Op weg (tweede herziene editie)

Op weg is the accessible first step on the NT2 learning pathway and helps students prepare for the language sections of the civic integration exam in the Netherlands. The various exam sections are covered in twenty lessons. There are exercises involving vocabulary, pronunciation, and listening to short conversations or messages. The method also contains simple writing exercises and exercises in which the student has to repeat words.

Op weg uses colour illustrations and wordlists (or clickable translations in the online edition) to teach the student new words. The lessons deal with subjects that are relevant to the Knowledge of Dutch Society (KNM) section of the civic integration exam.

The book comes with an online exercise program with all lessons from the book, including audio files. A code to gain access to Op weg - Online can be found at front of the book.

Please note: Online products are no longer compatible with Internet Explorer 10. Online products are not suited for tablets and smartphones. This product gives you one-year access to the online service that contains the learning material.

With the purchase of Op weg (2015 revised edition), you will receive the printed book and access to Op weg online. The access code can be found at the front of the book. The wordlists can be downloaded for free from the Op weg naar Nederland website in NT2 SCHOOL.

The book contains twenty lavishly illustrated lessons which prepare students for the different sections of the exam. The book contains:

• 1,000 frequently used words and terms
• Pronunciation exercises, with additional focus on difficult sounds
• Exercises for practicing how to reply
• Simple writing exercises

Op weg starts at level 0 and ends at level A1. Op weg alone is not sufficient for the student to reach the required level for the civic integration exam in the Netherlands. A2 is the required NT2 level for the civic integration exam in the Netherlands.

Op weg is intended for students who

• have not completed any education higher than secondary education
• have not taken a Dutch course before

Although the accompanying online exercise program is ideally suited for self-study, it is important to also practice in groups to prepare for the listening and speaking sections of the exam. Students can complete the lessons individually, though support from a Dutch partner or a teacher, for example, is recommended.

In 1979, Jenny van der Toorn-Schutte was put on the spot as a Dutch teacher: she had to teach Dutch to a group of Vietnamese boat refugees. Fortunately, an interpreter was available for the first few weeks who could explain to her the difference between Vietnamese and Dutch: a tone language versus an inflected language. This experience led her to write Basisgrammatica. At the same time, she took part-time courses at VU University Amsterdam towards a degree in Intercultural Educational Sciences. Later on, she completed a doctorate in Applied Linguistics at Radboud University Nijmegen.

Over the years, she has taught Dutch to many other nationalities, preferably using her own teaching material: Klare taal, Beeldtaal, Andere taal, Nederland voor Nieuwkomers, Op weg, Onderweg and Wegwijzer.