Setting Professional Growth Goals | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: At work, two colleagues discuss professional growth goals and choose a measurable target for presentation skills..

EN → NL / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Setting Professional Growth Goals to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Ik wil duidelijkere professionele groeidoelen stellen voor mijn huidige functie.

ik wil DOWY-duh-luh-kuh-ruh proh-feh-see-oh-NEH-luh KHROO-ee-DOO-lun STELL-un fohr mayn HOWY-duh-guh FUNK-see. I want to set clearer professional growth goals for my current role.
B

Begin met het benoemen van een sterk punt en een zwak punt.

buh-KHIN met ut buh-NOO-mun vahn un STAIRK poont en un ZVAHK poont. Start by identifying one strength and one weakness.
A

Mijn sterke punt is dat ik taken goed organiseer, maar ik vermijd meestal het presenteren van ideeën.

mayn STAIR-kuh poont iss daht ik TAH-kun khoot or-khah-nee-ZAIR, mahr ik vuh-MAY-dun MAY-stul ut pruh-zen-TAIR-un vahn ee-DAY-un. My strength is organizing tasks, but I tend to avoid presenting ideas.
B

Dan zouden presentatievaardigheden een nuttig ontwikkelgebied zijn.

dahn ZOW-dun pruh-zen-TAH-see-VAHR-dikh-hay-dun un NUT-tukh ONT-wik-kul-khuh-BEET zine. Then presentation skills would be a useful area to develop.
A

Moet ik om een mentor vragen of oefenen tijdens teamvergaderingen?

moot ik om un MEN-tor VRAH-khun ohf OO-fuh-nun TIE-duns TEAM-vur-KHAH-duh-rin-gun? Should I ask for a mentor or practice during team meetings?
B

Beide kunnen helpen, maar kies eerst één meetbaar doel.

BY-duh KUN-un HEL-pun, mahr kees airst ayn MAYT-bahr dool. Both could help, but choose one measurable goal first.
A

Mijn eerste doel is om binnenkort een korte update te geven tijdens een teamvergadering.

mayn AIR-stuh dool iss om BIN-un-KORT un KOR-tuh UP-dayt tuh KHAY-vun TIE-duns un TEAM-vur-KHAH-duh-ring. My first goal will be to give a short update in a team meeting soon.
B

Dat is specifiek genoeg om later te evalueren.

daht iss spay-see-FEEK khuh-NOOKH om LAH-tur tuh ay-vah-loo-AY-run. That is specific enough to evaluate later.
A

Ik wil ook feedback op duidelijkheid, niet alleen op zelfvertrouwen.

ik wil ohk FEED-bek op DOWY-duh-luh-KHAYT, neet ah-LAYN op ZELF-vur-TROW-un. I also want feedback on clarity, not just confidence.
B

Duidelijke criteria maken professionele groeidoelen concreter en praktischer.

DOWY-duh-luh-kuh KREH-tay-ree-ah MAH-kun proh-feh-see-oh-NEH-luh KHROO-ee-DOO-lun kon-KRAY-tur en PRAHK-tuh-sur. Clear criteria make professional growth goals more concrete and practical.

