFR A2+. A language user at level A2+
When we first register, we ask our customers to take a level test. People who do not yet have a basic knowledge of Dutch must first take a course for beginners.
Prêt-à-Parler’s basic programmes are aimed at general entrepreneurship. However, if the enrolments show that we can focus our programme on one or a few sectors, we will do so, but only after consultation with our course participants. A programme specific to one particular sector can also be set up on request.
Our programmes are developed at level B1 and above. The minimum level required to participate is CEFR A2+. A language user at level A2+
When we first register, we ask our customers to take a level test. People who do not yet have a basic knowledge of Dutch must first take a course for beginners.
Our basic programmes have been developed at the level of CEFR B1. A language user at level B1
For more advanced language users, we develop follow-up courses at level B2 or tailor-made courses. A language user at level B2
For language users at CEFR C1 level, tailor-made language training can be developed either individually or in groups.
Yes. We can target our basic courses to specific sectors or precise needs of our customers. Tailor-made programmes can also be developed.
Yes. In addition to our follow-up programmes, which are perfectly in line with the basic programmes, we can offer a tailor-made follow-up programme, fully geared to our customer's needs.
Yes. With the agreement of all participants, we can then focus the programme more on your sector, but we can also develop a programme tailored to your business.
Prêt-à-Parler works with language teachers and language coaches who have a broad experience in the sector.
Participants must have a basic knowledge of Dutch, at the level CEFR A2+. In addition, we ask our customers for 100% willingness and commitment to respect the principle of full immersion. Logical, right? That is the strength of our method.
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No. The Prêt-à-Parler method is based on a combination of online and on-site activities, where the content offered and the language bath on-site play an important role as a catalyst in the learning process. With the relevant content, we ensure that the students' affective filter is fully open while the active immersion accelerates and reinforces the learning process.
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