Dutch & Such in the media. Below you will find three magazine articles from the Dutch press with a special mention of Nick Walker and Dutch & Such. The first article is in English and is from the Expat Survival Guide. The second article is from the glossy Dutch business magazine Quote; it is in Dutch, but the English translation has been added. The third is an interview in English with Nick Walker for Family Matters, a magazine about family life in The Netherlands. If you click on the image once it will pop up, click on it again and it will zoom in, making it possible to read the text properly.
‘Spreekt u Nederlands?’ from the Expat Survival Guide. You can find a similar article on the Expatica website.
‘Beyond Dunglish’ Quote Magazine 2004.
If only the Dunglish speaking prime minister Balkenende, Neelie Kroes and the late Pim Fortuyn had been smart enough to sign up for an English course with Nick Walker. The Englishman, born in Wimbledon (with a Dutch mother), teaches English and Dutch to executives in the business world. “Holland is a bi-lingual country. Many Dutch people think that they speak English well. But when you hear the language mistakes they make, you know that they don’t qualify for the international business market.” Reversely it’s just as important for foreigners working in the Netherlands, to be able to speak Dutch: “It opens doors and removes barriers.”
Most of Walker’s clients are expats who want to learn Dutch; employees from law firms and advertising agencies, however he also trained a group of stand–up comedians. “They weren’t as much interested in learning Dutch, as they were in certain aspects of Dutch culture and particular language jokes.” Most of his trainees simply want to be able to communicate in Dutch. “Usually that takes up to a year. Germans, Danes and Swedes have an enormous advantage over native English speakers.” Apart from the fact that it’s useful for foreigners to speak Dutch, there is also a certain amount of prestige involved: “Expats often show off their Dutch. Someone who has lived here for years, and can only order a sandwich at the bakery, simply remains an outsider.”
‘Fatherly Love’ an interview with Nick Walker for FM- Family Matters
The magazine about family living in the Netherlands.
Family Matters online: http://www.xmonline.nl/index.php?mag=5