Word by Word

Ik “Ik” identifies the speaker as the person who wants to do something. It normally appears as the subject before the verb in a statement about the speaker’s own plans or actions, such as setting a work goal.
wil “wil” expresses the speaker’s wish or intention to do something. It is followed by an infinitive, as in “Ik wil duidelijkere professionele groeidoelen stellen”, and is useful when stating a personal plan or goal.
duidelijkere “duidelijkere” means clearer and describes the desired quality of the professional growth goals. It is the comparative form of duidelijk and can be used before a noun when comparing a desired improvement with an earlier situation.
professionele “professionele” describes something connected with work or a profession, here the growth goals. It is the adjective form used before “groeidoelen” and is useful when discussing development in a workplace context.
groeidoelen “groeidoelen” means goals for personal or professional development. It is a compound noun used here for planned improvements in a current role and can be used when setting objectives at work.
stellen “stellen” means to set or establish here, as in setting professional growth goals. It is the infinitive after “wil” in “Ik wil duidelijkere professionele groeidoelen stellen”; this pattern is useful for expressing an intended action.
voor “voor” links the growth goals to the role they are intended for. It commonly introduces the person, role, or purpose that something is meant for, as in this discussion of a current job role.
mijn “mijn” means my and shows that the role belongs to or concerns the speaker. It comes before a noun or noun phrase, and it is useful when describing one’s own work, plans, or responsibilities.
huidige “huidige” means current or present and identifies the role the speaker has now. It appears before “functie” and is useful when distinguishing a present role from a possible future one.
functie “functie” means role or position in this workplace context. It is used after “huidige” to name the speaker’s present job role and is useful when discussing responsibilities or development at work.
Begin “Begin” tells the listener to start with an initial activity. It is the command form used at the beginning of advice and is useful when directing someone to take the first step in an assessment or task.
met “met” introduces what the listener should start with: the activity of naming a strength and a weakness. It is used in the pattern of beginning with an activity or item and is useful when giving step-by-step advice.
het “het” is the definite article in “het benoemen van een sterk punt en een zwak punt”. Here it helps turn the following infinitive into the activity being started, a useful pattern when referring to an action as a task.
benoemen “benoemen” means identifying or naming something clearly. In “het benoemen van een sterk punt en een zwak punt”, it names the first self-assessment task and is useful when asking someone to state a quality or issue explicitly.
van “van” connects “benoemen” with the things being identified: a strong point and a weak point. It commonly introduces the object or content associated with an activity and is useful in expressions describing the naming or discussion of something.
een “een” introduces one unspecified strength or weakness in the advice. It is used before a singular noun and is useful when referring to one example without identifying a particular one in advance.
sterk “sterk” means strong and describes the positive quality in “een sterk punt”. It appears before “punt” and is useful when identifying an ability or area in which someone performs well.
punt “punt” means point here, referring to one specific aspect of a person’s abilities. In “een sterk punt”, it forms a common expression for a strength and is useful in structured self-assessment.
en “en” joins the strength and the weakness as two parts of the suggested assessment. It commonly connects words or phrases of equal importance and is useful when listing related items.
sterke “sterke” describes the speaker’s positive ability in “Mijn sterke punt”. It is the adjective form used before “punt” in this noun phrase and is useful when naming a personal strength at work.
is “is” links the speaker’s strength with the explanation that follows. It is used in a statement that identifies or defines something, which is useful when introducing a personal quality or responsibility.
dat “dat” introduces the clause explaining what the speaker’s strength consists of: organizing tasks well. It commonly connects an identification such as “Mijn sterke punt is” with a following explanation or statement.
taken “taken” means tasks or duties that need to be completed. It is the plural object of “organiseer” in “ik taken goed organiseer” and is useful when discussing work responsibilities or assignments.
goed “goed” means well and describes how effectively the speaker organizes tasks. It appears with the action “organiseer” and is useful for evaluating the quality of an action.
organiseer “organiseer” means organize in the speaker’s statement about handling tasks. It is the form used with “ik” in “ik taken goed organiseer” and is useful when describing one’s own way of managing work.
maar “maar” introduces a contrast between organizing tasks well and avoiding presentations. It is commonly used to connect a positive point with a limitation or different situation, especially when giving a balanced self-assessment.
vermijd “vermijd” means avoid and expresses the speaker’s tendency not to do the presenting activity. It is used with “ik” and a following activity in “ik vermijd meestal het presenteren van ideeën”, which is useful when describing an action someone usually stays away from.
meestal “meestal” means usually or most of the time and limits the statement about avoiding presentations. It commonly appears with an action to describe a recurring tendency, useful when giving an honest account of work habits.
presenteren “presenteren” means presenting, specifically presenting ideas in this dialogue. In “het presenteren van ideeën”, it names the activity being avoided and is useful when discussing speaking or communication tasks at work.
ideeën “ideeën” means ideas or proposals that can be presented to others. It is the plural object connected with “presenteren” and is useful when discussing suggestions in meetings or professional discussions.
Dan “Dan” means then and connects the stated weakness with the adviser’s conclusion. It is useful for showing the next logical step or consequence in advice about professional development.
zouden “zouden” expresses that the presentation skills would be a possible useful development area. It presents a recommendation or conclusion less directly and is useful when suggesting what could help in a particular situation.
presentatievaardigheden “presentatievaardigheden” means presentation skills, the abilities involved in giving presentations. It is a compound noun used as a possible development area and is useful when discussing communication goals at work.
nuttig “nuttig” means useful and evaluates the proposed development area as helpful. It appears before “ontwikkelgebied” and is useful when explaining why a particular activity or skill is worth developing.
ontwikkelgebied “ontwikkelgebied” means an area for development or improvement. It names the part of professional ability that should receive attention and is useful when planning focused personal growth.
zijn “zijn” means be and links “presentatievaardigheden” with “een nuttig ontwikkelgebied”. It is the infinitive after “zouden” and is useful in a suggestion about what something could be.
