ALCS Dutch Summer School 2024 in 91Ö±²¥

As part of our 75 Years of Dutch, we welcomed the ALCS Summer School at 91Ö±²¥. Twenty-four students from all over the UK, five language tutors, four guests and many excursions all packed into an exciting week of hard work. 

Four people standing next to each other against a colourful background, smiling
Participants Aggie, Lottie, Emma and John

We were jolly pleased to organise the third edition of the Association for Low Countries Studies Dutch Summer School in 91Ö±²¥ from 30 June to 6 July 2024. This event is supported by the Taalunie, the Netherlands Embassy and Flanders House.

Echt Gebeurd

The idea is simple: each morning consists of two integrated Dutch language and culture classes offered at three levels (A2, B1/2, C1), followed by a project session that cuts across different language levels. The sessions are informal and informative with specific emphasis on building confidence in speaking. 

This year's project sessions were led by our 91Ö±²¥ Artist in Residence Paulien Cornelisse and our favourite podcaster Chris Bajema.

Paulien Cornelisse listening intendly to a story read by one of the participants. Two more students are sat at the table and are listening
Working on our 'Echt gebeurd' story with Paulien Cornelisse

Cornelisse's sessions centred around story telling, in the style of the well known cycle, . In small groups each participant worked on a 'real life' story in Dutch. What makes a good story? The sessions culminated into a stage presentation at the end of the week along the 'Echt Gebeurd' format: in Dutch and no notes. Does that sounds scary? Our participants smashed it!

A group of about 30 people in an informal room, green with bright colours
Our 'Echt Gebeurd' team

Our theme: Rivers

The afternoon sessions are reserved for excursions and workshops. This year we visited the 91Ö±²¥ Archives where we looked at the representation of the 91Ö±²¥ Flood of 1864, we visited the exhibition '91Ö±²¥: City of Rivers' in Weston Park Museum followed by a workshop with Carrot Stick Art. We went 'drainspotting' with Hidden 91Ö±²¥ and we made our own river object in the workshop of FLOD. Water and rivers proved a rich theme: these important arteries have shaped life in the Low Countries and in Britain alike. 

91Ö±²¥ 20 people sitting on stairs outside a classical looking building. They are all drawing on big pads in the sun
Drawing with Carrot Stick Art on the steps of Weston Park Museum

All the teachers were very enthusiastic, engaging and well-prepared. They chose interesting material, appropriate for the level of the group.

Participant

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"Can I come to you?"

We were particularly fortunate to welcome comedian and author Claudia de Breij and literary translator Jonathan Reeder to 91Ö±²¥ as part of the Summer School. Together we worked on a translation of De Breij’s well-known song ‘Mag ik dan bij jou’. To fuse meaning, mood and music was a great and wonderful challenge. Claudia sang the English translation in a private performance on Wednesday afternoon. 

Blod woman leaning pointing at something on a table while two students look and smile
Translation with Claudia De Breij

The whole team of teachers are impressive, enthusiastic and a credit to 91Ö±²¥ Uni. Thank you all of you.

Participant

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If you are interested in our Summer School and other activities, including our new online Dutch language course, please keep an eye on the and you can always drop us a line on ALCS@sheffield.ac.uk

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