On 25 January, MYP 3 participated in a Dutch Language Village. The theme of the Language Village was ‘Moving to Amsterdam’. The students had to use their Dutch in eight day to day situations, like becoming a member of the library, ordering food in a cafeteria and visiting a birthday party of a Dutch friend. Objects, as for example member cards, festoons and a doctor’s coat, were used to make the situations as real as possible.

The developers of the project, Jacobine Derks, Karin Stegeman and Susanne Spijkerman, students of Applied Linguistics of the Groningen University, were assisted by five students of the Maartenscollege. Also Dutch language teacher Fros van der Maden played a role as an inhabitant of Amsterdam.

The students of MYP 3 were well prepared. They participated very seriously and were enthusiastic about the project. The students surprised themselves with better Dutch than they expected. Hopefully the project enhanced their self confidence in practical situations and stimulates their communication in Dutch.

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