Understanding performance evaluation and workplace expectations | Learn Dutch in English

Dutch lesson set in a contemporary Amsterdam everyday setting: In a job interview, a candidate asks how performance is evaluated and how early expectations and feedback are communicated..

EN → NL / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Understanding performance evaluation and workplace expectations to practice Dutch conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Ik wil graag begrijpen hoe prestaties hier worden geëvalueerd.

ik vil khrahkh buh-KHRAY-puhn hoo preh-STAH-tsees heer VOR-duhn khuh-ay-vah-LOO-ayrt. I would like to understand how performance is evaluated here.
B

Bij beoordelingen kijken we naar resultaten, samenwerking en de kwaliteit van iemands oordeel.

bay buh-OR-duh-ling-uhn KAY-kuhn vuh nahr ray-zul-TAH-tuhn, SAH-muhn-vair-king uhn duh kwah-lee-TAYT vahn EE-munts OR-duhl. Reviews consider outcomes, collaboration, and the quality of judgment.
A

Die balans is belangrijk, omdat alleen de output een misleidend beeld kan geven.

dee buh-LAHNS is buh-LAHNG-krike, um-DAHT uh-LAYN duh OWT-puht ayn mis-LAY-dunt baylt kahn KHAY-vuhn. That balance matters, because output alone can be misleading.
B

We proberen te voorkomen dat we snelheid belonen wanneer beslissingen later problemen veroorzaken.

vuh proh-BAY-ruhn tuh vor-KOH-muhn daht vuh SNAYL-hayt buh-LOH-nuhn vah-NAYR buh-SLIS-ing-uhn LAH-tuhr proh-BLAY-muhn vuhr-OHR-zah-kuhn. We try to avoid rewarding speed when decisions create later problems.
A

Hoe worden verwachtingen gecommuniceerd wanneer iemand net begint?

hoo VOR-duhn vuhr-VAHK-ting-uhn khuh-koh-myoo-nee-SAYRT vah-NAYR EE-munt net buh-KHINT? How are expectations communicated when someone first starts?
B

Managers stellen mijlpalen vast en passen die daarna aan als de context duidelijker wordt.

MEN-uh-jurs STELL-uhn MYL-pah-luhn vahst uhn PASS-uhn dee DAHR-nah ahn ahls duh kun-TEKST DOY-duh-luh-kuhr vort. Managers set milestones, then adjust them as context becomes clearer.
A

Dat klinkt praktisch, zolang de feedback maar vroeg komt.

daht klinkt PRAHK-tis, zoh-LAHNG duh FEED-bek mahr vrookh komt. That sounds practical, as long as feedback arrives early.
B

Vroege feedback wordt verwacht en is niet voorbehouden aan formele beoordelingen.

VROO-khuh FEED-bek vort vuhr-VAHKHT uhn is neet VOOR-buh-HOW-duhn ahn for-MAY-luh buh-OR-duh-ling-uhn. Early feedback is expected, not reserved for formal reviews.

