With some 130 million monthly users, the language-learning app Duolingo alone shows people’s hunger to learn new languages. But group courses guided by a teacher are still going strong. Dutch language school Taalthuis knows why.
Taalthuis, the Dutch language school with locations in eight cities nationwide and a large offering of online group courses, believes the strongest learning experience comes from combining the best of both worlds – online platforms and personal, interactive in-class learning.
“Taalthuis is always investing in new learning technology and always looking for ways to make learning more efficient and flexible, but there are obviously benefits to interaction we must not forget,” says Taalthuis’ Claire Meens.
“An app and our online tools are great for moments at home or while travelling, however you must keep in mind that you’re learning a language to be able to communicate with other people.”
Indeed, Taalthuis prides itself on small class sizes and a fun, interactive approach to learning that sets it apart from other, more traditional by-the-book Dutch courses. Most of its course material is homemade.
That doesn’t mean AI learning can’t help you on your language journey. “It’s not either-or,” says Meens. “We include e-learning and useful new tools as well. In other words: we have it all—innovative digital learning and the human connection that makes language come alive.”
The teacher
“There’s a human touch needed in language learning that AI can’t provide at the moment,” says Wessel Greven, who’s been teaching at Taalthuis since 2022 and now works as a teacher coordinator. “It can predict how to help, but the experience and training of teachers allow students to progress more.”
Greven says AI can be useful in helping teachers create new learning materials or have someone to “chat” with when practicing their lessons, but at the same time, he says, having a structured way to get from one point to the next is where teachers standout, especially when it comes to speaking, which is where many language-learning apps fall short.
“More is more in language,” he says of the different ways to learn, and AI courses can help with vocabulary and grammar. “But it’s important to make sure you focus on the right things, and speaking is very important. So while AI is a helpful tool we can use, students find comfort in teachers. They’re kind, trustworthy, and they want you to succeed.”
Connection
Mary (29) from Greece found her beginners Taalthuis Dutch language course extremely helpful, citing good interaction with her classmates and teacher.
“My teacher helped me a lot, always mentioning I shouldn’t be stressed and show confidence. And practice my Dutch! She made the lessons really interesting and enjoyable for me and my classmates as beginners. She managed to bond us all together as a team.”
Mary made the most of Taalthuis’ modern technology by joining her 2-hour class online for convenience reasons, but there was still a live teacher leading the sessions and other classmates in attendance.
“Having a teacher made it much better,” she says. “AI definitely doesn’t have experience like a teacher, and it doesn’t talk like a teacher. It talks like a robot. There’s no feeling, no experiences and no personal attachment to the conversation.”
Meens agrees that “there are aspects of group learning that no technology can fully replicate: the energy of a classroom, real conversations with classmates, spontaneous practice moments, cultural exchange. These are essential parts of learning a language and remain at the heart of what we do.”
Enrichment with AI
At the same time, she adds, “we are continuously innovating with online products and AI to enrich our e-learning and courses—from interactive tools to smart practice environments that help you learn anytime, anywhere. These technologies make learning more flexible, more engaging and more personalized.”
“We are testing an innovative tool designed to enhance students’ speaking abilities, and it is poised to become a powerful, game-changing complement to our lesson materials.”
At Taalthuis, it’s the best of both worlds: AI-powered tools to support students outside the classroom combined with the irreplaceable value of learning together.
Now in its 20th year, Taalthuis is still going strong, helping higher educated internationals, au pairs and students speak Dutch in this age of increased AI learning via its eight schools and online, as well as offering in-company courses for a large number of multinationals.
For more information on how to enrol in one of Taalthuis’ teacher-led classes backed by useful e-learning, click here. For more on the in-house company programe, click here.
