Introduction
Introduction
This is a separate part in addition to the language course to learn Dutch. In this part we focus on language at work. At work you have to deal with special words and expressions. In this part, we’ll look at terms and phrases you typically encounter at work:
1. Asking for help: the biggest mistake people who don’t yet know the language, make is: they don’t ask for help. Sometimes instructions are given that they do not understand properly. But they don’t ask for an explanation. They do this because they are afraid of being seen as stupid. But that is precisely why mistakes arise and why you run the risk of losing your job.
2. Instructions: we use the word instructions here, but this part also explains words such as function, procedure, consultation, and so on.
3. Safety: is perhaps the most important part because everybody has to deal with safety. Every company is also responsible for ensuring that safety is taken into account and that everyone receives proper instructions. We also show videos in this section that show all kinds of safety situations that you can follow because no language is spoken.
4. Hygiene: is of great importance in many professions. In fact, it concerns any profession that involves food. Here too, the employer has the obligation to provide correct instructions to employees.
5. Time and place. In fact, these are common expressions that you always encounter and use every day.
Why is it so difficult to ask for help?
Cultural Differences: In some cultures, asking for help may be seen as a sign of weakness or lack of knowledge. People might fear judgment or negative evaluation from their peers or superiors.
Inconvenience: individuals often worry that asking for help will be perceived as inconvenient for others.
Perception of what you can do: It is a common misconception that skilled individuals do not need help, which is not true. Everyone needs assistance at some point, but this misconception can prevent people from asking help.
Pride and Independence: Some people view asking for help as a blow to their pride or an admission that they can’t handle things on their own.
Overcoming the hesitation
Creating a Supportive Environment: Encourage an atmosphere where asking for help is seen as a strength rather than a weakness. This involves leading by example and fostering open communication.
Normalize Seeking Help: Share stories or examples of successful people who have sought help to overcome challenges. This can help normalize the behavior and show that it’s a common practice among successful individuals.
Build Trust: In a work environment, especially with expats, it’s crucial to build trust and show that it’s safe to ask questions without fear of judgment.
For workers from countries of the European Community
You may think, for example, on people coming from Poland, Romania or Bulgaria. These people have no obligation to learn the Dutch language and they are in fact free to work in the Netherlands
But it is clear that it is very important to learn at least important expressions for the workplace. Moreover employers have the obigation to give proper information on topics like safety and hygiene.
The technology we use
Nowadays you can use the option of automatic translation. Google, for example, offers that service. Our setup also uses automatic translation, but we have built in the option to manually change texts if there is apparently an error in the automatic translation. If you discover an error, please indicate what the text is that contains an error and also what that text should be.
Email this to: info@integratenl.nl
Hotspots
A hotspot is a point in an image indicated by an animated rectangle. When you tap your finger on such a spot, something happens. We show an example here. You see all kind of directions. Tap on such a hotspot and you will hear the Dutch expression and also the translation.
Learning
Tips for learning
1. Never study for a too long period of time. Studying for a long time usually means that you get way too much information. If you can’t remember that information, you’ll have problems. So never study more than an hour a day.
2. Do the exercises. To learn a language you have to practice a lot. Do all the exercises we give.
3. Repeat. Learning is based on repetition. Only by repeating will you really remember. So don’t make the mistake of rushing through all the lessons. Then you hardly learn anything.
Now we’re really going to start!