Having worked for years as a journalist in the print media, I took on a new challenge and became a certified teacher of Dutch as a second language. Teaching gives me tons of energy. It’s inspiring and motivating to watch students grow and gain more confidence during each class. Participating in an excellent Italian language course in Rome, made me strongly believe that learning a new language should be fun. It’s also important to me that students feel comfortable enough to make mistakes, because that’s when you learn! In order to do so I try my best to create a friendly and safe atmosphere in the classroom. I use (online) games, role-playing and lots of other interactive assignments. Besides speech I focus on pronunciation, vocabulary and listening skills. And if students have questions about the Dutch culture or how to behave like a true Amsterdam citizen, I’m more than happy to answer. I stimulate students to keep their eyes and ears open, not solely in the classroom, but also outside. Watch television, listen to a podcast, read an online newspaper. Everything in Dutch, of course. :)