Ana Miranda
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Dutch and the ITNA test 

5/9/2014

10 Comments

 
I’m back!

August was a very busy month and I didn’t do any writing, which made me feel anxious and frustrated. However, I did a lot of Dutch-learning, which made me feel proud. When I say a lot I really mean it: I had three-hour classes five days a week plus a shit-ton of homework plus newspaper reading plus talking with the Flemish boyfriend. I was constantly busy with Dutch.

It all started with me not wanting to sit at home for two months letting all I’ve learned slip away from my brain. The school where I studied didn’t offer summer courses, but the University Language Center did. It’s quite expensive (€375 per month/level) but I got hold of this valuable piece of information: the City of Ghent grants you a discount if you meet the following requirements:

"1. To reside in one of the sub-districts of the City of Ghent
2. Being a legal resident and have a real and permanent judicial residence expectation
3. The gross monthly family income is below 4000 euro
4. Reference of the Huis van het Nederlands Gent vzw.
"

All I had to do was go to the House of Dutch with my identity card and some pay checks and get the paper. After I enrolled paying only €99 I took an entrance exam and – no shit – passed for their highest level! Maybe I’ve been underestimating my skills.

Passing that exam shifted something and I immediately started speaking more Dutch with the people around me.

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Classes were fast paced and my classmates really motivated. I realized how behind I was on vocabulary and fluency and worked my ass off at home. I was challenged and I was learning, yay! The one thing I didn’t know was that at the end of that level everyone was supposed to take this ITNA test (Interuniversitaire Taaltest Nederlands voor Anderstaligen). It’s a proficiency test for those who want to go to University here.


Proficiency! Hello?!

The whole month was ITNA this, ITNA that and a lot of anxiety on the part of people who depended on it for their visas. I tried to relax and just learn the most I could because that was my goal to start with. We did a lot of reading and grammar/vocabulary exercises in order to prepare for the first phase: the computer test. If you pass that you can take the oral test. That annoyed the shit out me. The oral test was composed of a presentation and an argumentation. You get diagrams and you have to interpret the information and present them. Boring.

I did the best I could, all the while thinking that I didn't know half of what everybody else did and that I wouldn't pass. 

I was wrong.

Proficiency, people!

Of course I need to learn more and I’m going back to the CVO, twice a week. I took a new level test and they let me enroll on level 9. Nine! I just skipped four levels, bam!

Bragging is the least I want to do with this post. What I want to say is: NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOURSELF. Cliché but true.

What is your experience learning languages? 

10 Comments
Kênya
5/9/2014 10:22:02 am

That's awesome. I'm still starting but next level i wanna a intensive too. I noticed cvo is going a bit slowly now for how much doubts i have. Proficiat Ana

Reply
Ana Elisa Miranda
6/9/2014 10:40:26 am

If you learn a lot by yourself you should ask them for a new level test!

Reply
Lyuba
16/9/2014 12:59:03 pm

Hi Ana,

I am moving back to Belgium this week. We will start our cohabitation procedure the following week. However I would like to follow the course in UGent starting from October 7th. Do you think it would be possible to get this discount for the course?

I wanted to enroll into CVO course but it's full until November. UGent is a bit expensive (375 euro ...).

I was wondering would they consider me as a legal resident once i start the cohabitation procedure or do they really need all the IDs and all?

where can i ask for this?

thanks tones for any advice:)

Reply
Ana Elisa Miranda
16/9/2014 02:20:35 pm

Hi!

Unfortunately I think they wouldn't grant you a discount. See the second requirement: "Being a legal resident and have a real and permanent judicial residence expectation". But it's always worth it to make sure at the Huis van het Nederlands.

You could go to the conversation tables in order to practice until you can begin classes.

Welcome to Belgium and good luck with your paperwork!

Reply
winne
11/5/2017 09:42:57 am

thanks Ana for the sharing, i'm at level 8 in CVO and will take the ITNA test in a few weeks, but i feel like i will definitely fail it.... =(

Reply
Ana Elisa
12/6/2017 05:49:35 pm

How did it go?

Reply
Winne
30/8/2017 03:54:06 pm

Yes, I passed it =) thx, it was nerve wrecking that they were calling out names that havent passed the written test.

Ann
12/6/2017 11:45:30 am

Hello! finally I found you! it's so hard to find anyone taking ITNA... what kind of materials did you use for ITNA? and what book?
I'm just about to study dutch, and everything is so confusing.... I'm looking forward to your reply!
Thank you so much for your help!


Best,
Ann

Reply
Ana Elisa
12/6/2017 05:54:45 pm

Hello Ann,
I completed some levels at an evening school and then in the summer I enrolled at the language center of Ghent University. There I was placed at level 5, which is followed by the ITNA test. The picture above shows their book and I complemented it with reading the news and listening to the radio.
Good luck!

Reply
Cassie Jones
1/1/2022 06:51:39 pm

hello! i am taking the ITNA test in a month and im posting this comment hoping for some miracle that you find it soon. I have already failed this test twice even though i feel like my Dutch is good and im starting to think maybe i just suck at studying? do you have any study advice? i really need the help.

Reply

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