My name is Leslie, and i have a passion for Dutch! ツ

I have been professionally teaching Dutch as a Foreign Language since 2006, first as an in-company Language instructor, and later with EF (Education First) Belgium.

I now live in California, where i have been teaching individuals -live and online-, as well as 3 active Dutch study groups for the past couple of years. I have also launched my own Learn Dutch Today online video course. Just to show you: I love teaching Dutch!

Whether you are interested in learning (Netherlands) Dutch or (Belgian Flemish) Dutch: I have a correct standard pronunciation (right in between NL and BE Dutch) and will always be able to fill you in on nuances between the two variations. My students in the past have ranged from both pronunciations and have sometimes not even noticed which was my origin...

I love the contact with my students from around the globe and truly enjoy helping you reach your goals. As a learning designer and learner myself, I have alsways been particularly interested in how our brains best LEARN and REMEMBER, and I look forward to sharing my many science-backed tips and tricks to help you learn better and faster.

I am convinced I can help you out too!

• Master's Degree Applied Linguistics and Translation (Dutch - English - Russian)

• Associate Degree in Teaching and Education

I have 15+ years of formal experience as an Instructor of Dutch as a Foreign Language, having been employed by Language Training agencies and Language schools. I have been (private/group/online) tutoring for the past 10 yrs.

My students in the past have ranged from in-company employees climbing the career ladder, to college students, and even 4 yr olds, so yes, i can honestly say I can easily adapt to different types of students.

I don’t just teach Dutch—I train you to become confident and proficient in using it.

And I make it FUN, because emotion is the key to learning and remembering long-term!

I’m a big believer in the 80/20 rule: master the most useful 20% of a language that will help you navigate 80% of real-life situations. In our lessons, we focus on YOUR world—practical situations you’ll actually encounter. Together, we explore the essential vocabulary and grammar, and then actively practice using them so they truly stick.

I'll also share powerful memory tips and cultural insights. And guess what, this will make you confident to jump in those situations when they arise, and motivate you to CONTINUE learning.

My way of training is all about weaving grammar and vocabulary into everyday, meaningful contexts. I build in subtle repetition and revision, so learning feels natural. Students have told me they were enjoying the lesson too much for it to feel like learning.

Plus, I’ll equip you with extra materials, online exercises, and many useful resources so you can continue learning between sessions and really get the most out of our live lessons.

... now, let's quickly get you all fluent in Dutch! ツ