Below you will find answers to the common questions about the languages courses.
If you can’t find the answer to your question, just contact us via [email protected]
To sign up for our language courses, please follow the steps
here.
Choose a premium membership of your preference and make sure to fill in the form completely. When you fill in the form, you are asked to provide us with your availability. We strongly encourage you to mark all time slots in which you are available! Classes are formed and scheduled based on demand and both students’ and teachers’ availability.
You will receive your definitive schedule by email the weekend after the application deadline.
When applying via our website, you can complete the payment using iDEAL.
Alternatively, payments can be made by debit card in our office (EUR campus PT-068, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50 – 3062 PA, Rotterdam).
Payments must be completed before the first class starts.
Please check your spam folder. If you still do not receive anything, please send an email to education@csa-rotterdam.nl.
The application deadline is listed on the course webpage. Applications submitted after the deadline may not be accepted if the classes are already full.
If you cannot see any available memberships, it usually means that registration for the current trimester has already closed.
Once a trimester has started, the subscription options are removed from the website and it is no longer possible to register for that period.
Registration for the next trimester will open a few weeks before the new courses begin. We recommend checking our website regularly for updates on the exact opening date.
In some cases, it is still possible to join a course after the first classes have taken place, provided that there is still space available in the class.
Please note that by joining later, you may have missed the first few lessons. Unfortunately, we do not offer a reduced fee for late starters.
You can request the materials from the lessons that have already taken place to catch up with the course content.
In some cases it is possible to switch levels after registration if there is space in another class. Please contact us via [email protected] as soon as possible to discuss the options.
If the scheduled class time does not fit your availability, you have two options.
You can postpone your membership to the next trimester, or you can request a refund for the trimester in which you are unable to participate.
If you are no longer physically in Rotterdam and cannot postpone your membership, you may request a refund within the first week after the class schedule has been published.
If you have purchased a Gold or Silver membership, you will receive the sign-up link for the next trimester two to three weeks before the classes start.
You can sign up by:
The exact dates are listed on the webpages of our language courses.
You can also follow CSA on Facebook or Instagram for updates regarding the location and date of our trial classes.
The lessons will be given physically or through zoom, depending on the circumstances.
If you already have some knowledge of Dutch or Mandarin, you can apply for a higher level of the language course by:
providing a certificate from another language institute
The intake test determines your language proficiency in either Dutch or Mandarin. It consists of:
There is no need to prepare for the intake test.
You can schedule an intake test by contacting us via [email protected].
The intake test has to be taken before the start of the first class. The deadline for applying for an intake test is usually at least one week before the application deadline. There are no additional costs for the intake tests.
Applicants who have not previously participated in a CSA language course and do not have proof of proficiency are required to take an intake test.
This does not apply to Beginners 1 applicants.
No, the course fee includes the selected chapters of the book and workbook for the level in which you are enrolled.
You can get books from lower levels for 15 euro per level.
When you already have some knowledge of Dutch or Mandarin, you can apply for a higher level of the language course. You can do this either by taking an intake test or by showing a certificate that you have acquired at another language institute.
Our intake test is to determine your proficiency in either Dutch or Mandarin. The exam consists of a written and an oral part focusing on both grammar and vocabulary. The written exam lasts for a maximum of 1 hour, while the oral exam lasts for a maximum of 15 minutes. There is no need to study for the intake test.
You can schedule an intake test by contacting us through education@csa-rotterdam.nl.
The intake test has to be taken before the start of the first class.
Applicants who have not participated in a CSA language course before or have proof of language proficiency are required to take an intake test (except Beginners 1 applicants)
The lessons will be given physically or online through zoom, depending on the circumstances.
Yes, we also organize online Language Courses. However, a class can only be scheduled if there are at least four students.
This means that if you would like to follow the course online, there must be three other students with the same level who are also willing to take the course online.
After purchasing a premium membership, you will receive a form by email where you can indicate your availability.
Please check your spam folder if you do not receive the form.
We strongly encourage you to mark all time slots in which you are available! Classes are scheduled based on demand and both students’ and teachers’ availability.
You will receive your definitive schedule by email the weekend after the application deadline.