Moet “Moet” asks whether the speaker should or must take one of the proposed actions. At the start of this question it functions as a modal verb, useful when asking for advice about an obligation or recommended next step.
om “om” is part of “om een mentor vragen” and introduces the person or support being requested. This use is common with asking for something and is useful when requesting help, advice, or assistance.
mentor “mentor” means mentor, someone who can guide the speaker’s development. It is the person requested in “om een mentor vragen” and is useful in workplace conversations about support and professional growth.
vragen “vragen” means ask or request in the phrase about asking for a mentor. It is the infinitive after “Moet” and is useful when forming a question about requesting help or information.
of “of” means or and presents practice as the alternative to asking for a mentor. It joins two possible actions and is useful when asking someone to choose between options.
oefenen “oefenen” means practice and names the second possible way to improve presentation skills. It is coordinated with “vragen” after “Moet” and is useful when discussing repeated practice of a skill.
tijdens “tijdens” means during and places the practice within the time of team meetings. It commonly introduces an event or period during which an action happens and is useful for describing when workplace activities take place.
teamvergaderingen “teamvergaderingen” means team meetings and identifies the workplace events during which the speaker could practise. It is plural because the suggestion concerns meetings in general and is useful when discussing recurring team activities.
Beide “Beide” means both and refers to the two options just mentioned: asking for a mentor and practising during meetings. It is useful when acknowledging that two alternatives are valid or helpful.
kunnen “kunnen” expresses that the two options are capable of helping. It is a modal form followed by the infinitive “helpen” and is useful when describing possible benefits or abilities.
helpen “helpen” means help and completes the possibility expressed by “Beide kunnen”. It is the infinitive after “kunnen” and is useful when saying that a person, action, or method may support someone.
kies “kies” tells the listener to select one option. It is the command used in advice about focusing on a single measurable goal and is useful when guiding someone toward a decision.
eerst “eerst” means first and sets the order of the advice: choose one goal before doing anything else. It is useful when prioritizing steps in a plan or process.
één “één” means one and emphasizes that the listener should choose a single goal. The accent highlights the number, making it useful when stressing that only one item should be selected at this stage.
meetbaar “meetbaar” means measurable and describes a goal that can later be assessed using clear evidence. It appears before “doel” and is useful when setting an objective with an observable result.
doel “doel” means goal or objective. It is the result the speaker is asked to choose and is useful when discussing a specific target for personal or professional improvement.
eerste “eerste” means first and identifies the initial goal in the speaker’s development plan. It appears before “doel” and is useful when organizing several goals by sequence or priority.
korte “korte” means short and describes the limited length of the planned update. It appears before “update” and is useful when setting a manageable scope for a presentation or report.
update “update” means a brief report about recent progress or information. It is the object of “geven” in the speaker’s concrete goal and is useful in workplace meetings when sharing current developments.
te “te” marks the infinitive in “om binnenkort een korte update te geven”. It is used after “om” in this purpose or goal construction and is useful for expressing what the goal consists of doing.
geven “geven” means give here, specifically give an update to a team. It is the infinitive after “te” and is useful in the common workplace action of delivering information or a short report.
binnenkort “binnenkort” means soon and places the planned update in the near future. It is useful for stating that an action will happen shortly without giving an exact date.
teamvergadering “teamvergadering” means team meeting and identifies the single meeting in which the speaker plans to give the update. It is useful when referring to a specific scheduled workplace meeting.
specifiek “specifiek” means specific and evaluates the goal as clearly defined rather than vague. It is useful when judging whether a plan contains enough detail to be assessed.
genoeg “genoeg” means enough and indicates that the goal has a sufficient degree of specificity. It appears after “specifiek” in “specifiek genoeg” and is useful when saying that a quality meets a required level.
later “later” means later and places the evaluation after the goal has been carried out. It is useful when referring to a future review without specifying an exact time.
evalueren “evalueren” means evaluate and names the later process of judging the result of the goal. It follows “om ... te” in “om later te evalueren” and is useful when reviewing progress against criteria.
ook “ook” means also and adds clarity as another aspect the speaker wants feedback on. It is useful when adding a further request or consideration to something already mentioned.
feedback “feedback” means comments or assessment intended to help someone improve. It is the information the speaker wants about clarity and confidence, and it is useful in workplace learning and performance discussions.
op “op” links the requested feedback to the aspect being assessed, namely clarity. The pattern “feedback op” is useful when specifying the subject or quality that comments should address.
duidelijkheid “duidelijkheid” means clarity, or how easy the message is to understand. It is the first quality named for feedback and is useful when assessing communication, explanations, or presentations.
niet “niet” negates the idea that confidence is the only focus of the feedback. In “niet alleen”, it helps express a limitation and is useful when correcting or broadening the focus of a statement.
alleen “alleen” means only in “niet alleen op zelfvertrouwen”. Together with “niet”, it shows that the speaker wants more than one aspect considered, a useful pattern when broadening a request.
zelfvertrouwen “zelfvertrouwen” means confidence or belief in one’s own ability. It is the quality the speaker does not want assessed by itself and is useful when discussing presentation performance alongside clarity.
Duidelijke “Duidelijke” means clear and describes the criteria that make the goals easier to use. It is the adjective form before “criteria” and is useful when describing standards that are easy to understand.
criteria “criteria” means criteria or standards used to judge something. Here they are the standards that make professional growth goals more concrete and practical, and they are useful when evaluating progress.
maken “maken” means make or cause in the statement that criteria make goals more concrete and practical. It links a factor with the result it produces and is useful when explaining how one feature improves another.
concreter “concreter” means more concrete and describes goals that are more clearly defined and actionable. It is the comparative form of concreet and is useful when explaining that a plan has become more precise.
praktischer “praktischer” means more practical and describes goals that are easier to apply or use in real work. It is the comparative form of praktisch and is useful when evaluating whether a plan can guide actual action.

