"A contestant's recent interest in the Dutch national anthem does send a special and hopeful signal to me ......"

In addition to obtaining documents and a residence permit, learning the Dutch language is also a challenge for participants at TheBridge2Hope . For integration, Dutch must be mastered at A2 level.

Since September 2017, I have been teaching Dutch weekly. I started with one group of six (cohort 1). Now four more are part of that group. We are currently (April 2021) working at level A2 -> B1. A second group of four (cohort 2) started in January 2020. In this group we are covering curriculum at level 0 -> A1. In both groups we are working with Step New.

From March 2020, COVID-19 also seriously affected the conduct of classes. Until then, the lessons were "on-site," but from then on that became "teaching-by-distance. Initially, this was done via WhatsApp. Certainly not ideal, but then the maximum achievable. Thanks to a special effort by many, from November 2020, the lessons can take place viaZoom. We can 'meet' and talk to each other again, unfortunately only through images.

You learn a language primarily through interaction. That is why real contact during the lessons is so important. And you learn even better if you regularly repeat and practice the offered material yourself. Perseverance, patience and confidence are required.

The results of the lessons do show. For example, communication in Dutch is becoming more frequent and better. The recent interest of a participant in the Dutch national anthem is for me a special and hopeful sign ......