Language in the workplace
Language in the workplace
Jumbo Supermarkets
Jumbo employs staff from many different nationalities. They generally do not speak Dutch and sometimes have only a basic grasp of English. Naturally, participants will not speak perfect Dutch after the course, but they can now get by very well.
"Jumbo is a very Dutch company. That is why it is so crucial that our employees can express themselves well in our language," says Carola Drijver. "The request we submitted to TopTaal concerned the supply chain branch of our organization. On average, colleagues only work there for a short period of time. Fortunately, TopTaal thinks along with us and helps us make improvements. For instance, we are adjusting the registration process to prevent dropouts as much as possible."
TopTaal is a true partner
App
Furthermore, supply chain staff generally aren't very fond of homework. This hinders the learning process, as relying solely on lessons limits progress, Carola notes. It’s only when participants practice at home and review their materials that they advance rapidly. Interestingly, while brainstorming solutions with TopTaal, the idea for an app came up. This is highly practical, as many participants don’t have access to a computer and therefore can’t reach the TopTaal portal, making homework difficult. With an app, they at least know exactly what to do.
True partner
We’ve had three intake moments so far, with the latest group, which started in September, consisting of no fewer than 120 participants. Groups never exceed ten employees, ensuring plenty of individual attention. The courses are intensive but highly appreciated. Participants value that the lessons take place during working hours, and it’s highly motivating that they can immediately apply the theory in practice. We can really see their language skills steadily improving. "We work with three different language levels. It’s not always easy for the participants. In fact, we’d love to offer even more, but this is already challenging enough for many."
Would Carola recommend TopTaal to other organizations? "Definitely. At Jumbo, we place a strong emphasis on business reviews. This means our team leaders and participants, along with us and the trainer, critically evaluate both the positives and the areas for improvement. We address anything that can be enhanced in close collaboration with TopTaal. It’s also highly appreciated that the language institute acts as a genuine partner. I find that exceptional for a vendor, as we usually have to handle a lot of the legwork ourselves. In this case, TopTaal manages the entire process. We simply provide the participants’ names, and they take care of everything else."
Flexibility
Another aspect Carola highly values is the flexibility. Alternative locations or different schedules are never an issue when the situation demands it. "My points of contact are incredibly flexible and provide high-quality service. I’ve heard this from many participants as well. It’s a genuinely pleasant company to work with. They’re great at bouncing ideas around, and together we often arrive at creative solutions." But above all, the most important thing is the progress the participants have made. "Colleagues can now easily chat over coffee. That’s very important to us Brabanders. You need to be able to join in and share a bit of light-hearted banter over a cup of coffee. Non-native speakers are now fully participating in conversations. So, we’re already looking into who will join the course next year."