If you are unable to attend the first few weeks of the course, we recommend discussing this directly with your teacher.
In some cases, rescheduling may be possible. However, if you are in a group class, adjustments may not always be feasible out of consideration for your classmates.
If you require more flexibility, we recommend private one-on-one lessons through our Diamond Membership, which allow for a more personalized and adjustable schedule.
Attendance is flexible, but we strongly encourage you to attend as many classes as possible to ensure the best possible learning experience.
You should bring:
Class size varies depending on the course level.
Compared to many other Language Courses, our classes remain relatively small to ensure personalized attention and active participation.
Each course runs for 11 weeks per trimester. This includes 10 regular classes and 1 exam day.
Classes take place once per week.
Each lesson lasts 2 hours.
Classes are typically scheduled in one of the following time slots:
Lessons are usually held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Saturday, depending on the schedule.
If a lesson needs to be cancelled (for example due to illness or unforeseen circumstances), the class will be rescheduled whenever possible.
The CSA Language Course covers all key language skills:
The emphasis may vary slightly depending on the specific lesson or level.
If you would like to focus more on a specific skill, we recommend taking private classes, where the teacher can tailor the course to your individual needs and goals.
Our courses are designed to be highly interactive.
While teachers may introduce new concepts with short explanations, most lessons focus on:
Students are encouraged to actively participate and practice the language in a supportive environment.
Yes, the course fee covers all learning materials. It includes the relevant chapters from the textbook and workbook, as well as access to online learning resources for the level in which you are enrolled.
Yes. Books from lower levels can be purchased for €15 per level.
Our teachers are experienced and native Dutch or Chinese speakers who provide interactive and engaging lessons. They are selected based on their language proficiency and teaching experience to ensure a high-quality learning experience.
Yes. All CSA language courses include cultural elements alongside language learning.
Teachers often integrate cultural topics, customs and real-life context into their lessons to enrich the learning experience.
Yes. After successfully completing the course, you will receive a certificate from CSA signed by your teacher or the course manager.
If you already have some knowledge of Dutch or Mandarin, you can apply for a higher level of the language course by:
The intake test determines your language proficiency in either Dutch or Mandarin. It consists of:
There is no need to prepare for the intake test.
You can schedule an intake test by contacting us via [email protected].
The intake test has to be taken before the start of the first class. The deadline for applying for an intake test is usually at least one week before the application deadline. There are no additional costs for the intake tests.
Applicants who have not previously participated in a CSA language course and do not have proof of proficiency are required to take an intake test.
This does not apply to Beginners 1 applicants..
Yes. Our Beginners 1 course is specifically designed for students who have no prior knowledge of Dutch.
The Special Speaking Session is an interactive field trip organized during the trimester for Dutch course participants.
During this session you will have the opportunity to:
Costs vary depending on the activity, but they are usually minimal and mostly depend on personal expenses.
Yes. Our Dutch courses from Beginners 1 to Pre-Intermediate cover the content and language level required by the Dutch government for the ‘Inburgeringsexamen’.
This means that if you start with no prior knowledge of the Dutch language, you will need to complete four language courses.
Yes, we offer NT2 Program II exam training.
The training is divided into two courses:
Each course consists of 10 sessions of 2 hours per week.
After completing the training, students are expected to reach B2 level and be prepared for the NT2 Program II exam.
The training costs one Gold Membership per course (two modules). If you buy a Gold Membership, you have the option to take three Language Courses or one NT2-II exam training course.
Our most experienced and professional teacher, as well as the small class scale assures you the best quality of the course. You will also get free customized training materials by CSA for the NT2-II exam.
Please note:
you should bring your own laptop and preferably a Dutch dictionary to the classes, in order to get the best training at your own space in class.
No. Our course does not provide an official HSK diploma.
However, after completing the course you will receive a certificate signed by your teacher or the CSA course manager.
No. You can start at Beginners 1 with no prior knowledge.
If you already have some experience with Mandarin, you may take an intake test to determine the appropriate level.
Our Mandarin courses primarily teach simplified Chinese characters, which are the standard writing system used in mainland China.
You do not receive an official HSK diploma. However, you will receive a certificate signed by your teacher or course manager of CSA.
