Academics: Courses

2011-12 Dutch Courses

101 Elementary Dutch I (4). F. An introductory course in the comprehension and use of spoken and written Dutch and an exposure to the people and culture of the Netherlands and Flanders, Belgium.

102 Elementary Dutch II (4). S. A continuation of Dutch 101.

201 Intermediate Dutch I (4). F. Further development of skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing Dutch. Includes systematic grammar review and the introduction to finer points of grammar and idiomatic use of the language. Cultural topics are explored through film and short literary texts. Prerequisite: Dutch 102 or permission of the instructor.

202 Intermediate Dutch II (4). S. A continuation of Dutch 201. Further development of skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing Dutch. Ongoing mastery of grammar and idiomatic use of the language. Cultural topics are explored through film and short literary texts. Completion of this course satisfies the foreign language core requirement.

305 Dutch Literature I (3). F. Study and discussion of several Dutch literary texts representative of the classical and modern periods of Dutch literature. Offered based on demand. See department chair.

306 Dutch Literature II (3). S. A continuation of Dutch 305.

309 Netherlandic Civilization (3). A study conducted in the English language of several important aspects of Netherlandic civilization: Literature, history, religion, art, architecture, social structure, and education. Offered based on demand. See department chair.

*Help! I Want to Learn Dutch...* Due to the long and rich tradition of Dutch studies at Calvin College and the college's strong connection to a Dutch heritage community in North America, we often receive queries from people interested in learning Dutch on their own. If you are unable to go to a Dutch-speaking country to learn the language there, and you are unable to enroll in a Dutch language course, then your best bet is to work with one of a number of textbooks or self-study materials out there. There are all kinds of booklets for tourists and websites that will teach you some basic phrases and vocabulary. Those have their place, but I won't comment on any specifically here. If you want to take a more serious plunge into the Dutch language then take a look at the following books. They are designed for the English-language speaker and relatively easy to obtain at a good North-American bookstore. -Dutch: An Essential Grammar, by William Z. Shetter (Routledge) -Essential Dutch Grammar, by Henry R. Stern (Dover) -Routledge Intensive Dutch Course, by G. Quist et al. (Routledge) -Colloquial Dutch: The Complete Course for Beginners, by Bruce Donaldson (Routledge) Veel plezier! (Have fun!) -H. De Vries

Back to top

Don't miss these opportunities

• Programs for students wishing to major in Dutch are worked out for them individually by departmental advisors.
• A Calvin Studies in the Netherlands off-campus semester at the Free University of Amsterdam, primarily designed for science and engineering students, is also open to students in the Dutch program.
• Semester programs, approved or endorsed by Calvin, are available to students in the cities of Leiden and Zwolle.
• Students interested in abroad programs should work out the details with the department chair, the director of off-campus programs, and the registrar.