Cursist aan het woord - Aayushi Yadav

‘The mind should always be free to learn new things'

13 august 2020

Aayushi Yadav (28) moved from India to Eindhoven in June 2019. Learning Dutch was her first priority. She took a big step by enrolling on an intensive Dutch language training course. Now she is ready for more and is eager to learn: ‘Never underestimate the impact of language.’

Why did you decide to attend a Dutch course?

‘When I moved to Holland, I felt a real urge to learn Dutch. I love to communicate with people, to interact. Learning the language helps to communicate better and to feel more integrated.’

How did you get in touch with STE Languages?

‘I was just casually browsing the internet when I came across STE. Their institute appealed to me and so I started to read the reviews and then came across a nice article on www.iamexpat.nl. After that I decided to give it a go. The staff were very friendly and welcoming, right from the start.’

What are your personal goals?

‘Right now I’m focusing on learning the language. I believe that will help me find a suitable job. I have a degree in Biotechnology and it would be great to work in my field. I’m also interested in life sciences, public health and social work. Besides that, learning Dutch is of course also important for daily life.’

Can you give an example of that?

‘Well when you go shopping, visit a restaurant or even if you just want to greet someone, it’s very helpful if you understand the local language. After a while I started to recognize the signs on the street and I was able to understand what the NOS Journaal was about. I became better at framing sentences and that gave me more confidence and made me feel happier.’

You just finished an intensive training course. Why did you opt for that program?

‘I had time and I wanted to learn at a faster pace. You practice a lot and so you learn a lot. It’s like a quick start. We worked in a multicultural group of six people and I loved the interaction we had with each other. The classes were very fun and involving. We had an incredible teacher, Marie-Claire Gijsbers. She helps you understand the basics and makes sure no one is left behind. She is very approachable and knows how to keep students motivated.’

How was the training course designed?

‘It was a good mix of listening, reading, speaking and writing. Well organized, very extensive and dynamic. There was lot of practice during class combined with homework. During this time of Covid we couldn’t go to class but STE made it possible to learn online by means of their online classroom. There was always a good atmosphere during the lessons and right from the beginning of the course I could feel the confidence was building up inside me. I never felt pressured to learn the language, which was helpful. The mind should always be free to learn new things.’

Do you have any advice for other students?

‘Speak as much Dutch in your daily life as possible. Whenever you go outside practice! The Dutch are kind. If you tell them you’re trying to speak Dutch, they will help you. Besides that, go through the material and learn the basics of grammar. It takes time and energy but it’s worth it. Never underestimate the impact of language.’

What is your favorite Dutch word or expression?

Gefeliciteerd! A difficult word to pronounce but always nice to say. I also like the word lekker.’

What is your general impression of STE?

‘A very good institute to learn Dutch. I highly recommend STE to everyone who comes to Holland and wants to learn the language. The staff at STE made me feel very welcome. Language plays a very important role and the whole process allowed me to feel more confident, more connected and more at home in the Netherlands.’