Language courses and more at the Academic Language Centre

Are you based in Leiden and want to improve your language skills for work, study or travel?

Whether it’s Dutch, English or one of many other languages, the Academic Language Centre can help!

The Academic Language Centre is part of the Faculty of Humanities at Leiden University and provides a range of  services to students and staff of Leiden University and to external parties.

A wide variety of services

The Academic Language Centre’s services include  coaching, custom-made  training, translation and editing as well as acculturation and civic integration courses.

Language coaching

The language coaching programme is designed to improve specific skills, and is based on real situations arising at work.

The coach visits as often as possible to observe the client's skills, provide feedback and offer suggestions for improvement. The final goal of the coaching is to allow the participant to independently carry out relevant tasks at work.

Open registration courses

The Academic Language Centre organises language courses for companies, government agencies, private clients, and students and staff members of Leiden University.

General and business courses are offered for the following languages:
› Dutch
› English
› French
› Spanish
› German
› Italian
› Chinese
› Russian
› Japanese
› Arabic
› Swedish

Custom-made training

The centre can organise language training entirely designed to fit your specific wishes. The content of the course is primarily determined by your starting level and your wishes expressed on the intake form and during the intake interview.

Furthermore, your background and position at work will be considered. Recently-organised courses include training for Arabic, Dari, Indonesian, Japanese, Persian, Pasthu, Russian and Swahili.

Translation and editing

The Academic Language Centre's interpreting and translation service has extensive experience in translating to and from Dutch and English. The services are characterised by professionalism, quality, and reliability.

Acculturation courses

Acculturation courses are designed for professionals who will be posted abroad with or without their families, and for expats who come to live and work in the Netherlands. The Academic Langauge Centre also offer courses for partners and children (from the age of six).

Civic integration

If you are starting a civic integration programme, it's reassuring to have someone to guide you along the way. The Academic Language Centre's civic integration coach can help.

In adition to being an expert in language acquisition, the civic integration coach has a broad view of the educational options available in the local area, and is well placed to help you choose the integration programme that best matches your wishes and capabilities.

Contact information

› Website: Academic Language Centre
› Telephone: +31(0)71 527 2332
› Email: talencentrum@hum.leidenuniv.nl
› Address: Lipsius Building, Cleveringaplaats 1, room 1.25, Leiden