Joumana is learning Dutch and working with the municipality of Delft

Joumana Ataia works two days a week at the municipality of Delft to learn the Dutch language better. And Joumana is not the only one who learns. Roeland van der Meij, manager at the Policy Department of Society & Advice: “We are very happy with Joumana. We contribute to someone else, but we also learn a lot ourselves!”
The Society & Advice policy department deals with work, civic integration and living together with everyone. “We want to make Delft a little more beautiful, and ensure that everyone can participate. Then we have to set a good example ourselves. Do what you say,” Roeland explains. And so the department was happy to offer a language practice place via Werkse!. A language practice place helps status holders to practice the Dutch language and to familiarise them with the work culture in the Netherlands.

Accustom
Joumana and Roeland met a few months ago. And after a pleasant conversation, Joumana started working at the municipality two days a week. Every Monday and Tuesday she works in the department at the City Office. Joumana has work experience as a financial accountant in Syria, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. In the beginning, the huge amount of information and the social topics took some getting used to. But from the first moment Joumana made it clear that she wanted more than just practising the language. “I don’t just want to learn the language. I also want to make myself useful.” Roeland adds: ‘Joumana is used to working with figures and budgets. More colleagues will discover that. They are increasingly asking for help in their field.”

Just do
After three months, Joumana asked if her time could be extended. “The people here are friendly and very helpful. They encourage me to go to the consultation. The atmosphere is very good.” The language practice place was extended. Roeland is excited about working with Joumana. ‘The language practice place shows that participation starts with an opportunity. It’s actually not very difficult. You just have to do it. My advice to other employers is therefore: Just do it!’

Make time
But how do you do that? Roeland explains: ‘We first looked: can we make time for this? Because it takes time to guide someone, drink coffee together, discuss assignments. But everyone wanted to participate. There was a schedule in which colleagues could register to work with Joumana.” Joumana: “I had five regular faces in the beginning, but now I’ve already worked with at least half of the department.”

And what started as a practice place for language, quickly became more. Roeland: “We also learn ourselves. For example, how complicated our language is. It challenges us to speak more clearly. And our work becomes even more tangible: what are we doing it for?”

Good impression
Joumana now speaks Dutch better and better. From day one in the Netherlands, she speaks it as much as possible. “I like the Dutch language. I hear people every day, and try to speak it right away. Of course I make mistakes, but people help me.” Her commitment and desire to learn make an impression. “Good preparation here in the office helps me,” she says. “I read a report carefully in advance, then I can follow the consultation better.”

Roeland realises how challenging it is to learn the language in a policy department. “We talk a lot, and fast. We use a lot of difficult words, professional jargon and abbreviations. We may not be the easiest place to learn Dutch, but we show that it is possible. Or rather, Joumana shows that it is possible, which is incredibly clever. And if you put time into it, it gives a lot back.”