Word by Word

Ik Ik means “I” and identifies the speaker as the person who wants to understand something. It is the subject of Ik wil graag begrijpen. A learner can use Ik wil graag + infinitive to express a polite wish in a professional conversation.
wil Wil means “want” or, with graag, “would like” here. In Ik wil graag begrijpen, it is followed by an infinitive. Use wil graag + infinitive when politely stating what you would like to do.
graag Graag adds the idea of gladly or willingly and makes Ik wil graag begrijpen mean “I would like to understand.” It commonly follows wil before an infinitive. Use wil graag + infinitive when making a polite request or expressing a preference.
begrijpen Begrijpen means “understand” here and is the action the speaker would like to perform. It appears after wil graag as an infinitive. Use begrijpen to talk about understanding information, explanations, or a situation.
hoe Hoe means “how” and introduces the question about the way performance is evaluated. In hoe prestaties hier worden geëvalueerd, it introduces a clause explaining what the speaker wants to understand. Use hoe + clause when asking about a method or process.
prestaties Prestaties means “performance” in the context of people’s work results. It is the subject of prestaties hier worden geëvalueerd. Use prestaties when discussing or assessing how well someone performs at work or in another activity.
hier Hier means “here,” referring to this workplace or organization. In prestaties hier worden geëvalueerd, it specifies where the evaluation takes place. Use hier to refer to the place or organization currently being discussed.
worden Worden helps form the passive expression prestaties hier worden geëvalueerd, meaning that performance is evaluated. It is used before the participle geëvalueerd in this plural passive construction. Use worden + participle when focusing on what is done to something rather than on who does it.
geëvalueerd Geëvalueerd means “evaluated” and describes the action performed on prestaties. Together with worden, prestaties hier worden geëvalueerd says that performance is assessed here. Use worden geëvalueerd when describing a formal evaluation process.
Bij Bij means “in” or “during” in Bij beoordelingen, referring to the setting of reviews or evaluations. It is followed by the noun beoordelingen. Use bij + noun to indicate the situation or context in which something happens.
beoordelingen Beoordelingen means “reviews” or “evaluations” here. In Bij beoordelingen kijken we naar ..., it identifies the review process in which several criteria are considered. Use beoordelingen when discussing formal assessments of work or performance.
kijken Kijken means “look” and, in kijken naar, means “consider” or “look at.” Here kijken naar introduces the aspects included in a review. Use kijken naar + noun when saying what someone examines or takes into account.
we We means “we” and refers to the people representing the organization. It is the subject of we kijken and we proberen. Use we when describing a group’s shared practice, responsibility, or policy.
naar Naar means “at” in kijken naar and completes the expression for considering something. It is followed here by resultaten, samenwerking, and de kwaliteit van iemands oordeel. Use kijken naar + noun when describing what is examined.
resultaten Resultaten means “results” or “outcomes” and names one of the things considered in reviews. It appears after kijken naar as one item in a list. Use resultaten when discussing the outcomes produced by someone’s work.
samenwerking Samenwerking means “collaboration” and names another criterion used in beoordelingen. It is listed alongside resultaten and de kwaliteit van iemands oordeel. Use samenwerking when discussing how people work together on a task or project.
en En means “and” and connects the listed review criteria. Here it joins samenwerking with de kwaliteit van iemands oordeel. Use en to connect words, phrases, or clauses that belong together.
de De means “the” and introduces kwaliteit in de kwaliteit van iemands oordeel. It is used here before a noun referring to a specific quality being assessed. Use de + noun when referring to a definite person, thing, or concept.
kwaliteit Kwaliteit means “quality” in the phrase de kwaliteit van iemands oordeel. It refers to how good or sound someone’s judgment is. Use de kwaliteit van + noun when describing the quality of something.
van Van means “of” in de kwaliteit van iemands oordeel and links kwaliteit to what has that quality. It is followed by iemands oordeel. Use de kwaliteit van + noun to specify whose or what quality is being discussed.
iemands Iemands means “someone’s” and shows that the oordeel belongs to or is associated with an unspecified person. It comes directly before oordeel in iemands oordeel. Use iemands + noun when referring to something belonging to or concerning someone.
oordeel Oordeel means “judgment” in the context of the quality of someone’s professional judgment. It is the noun after iemands in iemands oordeel. Use oordeel when discussing an assessment, decision, or conclusion made by a person.
Die Die means “that” here and points back to the balance between the review criteria just mentioned. In Die balans is belangrijk, it introduces the topic being evaluated by the speaker. Use die + noun to refer back to a specific previously mentioned thing.
balans Balans means “balance” and refers to giving appropriate weight to results, collaboration, and judgment together. It is the subject of Die balans is belangrijk. Use balans when discussing an even or sensible combination of different factors.
is Is means “is” and links Die balans with the description belangrijk. It states the speaker’s assessment of the balance. Use X is belangrijk to say that something matters.
belangrijk Belangrijk means “important” and describes the balance between different evaluation criteria. In Die balans is belangrijk, it expresses why considering several factors matters. Use is belangrijk to emphasize the value or significance of something.
omdat Omdat means “because” and introduces the reason that output alone can give a misleading impression. It begins the explanation omdat alleen de output een misleidend beeld kan geven. Use omdat + clause to give a reason for a statement.
