My Summer School in Gent

By Katie Thompson

"Living, eating and breathing only Dutch for two weeks was the best way to immerse yourself in not only the language but also the culture. Yes, it is an intense two weeks and by no means a holiday, but it is such a rare occurrence that 100 people gather together using Dutch as their common language so you really need to grab this opportunity with both hands! It is simple: you will get as much out of it as you put in. 

But don’t worry, the programme comprises much more than intensive language classes. There are group projects, cultural excursions, and the weekend is your own time to explore the area or simply take the time to decompress. It was my first time in Belgium so I really made the most of all the spare time we had off-timetable: I only used my room for sleeping! 

At the weekend I managed to visit most of Flanders’ cities with a trip to Brussels, Kortrijk, Bruges and also Antwerpen. Travelling with new people, trying traditional foods and making long-lasting memories was a wonderful way to connect with the language and the culture as well. 

There is a choice of four different pathways and I am not biased but Linguistics and Didactics is definitely the best. Not only did I complete a mini research project about how people form the comparative and superlative in Dutch based on their native language’s composition, but I also taught a mini lesson to the class where we analysed a poem by Esohe Weyden, who was our artist in residence for the summer course. I also completed a group project which was a study of the first Flemish dictionary from 1546. And that is just the classroom activities in the mornings…

The afternoons were spent outside the classroom with a jam-packed timetable of cultural trips and activities whether it was a trip to the museum, a workshop with a guest speaker, a quiz night or an evening filled with traditional Flemish songs - the opportunities were endless! My favourite had to be the evening that we spent with our Gastgezin (guest family). Before arriving in Gent, we were paired with a guest family who volunteered to host 2/3 students for a traditional Flemish dinner. It was so wonderful to be welcomed into the family’s home and to put our Dutch to good use whilst being cooked for and taken care of. I was lucky enough to try Stoofvlees (traditional Flemish beef stew) after a few Belgian beers in the late afternoon sun. 

To sum up, this summer school was unforgettable! It really is a fantastic opportunity to practise your Dutch: it comes on leaps and bounds in such a welcoming environment and I am very happy to say that I didn’t once have to explain why I love languages or why I study Dutch! The course is open to anyone studying Dutch meaning I was so lucky to make friends from all across the world. From Italy to South Africa to Korea, sharing our passion for Dutch was such a special experience.

I really will not stop talking about this summer school because I cannot recommend it enough! The friends I made, the memories we shared and the things we learnt will stay with me forever. Thank you Taalunie and the University of Gent as well as the Dutch at Sheffield for providing me with such an incredible way to connect with like-minded people. 

I will never forget my time in Gent ♡"