Grammar Points

Vergrotende trap: bijvoeglijk naamwoord + -er

duidelijkere professionele groeidoelen

DOWY-duh-luh-kuh-ruh proh-feh-see-oh-NEH-luh KHROO-ee-DOO-lun

clearer professional growth goals

Veel Nederlandse bijvoeglijke naamwoorden vormen de vergrotende trap met -er, zoals duidelijk → duidelijker.

Bijvoeglijk naamwoord + genoeg

specifiek genoeg

spay-see-FEEK khuh-NOOKH

specific enough

genoeg staat na het bijvoeglijk naamwoord: specifiek genoeg, concreet genoeg of praktisch genoeg.

Dutch Vocabulary

benoemen verb
buh-NOO-mun to identify
duidelijkere adj
DOWY-duh-luh-kuh-ruh clearer
huidige functie phrase
HOWY-duh-guh FUNK-see current role
ideeën noun
ee-DAY-un ideas
organiseren verb
or-khah-nee-ZAIR-un to organize organiseer
presentatievaardigheden noun
pruh-zen-TAH-see-VAHR-dikh-hay-dun presentation skills
presenteren verb
pruh-zen-TAIR-un to present
professionele groeidoelen phrase
proh-feh-see-oh-NEH-luh KHROO-ee-DOO-lun professional growth goals
sterk punt phrase
STAIRK poont strength
taken noun
TAH-kun tasks
vermijden verb
vuh-MAY-dun to avoid vermijd
zwak punt phrase
ZVAHK poont weakness

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to organize

Show Answerorganiseer

to identify

Show Answerbenoemen

to avoid

Show Answervermijd

clearer

Show Answerduidelijkere