Language skills tips
Do you struggle with spelling or grammar when writing texts in Dutch or English? On this page, you’ll find an overview of useful websites, handy books and language support.
Dutch
- Getting to know (the) Dutch is a free course offered by the UU for international students and exchange students. It teaches you the basics of the Dutch language (words, situations and grammar) and introduces you to Utrecht and the university.
- In several places around the city, you can practice Dutch in an accessible way. WelnU has a useful overview of all language cafés in Utrecht. Additionally, there is the Language Cafe Utrecht for Dutch and other languages.
- You can take (free) language lessons and coaching, for example, Taal doet meer.
- Students from following faculties: Humanities, Social Sciences, and Law, Economiccs and Governance can make use of Language assistants UU. The language assistants are fellow students who can give you feedback on the use of language in your text.
- Academische Uitdrukkingen (VU) The academic expressions on this site can help you with your writing. You will find lists of phrases that are typical for certain parts of the text (e.g. introduction) and goals (e.g. indicating the importance of the topic).
- Taalwinkel (UvA) On this website you will find a lot of information and exercises on topics such as study skills, text types and style. You can also take a language test or find tips on word usage.
English
- Looking for useful websites for answers to your language questions? Check out Purdue Online Writing Lab - 'Grammar' or 'Punctuation'; on Just the word for common word combinations; TheSaurus for synonyms in English or DeepL for translations.
- Want to practice in a café setting? Check out Language Café Utrecht.
- On the Manchester Phrase Bank, you'll find a huge collection of academic expressions and phrases! UEfAP offers exercises as well as tips on writing style.
- Students from following faculties: Humanities, Social Sciences, and Law, Economiccs and Governance can make use of Language assistants UU. The language assistants are fellow students who can give you feedback on the use of language in your text.
- A book recommendation if you're writing a piece with an IMRaD structure: Science Research Writing for Non-Native Speakers of English by Hilary Glasman-Deal.