Learning Together in the DEP
At OIS, the Dutch Enrichment Program (DEP) gives our MP3 students the chance to boost their Dutch skills while sticking to our international curriculum. With fun rotations, creative writing projects, and hands-on experiences, students are building confidence in Dutch and English while also celebrating their home languages. Whether it’s crafting persuasive texts or exploring art at a museum, the DEP is all about learning, growing, and having fun with languages.
By Kelly Hasker, Milepost 3 Leader
Learning Dutch Through Rotations
Students take part in rotations three times a week, where they’re grouped by experience with the Dutch language and dive into activities focused on speaking, listening, reading, and writing in Dutch. These sessions mix students from different classes, giving them the chance to learn from each other and work together in new and exciting ways.
Persuasive Writing in Group 8
Our new Group 8DEP class has gone a step further, exploring persuasive writing in their Language Arts lessons. They learnt how persuasive texts work by studying features in English and then spotting these same features in Dutch texts. Inspired by the concept of Room 101 (where people share things they’d like to banish forever), students presented their opinions on what should be banished in English while practicing Dutch sentence starters like ten eerste (firstly). This lesson took a turn when one child passionately expressed that pineapple on pizza was a crime and should be banished. It began a heated debate with some other children thinking it was a genius combination; going as far to choose it as their topic for their written piece.
To make their Dutch writing even more impactful, the children experimented with adding rhetorical questions—not only in Dutch but in their home languages as well. This sparked discussions about how questions are formed grammatically across different languages, giving students a deeper understanding and respect for each other’s languages. The project wrapped up with students creating persuasive pieces in both Dutch and English—a brilliant way to show off their growing language skills.
Bringing Language to Life Through Art
To make learning even more exciting, Group 8 visited the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, where they explored art made from all kinds of materials, to link with their IPC unit ‘Making New Materials’. The museum guide switched between Dutch and English, and students could respond in either language. It was a fantastic chance for them to use their Dutch skills in a real-world setting while getting inspired by amazing art.
As the year continues, we are excited to see the Dutch Enrichment Program (DEP) continue to evolve. With each new activity, our students not only develop their language skills in Dutch and English, but also gain a deeper appreciation for the many languages and cultures that make up our vibrant school community. The diverse backgrounds of our students enrich the learning experience, allowing everyone to learn from one another and celebrate the beauty of multilingualism.
By combining fun, creativity, and real-world experiences, the DEP fosters an environment where students can grow academically and socially. Whether they are refining their writing skills, engaging in meaningful conversations, or exploring new art forms, our students are building confidence and fluency in both languages and beyond.
We look forward to continuing this exciting journey of multilingual growth, where language becomes a bridge that connects cultures, encourages understanding, and opens doors to endless opportunities for our students.