Speaking Dutch with colleagues who switch to English

A colleague may switch to English to be efficient, inclusive, or helpful. You do not need to turn that choice into a confrontation. Make a small, specific request and give them an easy way to switch when the content becomes urgent or complex.

Ask before the pressure starts

Make the agreement during a quiet moment:

Ik wil mijn Nederlands graag oefenen. Vind je het goed als we bij de koffie Nederlands spreken?

Als het over iets dringends gaat, kunnen we natuurlijk Engels spreken.

This sets a bounded context instead of asking a colleague to become your teacher all day.

Respond when the switch happens

Use a line that matches the situation:

• Continue in Dutch: We kunnen van mij uit in het Nederlands doorgaan.
• Ask for slower speech: Wil je iets langzamer praten? Dan kan ik het beter volgen.
• Keep the topic, simplify the language: Kun je het in iets eenvoudiger Nederlands uitleggen?
• Accept English temporarily: Voor dit technische deel is Engels handiger. Zullen we daarna weer Nederlands spreken?
• Check understanding: Als ik het goed begrijp, moet ik eerst…

Avoid pretending to understand a safety, legal, medical, or consequential instruction. Clarity takes priority over practice.

Give the conversation a shared rule

Try one arrangement for a week:

• Dutch for lunch or coffee;
• Dutch for the first five minutes of a one-to-one;
• Dutch for routine updates, English for technical decisions;
• Dutch messages with permission to ask for clarification.

Review whether the rule works for both people. A colleague is not obliged to provide corrections or extend a meeting for language practice.

Prepare the work task, not just the request

The Taalunie's ERK Nederlands platform includes assessed examples and work-related tasks for speaking and interaction. Use a task near your level to prepare the content you need. For a documented grammar or usage question after the conversation, consult Taaladvies.net.

Rehearse a polite switch-back

ChickyTutor Dutch can play a busy colleague before you try the exchange at work:

Run a six-minute Dutch workplace conversation at B1. Begin with a routine project update, then switch to English once because I hesitate. Wait for me to ask politely to continue in Dutch. Later introduce one technical point where choosing English is reasonable. Correct one register or word-order issue after each turn.

ChickyTutor can rehearse the wording and vary the colleague's reaction. It cannot determine your workplace's norms, your colleague's preferences, or whether Dutch is safe for a consequential discussion. Treat the real colleague's response as the boundary.

Success is not forcing an entire meeting into Dutch. It is creating a repeatable slice of real interaction where everyone understands the agreement.