This is what it’s like to be a language coach

“I was ready for a change in my life, saw the call for language coaches passing by, and thought: Hey, that sounds interesting!” Lony has already had twenty-six sessions with her language buddy. “I love to talk myself, and if it benefits someone else, it’s nice for both sides.”Through Progress, immigrants and other people from Amsterdam Zuidoost who do not sufficiently master the Dutch language can request a language coach.
Lony: “I was presented with three of these candidates and got in touch with my language buddy over the phone. We hit it off right away. Although she started in English, I immediately switched to Dutch.”

Crossing a threshold

“My language buddy is from Southern Europe and has been living in the Netherlands for twenty years. Because she spoke English for her job, she never got around to learning Dutch properly. Since she is looking for work, she feels the need to improve her Dutch. Not just for a new job, but also to be able to talk to her son’s friends. She doesn’t have many social contacts, had little confidence in her Dutch skills. She knew that after so much time, she had to make the switch and force herself to learn the language.”

View of the world

“I have a lot of admiration for the perseverance of my language buddy. The beginning was not easy. This was also due to her lack of self-confidence; she quickly thought she couldn’t understand it. But she just does it. By now, our weekly meetings run smoothly, and we have profound conversations. We talk about everything, personal matters like family and things you encounter in life. I like to keep up with the news, so we talk about that too. And we discuss my other volunteer work. She finds it interesting to hear, and I like to explain that sometimes you have to come up with unusual ways to get things done. So, a language coach not only provides help with language but also a glimpse into the world.”(text continues below the photo)

I’m sorry

Lony does not use methods. “Sometimes I correct her by repeating something the right way. She likes it when I correct her, but most of the time I just let her tell her story. I do explain proverbs and sayings, they are so tricky! Furthermore, I encourage her to watch the Youth News or programs like ‘Missing’ and ‘I’m Sorry’. They speak in a simple, clear way. And as a language coach, I find it important to often say that she is making progress.”

Course

In the beginning, I followed a course for language coaches through Progress. There I received useful tips. And recently, I attended the annual meeting for all volunteer language coaches. It was incredibly inspiring to exchange experiences. And so many positive and happy stories!

Leap forward

“My language buddy now speaks Dutch instead of English in stores. She has overcome a barrier. Her neighbor recently said that her Dutch has improved. She feels more comfortable now. She is more active, sometimes she has to find a gap in her schedule for our meetings. I think as a language coach I have been able to contribute to this. And I find it special to have contact with someone who lives in different circumstances than I do. In such a short time, you get to know each other well, which is enriching.”Interview: Angélique Derks
Photos: Jackie Mulder

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