Talking about the teacher | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: Before a language lesson, two adults meet, ask whether one person has been to class before, and talk about the teacher..

EN → NL / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Talking about the teacher to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Leuk je te ontmoeten.

LUHK yuh tuh ohnt-MOO-tuh(n). Nice to meet you.
B

Is dit je eerste les hier?

iss dit yuh AYR-stuh less HEER? Is this your first lesson here?
A

Ik ben hier eerder geweest.

ik ben HEER AYR-duhr khuh-VAYST. I came here before.
B

Ik ben hier al een tijdje.

ik ben HEER ahl uhn TAY-chuh. I have been here for a while.
A

Hoe is de docent?

hoo iss duh doh-SENT? What is the teacher like?
B

De docent is heel aardig.

duh doh-SENT iss HAYL AHR-duhkh. The teacher is very kind.

Word by Word

Leuk “Leuk” means pleasant or nice here and begins the greeting “Leuk je te ontmoeten.” Together with the rest of that phrase, it expresses pleasure at meeting someone. This is useful when meeting a person for the first time.
je “Je” refers to the person being spoken to in “Leuk je te ontmoeten.” In “je eerste les,” it shows that the lesson belongs to or is associated with that person. The form is useful in friendly speech when addressing someone directly.
te “Te” introduces the verb “ontmoeten” in “Leuk je te ontmoeten,” helping form the expression for meeting someone. It appears between “je” and “ontmoeten” in this greeting. The whole phrase is used when saying that it is nice to meet someone.
ontmoeten “Ontmoeten” means to meet in “Leuk je te ontmoeten.” It follows “te” in the infinitive expression “te ontmoeten.” This form is useful in a greeting when two people meet.
Is “Is” asks whether something is the case at the beginning of the question “Is dit je eerste les hier?” The question uses it before the subject to ask for confirmation. This is useful when asking a yes-or-no question about a situation.
dit “Dit” means this and points to the lesson or situation being discussed in “Is dit je eerste les hier?” It identifies something close to the current context. The form is useful when referring to a specific thing or situation.
eerste “Eerste” means first and identifies the lesson as the learner’s initial lesson here. It comes before “les” in “je eerste les.” This word is useful when describing the first item or occasion in a sequence.
les “Les” means lesson in “je eerste les,” referring to the language class. It appears after “eerste” to name the class being discussed. This form is useful when talking about attending or starting a lesson.
hier “Hier” means here and refers to the place where the speakers are meeting for the lesson. In “je eerste les hier,” it specifies the location of the lesson. The form is useful when identifying the current place.
Ik “Ik” means I and identifies the speaker in “Ik ben hier eerder geweest” and “Ik ben hier al een tijdje.” It appears at the beginning of both statements because the speaker is describing their own experience or presence. This pronoun is used when talking about yourself.
ben “Ben” expresses the speaker’s state or presence in “Ik ben hier al een tijdje” and works with “geweest” in “Ik ben hier eerder geweest.” With the surrounding words, it says that the speaker has been here before or has been here for some time. The pattern “Ik ben hier” is useful for saying where you are or have been.
eerder “Eerder” means before or earlier in “Ik ben hier eerder geweest.” It places the speaker’s visit before the current lesson. The expression “eerder geweest” is useful when mentioning a previous visit or experience.
geweest “Geweest” means been in “Ik ben hier eerder geweest.” Together with “Ik ben hier” and “eerder,” it expresses that the speaker was here at an earlier time. This form is useful for talking about having been in a place before.
al “Al” contributes the meaning already or by now in “Ik ben hier al een tijdje.” Together with “een tijdje,” it indicates that the speaker has been here for some time. The expression “al een tijdje” is useful when describing a situation that has continued for a while.
een “Een” means a or an in the time expression “een tijdje.” It introduces the nonspecific period described by “tijdje.” This form is useful before a singular noun when referring to one unspecified thing or period.
tijdje “Tijdje” means a while in “Ik ben hier al een tijdje.” Together with “al,” it describes the length of time the speaker has been here. The expression “een tijdje” is useful when referring to a short or unspecified period.
Hoe “Hoe” means how, but in “Hoe is de docent?” it asks what the teacher is like. It introduces a question about the teacher’s qualities or manner. This question pattern is useful when asking someone to describe a person.
de “De” means the and appears in “de docent,” referring to the specific teacher connected with the lesson. It comes directly before “docent” in this noun phrase. This form is useful when talking about a particular person or thing known in the situation.
docent “Docent” means teacher in “de docent,” referring to the teacher of the lesson. It is the person whose qualities are asked about in “Hoe is de docent?” This form is useful when talking about a teacher in an educational setting.
heel “Heel” means very in “De docent is heel aardig.” It strengthens the description “aardig,” making the teacher’s kindness sound strong. It is useful before an adjective when giving a stronger description.
aardig “Aardig” means kind or nice in “De docent is heel aardig,” describing the teacher positively. It comes after “is heel” as the main description of the teacher. This form is useful when giving a friendly opinion about someone’s character.

Grammar Points

te + infinitief

te ontmoeten

tuh ohnt-MOO-tuh(n)

to meet

te + werkwoord vormt een infinitiefconstructie, zoals te ontmoeten: een handeling die iemand gaat of wil doen.

al + tijdsduur

al een tijdje

ahl uhn TAY-chuh

for a while already

al vóór een genoemde tijdsduur benadrukt dat iets eerder begon en nog steeds geldt.

Dutch Vocabulary

al adv
ahl already

Ik ben hier al een tijdje.

dit det
dit this

Is dit je eerste les hier?

docent noun
doh-SENT teacher

Hoe is de docent?

eerder adv
AYR-duhr before

Ik ben hier eerder geweest.

eerste num
AYR-stuh first

Is dit je eerste les hier?

geweest verb
khuh-VAYST been

Ik ben hier eerder geweest.

hier adv
HEER here

Is dit je eerste les hier?

hoe adv
hoo how

Hoe is de docent?

les noun
less lesson

Is dit je eerste les hier?

leuk adj
LUHK nice

Leuk je te ontmoeten.

ontmoeten verb
ohnt-MOO-tuh(n) meet te ontmoeten

Leuk je te ontmoeten.

tijdje noun
TAY-chuh while

Ik ben hier al een tijdje.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Nice to meet you.

Show AnswerLeuk je te ontmoeten.

Is this your first lesson here?

Show AnswerIs dit je eerste les hier?

I came here before.

Show AnswerIk ben hier eerder geweest.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

nice

Show Answerleuk

before

Show Answereerder

here

Show Answerhier

first

Show Answereerste