About Me

Your Dutch Language Teacher

Hi, I’m Marie-José - I Love Stories and Languages!

As a Dutch native, fluent in Dutch, French, English and quite a bit of German 🇳🇱🇫🇷🇬🇧🇩🇪, I’ve always believed that language is about connection. My own language learning journey has shown me that it’s all about lots of INPUT! The more you hear and read, the more naturally the language sticks.

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Why I Teach with Stories

In 2015, I started teaching Dutch and quickly realized that traditional methods often felt like hard work -especially for busy expats. And then I discovered CI/TPRS, a method that makes learning Dutch easy, fun , and stress-free . By using stories, learners step into new worlds, practice Dutch in real-life situations, and avoid that "back to school" feeling.

My approach helps you go from frustration to fluency, offering stories that are easy to understand and enjoyable. The Magic of Stories provides context and meaning that sticks, making the process almost effortless and a lot more fun. 'Waarom moeilijk als het ook makkelijk kan?' (“Why make it difficult when it can be easy?”)

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My Qualifications

• Postgraduate certificate in Dutch as a Second Language - Radboud University, Nijmegen (2016)

• CI/TPRS teacher training courses (DLL, Hoofddorp)

• Certified primary school teacher (Pabo)

• Heao-EL: Applied Sciences in International Business

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A Little About Me

I live in ‘s-Hertogenbosch with my husband. We have a son who studies sustainability at Utrecht University. In 2022, my husband and I cycled 2,600 km to Rome 🇮🇹.  

This adventure taught me how small steps lead to big progress - and the importance of having a good guidebook along the way! When I’m not teaching, I enjoy biking 🚴, reading 📚, writing ✍️ (I’m working on a new book!) and spending time with friends 👫.