Remote work or the office?
Thuiswerken of het kantoor?
- Daily office vocabulary
- Remote work vocabulary
- Passive sentences
Explore practical Dutch for discussing remote work and office tasks, focusing on useful passive sentences like 'wordt gestart' (is started) and reflexive verbs such as 'zich aanmelden' (to log in).
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (12) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Verbinden
To connect
2
De laptop
The laptop
3
Op afstand
Remotely
4
Het telewerken
Remote working
5
Zich afmelden
To sign out
Oefening 2: Conversation exercise
Instructie:
- Do you work remote or in-person or both? (Do you work remote or in-person or both?)
- Tell your opinion on working remotely. (Tell your opinion on working remotely.)
- Do you prefer video calls or in-person meetings? (Do you prefer video calls or in-person meetings?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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Ik doe beide. Ik werk twee dagen vanuit huis en ga drie dagen naar kantoor. I do both. I work from home two days and go to work three days. |
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Ik ga naar het kantoor. Ik werk persoonlijk samen met mijn team. I go to the office. I work in-person with my team. |
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Naar mijn mening is thuiswerken beter. Ik kan meer bij mijn familie zijn. In my opinion, remote work is better. I can stay with my family more. |
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Ik denk van wel, remote werken is nuttig. Ik kan op een rustige plek werken. I think so, remote work is useful. I can work in a quiet place. |
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Videogesprekken zijn beter voor mij. Ik bespaar tijd en hoef niet te reizen. Video calls are better for me. I save time and don’t travel. |
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Ik geef de voorkeur aan vergaderingen in persoon. Het is makkelijker om te spreken en te begrijpen. I prefer in-person meetings. It’s easier to speak and understand. |
| ... |
Exercise 3: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 4: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Iedere ochtend _____ hij zich aan voor het videogesprek.
(Every morning _____ he registers for the video call.)2. Als hij klaar is, _____ hij zich af bij de vergadering.
(When he is ready, _____ he logs off the meeting.)3. De verbinding _____ vaak gecontroleerd door de IT-afdeling.
(The connection _____ is often checked by the IT department.)4. Het platform _____ elke dag door duizenden mensen gebruikt.
(The platform _____ is used every day by thousands of people.)Exercise 5: Working from home or at the office?
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Zich afmelden - To log out
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
- ik meld me af
- jij meldt je af
- hij/zij/het meldt zich af
- wij melden ons af
- jullie melden je af
- zij melden zich af
Zich aanmelden - To log in
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
- ik meld me aan
- jij meldt je aan
- hij/zij/het meldt zich aan
- wij melden ons aan
- jullie melden je aan
- zij melden zich aan
Worden - To become / To be (auxiliary)
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
- ik word
- jij wordt
- hij/zij/het wordt
- wij worden
- jullie worden
- zij worden
Zijn - To be
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
- ik ben
- jij bent
- hij/zij/het is
- wij zijn
- jullie zijn
- zij zijn
Exercise 6: Passieve zinnen
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Passive sentences
Show translation Show answersis, werd, wordt, was
Grammar Share Copied!
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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Zich afmelden to sign out Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) meld mij af | I sign out |
| (jij) meldt/jij meldt af | You sign out/You cancel |
| (hij/zij/het) meldt af | he/she/it signs out |
| (wij) melden ons af | we sign out |
| (jullie) melden je af | you sign out |
| (zij) melden zich af | they sign out |
Zich aanmelden to sign in Share Copied!
Onvoltooid tegenwoordige tijd (OTT)
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| (ik) meld me aan | I sign in |
| (jij) meldt je aan/meld aan | You sign in/sign in |
| (hij/zij/het) meldt zich aan | he/she/it signs in |
| (wij) melden ons aan | we sign in |
| (jullie) melden je aan/melden je aan | you sign in |
| (zij) melden zich aan | they sign in |
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Remote Work or the Office? Lesson Overview
This A2 level Dutch lesson focuses on discussing the topic of working remotely versus working at the office. It combines conversational practice with grammar, specifically the use of passive sentences and reflexive verbs in the present tense, enabling learners to comfortably talk about daily work routines and organizational activities.
Key Language Points
- Passive sentences: Understanding and using passive voice to describe actions, e.g., Het videogesprek wordt om tien uur gestart (The video meeting is started at ten o’clock).
- Reflexive verbs: Verbs like zich aanmelden (to sign in) and zich afmelden (to sign out), highlighting how to express daily registration and sign-off routines.
- Daily vocabulary and expressions: Words related to remote work, such as laptop, documenten, vergaderingen, verbinding, and phrases for planning, communication, and task management.
Practical Dialogue Scenarios
The lesson provides dialogues on:
- Discussing the pros and cons of working from home versus the office with a colleague.
- Organizing a video meeting at the office, including scheduling and technical preparation.
- Talking about daily work tasks performed at home and managing communication with the office remotely.
Example Vocabulary and Usage
Words like meldt zich aan (signs in), wordt gecontroleerd (is checked), and worden gedeeld (are shared) showcase typical work interactions.
Note on Language Differences
In Dutch, reflexive verbs such as zich aanmelden involve a reflexive pronoun that agrees with the subject, which differs from English where this is often simplified to just "sign in". Additionally, the Dutch use of passive voice is common to emphasize the action or process without focusing on who performs it, e.g., de documenten worden gedeeld (the documents are shared), which in English might sometimes be phrased actively or passively depending on context.
Useful Phrases for Learners
- Ik werk meestal thuis of op kantoor? – Do you mostly work from home or at the office?
- Wordt de werkplek thuis goed onderhouden? – Is the workspace at home well maintained?
- De vergadering wordt via video gehouden. – The meeting is held via video.
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