alleen Alleen means “only” here and limits the source of the impression to output by itself. In alleen de output, it emphasizes that no other evaluation factor is included. Use alleen + noun when saying that something is the sole relevant factor.
output Output means “output” or the amount of work produced. In alleen de output een misleidend beeld kan geven, it is presented as an insufficient basis for judging performance. Use output when discussing measurable work produced by a person or team.
een Een means “a” or “an” and introduces the singular noun beeld in een misleidend beeld. It presents the impression as one possible result rather than as a previously identified object. Use een + singular noun when introducing a non-specific thing.
misleidend Misleidend means “misleading” and describes the beeld that output alone can give. Together, een misleidend beeld means “a misleading impression.” Use misleidend before a noun when warning that something may lead to an incorrect understanding.
beeld Beeld means “picture” or “impression” here, not a literal picture. In een misleidend beeld kan geven, it refers to the impression created about performance. Use een beeld geven van + noun when saying that something gives an impression of something else.
kan Kan means “can” and expresses the possibility that output alone gives a misleading impression. It is followed by the infinitive geven in kan geven. Use kan + infinitive to describe what may or can happen.
geven Geven means “give” or “provide” in een misleidend beeld kan geven. The full expression means that something can give an impression. Use een beeld geven van + noun when explaining what impression something creates.
proberen Proberen means “try” and describes the organization’s effort to avoid rewarding speed in harmful situations. It is followed by te voorkomen in proberen te voorkomen. Use proberen te + infinitive to describe an attempt to do something.
te Te marks the infinitive voorkomen after proberen in proberen te voorkomen. It links the attempt to the action the speakers want to avoid. Use proberen te + infinitive when expressing an attempt to carry out an action.
voorkomen Voorkomen means “avoid” or “prevent” in proberen te voorkomen dat we snelheid belonen. The construction voorkomen dat + clause expresses preventing the situation described in the following clause. Use proberen te voorkomen dat + clause when describing an effort to stop something from happening.
dat Dat means “that” and introduces the clause describing what the speakers try to prevent: dat we snelheid belonen. It connects voorkomen with the situation being avoided. Use voorkomen dat + clause to say that someone prevents a particular event or result.
snelheid Snelheid means “speed” and is the thing that might be rewarded in the workplace policy being discussed. In we snelheid belonen, it is the object of belonen. Use snelheid when discussing how quickly work or decisions are carried out.
belonen Belonen means “reward” in we snelheid belonen, where speed is treated as something that could receive recognition. It follows the subject we and takes snelheid as its object. Use iemand or iets belonen when describing recognition given for a quality, action, or result.
wanneer Wanneer means “when” and introduces the situation in which decisions create later problems. It begins wanneer beslissingen later problemen veroorzaken. Use wanneer + clause to describe the time or circumstances in which something happens.
beslissingen Beslissingen means “decisions” and is the subject of beslissingen later problemen veroorzaken. The dialogue refers to decisions whose later consequences may be problematic. Use beslissingen when discussing choices made by people or organizations.
later Later means “later” and places the problems after the decisions in time. In beslissingen later problemen veroorzaken, it highlights delayed consequences. Use later to refer to a subsequent time or result.
problemen Problemen means “problems” and describes the later negative consequences of some decisions. It is the object of veroorzaken. Use problemen veroorzaken when saying that an action or decision creates difficulties.
veroorzaken Veroorzaken means “cause” and describes decisions producing later problems. In beslissingen later problemen veroorzaken, it takes problemen as its object. Use X problemen veroorzaken when explaining that something creates difficulties or unwanted consequences.
verwachtingen Verwachtingen means “expectations” and refers to what a new employee is expected to know or achieve. In Hoe worden verwachtingen gecommuniceerd, it is the thing being communicated. Use verwachtingen communiceren when discussing how requirements or standards are made clear.
gecommuniceerd Gecommuniceerd means “communicated” and describes what happens to verwachtingen. Together with worden, verwachtingen worden gecommuniceerd means that expectations are communicated. Use worden gecommuniceerd when focusing on information that is conveyed rather than on the person conveying it.
iemand Iemand means “someone” and refers to an unspecified person who is starting. In wanneer iemand net begint, it is the subject of begint. Use iemand when the person is unknown, general, or not important to identify.
net Net means “just” or “recently” here and indicates that the person has only recently started. It modifies begint in wanneer iemand net begint. Use net with an action to show that it happened very recently or is just beginning.
begint Begint means “starts” or “begins” and describes someone entering the workplace or role. It appears in wanneer iemand net begint. Use iemand begint when referring to someone starting an activity, job, or period.
Managers Managers means “managers” and identifies the people who set and adjust the milestones. It is the subject of Managers stellen mijlpalen vast. Use managers when discussing people responsible for guiding work or setting expectations.
stellen Stellen means “set” or “establish” as part of stellen mijlpalen vast. The complete expression means to establish milestones, with the object mijlpalen between stellen and vast. Use stellen + object + vast when describing the establishment of a plan, target, or milestone.
