EPALE - Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe

Short bio

As a former journalist and text writer, I am naturally curious and interested in people and their behaviour. I see understandable language as a matter of course. After all, you write to be read to get a message across. And you don’t want to exclude anybody. Everyone who wants to be seen wants to participate. Nine years ago, I started ‘Taalwinkel’ (language shop) at STEK, a creative business park in Breda, alongside a range of positions in the field of PR and communications. I offered creative writing workshops, as well as ‘Eerste Hulp bij Schrijven’ (emergency writing assistance), where I saw people who needed help. After a few years, I collaborated with a theatre producer to expand the business into ‘Taal & Theaterwinkel’ (language and theatre shop). Distinctive elements to our workshops are humour (if it feels right), creativity (as a means to an end) and learning while having fun (and without really noticing)

My Story

Learning is fun, and you should never be ashamed of doing so! On the contrary, I wish every adult could say the same. Unfortunately, my work at Digi-Taalhuis Breda has taught me differently. Especially for people who speak Dutch as a first language, learning is often a loaded – sometimes even traumatic – subject. And the sense of shame that comes with it is often colossal. That can change! That should change!

Ten great people!

A little over four years ago, I saw a job opening that allowed me to work on an important theme over a longer period: coordinator at Taalpanel Breda. I was also really happy to be working with colleagues once more. Taalpanel Breda is part of Digi-Taalhuis Breda and houses in the Nieuwe Veste/library in Breda centre. My task was to set up a Taalpanel (language panel) of people struggling with reading and/or writing and handling computers. People from different backgrounds, both born in the Netherlands and abroad. The language panel now consists of ten great people who take on more than fifty assignments per year, ranging from testing all kinds of communication tools for understandable language to interviews, presentations and even appearances on national television. Every single one of these Taalambassadeurs (language ambassadors), as the panel members are known, has undergone tremendous development. They convince me time and time again that learning is immensely valuable for adults. It can change your life.

Language ambassador Jolanda

Cosy locations

If I look at the future, I’d like to concentrate on people with Dutch as a first language (NT1’ers). Integral to my vision are locations that adults enjoy visiting, where they feel at home and get inspired. I guess you could call them learning centres, but they are less official and ‘boring’ than the name suggests. These places should truly appeal to a large group of people. No community centre, no library, no school. It is more like a living room, a meeting place, possibly even at or near a bar or restaurant, shopping centre or sports facility.

At such a location, meeting each other should be effortless. Contact with peers and others (the unknown), learning from each other, and openness support the goal—a place for serious talks but also fun and nice activities. Always centred on learning, of course. But given the backgrounds of many NT1’ers and their level of shame, another approach and ‘presentation’ may be much more effective.  

Investing in trust

I’m a huge believer in creativity as a way of learning, a more accessible way. The word alone causes insecurity and aversion in some people. It may be useful to use other words and, above all, find an appealing approach. A nice example is the ‘Smartlappen’ (tearjerking songs) workshop by Taal & Theaterwinkel. The subject has general appeal; everyone knows those kinds of songs. What’s more, you can adapt the subject to the group. The best thing is that participants surprise themselves every time. 

In my view, learning is mostly about one thing: confidence, especially self-confidence. If you’re struggling with basic skills in a society full of language and focus on performance, that does something to your confidence. People were sometimes quite literally talked down to at school, were seen − or are still seen − as stupid or went to great lengths to keep their secrets. Many NT1’ers are haunted by ghosts from the past that won’t leave them alone. This demands a tailor-made learning experience, patience, understanding and − above all − trust. If teachers don’t tread carefully, there’s a big chance of failure. A door will close, possibly never to open again. It’s better to start slow than finish fast.

This workshop was for professionals to show them and − in particular − let them experience another (creative) approach

Firm foundations for learning

Learning boosts your confidence, but you also need confidence to work up the courage to learn: the chicken and the egg kind of thing. I think self-confidence is crucial in any case. The bottom layer. The beginning. That’s something we could focus on a lot more at first. The rest comes later (and more easily). Who are you? What are you good at? What do you struggle with? Themes such as standing up for yourself, processing/accepting and talent strengthening can contribute to a firm(er) foundation for the long-term learning process. I advocate a broad view of learning – life skills – and another assessment system: development isn’t expressed by grades or diplomas. Let the target group itself contribute. They are perfectly placed to put into words what does and doesn’t work! They are a very important source of knowledge. We could do a much better job making use of them that way!

If I were to summarise all of this into one big wish for the future, it would be that learning (and continuing to learn) for adults – in particular for NT1’ers – becomes more appealing and, above all, perfectly normal. That shame and taboo go out the window, and people who realise at a later age that certain basic skills could be improved or need to be dusted off get nothing but respect. Roll out the red carpet for them!

Three skills that are important for the future?

To further explain:

• Building self-confidence (giving one the courage to learn)
• Further developing life skills such as holding your own in social situations, being firmly grounded and standing up for yourself.
• Knowing about and dealing with advanced digitisation.