mijlpalen Mijlpalen means “milestones” and refers to concrete points or targets in the work plan. It is the object in Managers stellen mijlpalen vast. Use mijlpalen when discussing important stages or measurable checkpoints in a project.
vast Vast functions here as the particle that completes stellen ... vast, giving the expression the meaning “establish” or “set.” It follows the object in stellen mijlpalen vast. Use stellen + object + vast when saying that something is fixed or formally established.
passen Passen means “adjust” as part of passen die daarna aan. The complete expression means adjusting the milestones, represented by die. Use passen + object + aan when describing changes made to an existing plan or arrangement.
daarna Daarna means “after that” or “then” and shows that the milestones are adjusted after they are initially set. It marks the sequence in the explanation. Use daarna to connect a later action to one that has just been mentioned.
aan Aan is the particle that completes passen ... aan in passen die daarna aan, meaning “adjust them.” It does not mean “to” independently in this expression. Use passen + object + aan when describing the adjustment of an existing item.
als Als means “as” or “when” here and introduces the condition or point in time at which the context becomes clearer. It begins als de context duidelijker wordt. Use als + clause to describe a situation under which another action or change occurs.
context Context means “context” and refers to the surrounding information that becomes clearer after someone starts. It is the subject of de context duidelijker wordt. Use context when discussing the circumstances needed to understand or evaluate a situation.
duidelijker Duidelijker means “clearer” and describes a change toward better understanding of the context. In de context duidelijker wordt, it follows the idea of becoming. Use duidelijker when comparing the clarity of information or a situation over time.
wordt Wordt means “becomes” in de context duidelijker wordt. It shows that the context changes into a clearer state. Use wordt + adjective to describe something becoming a certain way.
klinkt Klinkt means “sounds” and expresses the speaker’s impression of the proposed approach. In Dat klinkt praktisch, it is followed by the adjective praktisch. Use Dat klinkt + adjective to react to how an idea or plan seems.
praktisch Praktisch means “practical” and describes the approach as workable or useful. In Dat klinkt praktisch, it follows klinkt and gives the speaker’s evaluation. Use klinkt praktisch when saying that a suggestion seems workable.
zolang Zolang means “as long as” and introduces the condition that feedback comes early. It begins zolang de feedback maar vroeg komt. Use zolang + clause to state a condition that must remain true.
feedback Feedback means “feedback” and refers to comments or guidance about someone’s work. In zolang de feedback maar vroeg komt, it is the subject of komt; it is also the subject of wordt verwacht later. Use feedback when discussing information given to help someone improve or understand performance.
maar Maar means “just” in zolang de feedback maar vroeg komt and adds emphasis to the required condition. The sentence means that the arrangement is acceptable provided that feedback comes early. Use zolang ... maar ... to emphasize a condition that is sufficient for acceptance.
vroeg Vroeg means “early” and describes when the feedback arrives. In de feedback maar vroeg komt, it modifies the timing of komt. Use feedback komt vroeg when saying that feedback is given near the beginning of a process.
komt Komt means “comes” or “arrives” and describes feedback reaching the employee early. In de feedback vroeg komt, feedback is the subject. Use feedback komt when talking about feedback being delivered or becoming available.
Vroege Vroege means “early” and describes feedback that is provided at an early stage. In Vroege feedback, it comes directly before the noun feedback. Unlike vroeg in feedback vroeg komt, Vroege modifies a noun; use vroege + noun for something that happens or is provided early.
verwacht Verwacht means “expected” in Vroege feedback wordt verwacht. Together with wordt, it says that early feedback is considered part of normal practice. Use iets wordt verwacht when describing what people are expected to provide, do, or accept.
niet Niet means “not” and negates voorbehouden in niet voorbehouden aan formele beoordelingen. It states that feedback is not limited to formal reviews. Use niet before the expression or description being negated.
voorbehouden Voorbehouden means “reserved” in niet voorbehouden aan formele beoordelingen. The complete expression voorbehouden aan + noun means reserved for a particular group, purpose, or situation. Use iets voorbehouden aan + noun when explaining that something is limited to a specific context.
formele Formele means “formal” and describes the beoordelingen as official or structured reviews. In formele beoordelingen, it comes before the noun it modifies. Use formele + noun when referring to an official or structured process.

Grammar Points

worden + voltooid deelwoord

Prestaties worden geëvalueerd.

pruh-STAH-tsees VOR-duhn khuh-ay-vah-LOO-ayrt.

Performances are evaluated.

Dutch uses worden plus a past participle to form the passive voice. The focus is on what is evaluated.

Dutch Vocabulary

balans noun
buh-LAHNS balance
belonen verb
buh-LOH-nuhn reward
beoordelingen noun
buh-OR-duh-ling-uhn reviews
geëvalueerd verb
khuh-ay-vah-LOO-ayrt evaluated
misleidend adj
mis-LAY-dunt misleading
oordeel noun
OR-duhl judgment
output noun
OWT-puht output
prestaties noun
pruh-STAH-tsees performance
resultaten noun
ray-zul-TAH-tuhn results
samenwerking noun
SAH-muhn-vair-king collaboration
snelheid noun
SNAYL-hayt speed
voorkomen verb
vor-KOH-muhn avoid

Quiz

Spelling

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evaluated

Show Answergeëvalueerd

output

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results

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misleading

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