Language for advanced learners - City of Amsterdam
Advanced Dutch
Kevin Vizee
Winning the 2020 Olympic Games is the ambition of Kevin Waimana Viezee, a 21-year-old Kenyan who has lived in Amsterdam since he was eighteen. He wants to compete as a sprinter for the Netherlands.
Kevin: 'I was born in Kenya. But when I was three years old, I was adopted and came to the Netherlands. At the age of eight, I moved back to Nairobi with my parents, where I attended school from the age of eight until I was eighteen. My parents are half-Kenyan and half-Dutch, and I have both Dutch and Kenyan nationality. I did learn Dutch, but not enough to participate fully in society. That is why I started taking language lessons again.'
If I win, I want to be able to speak Dutch well
Kevin is currently taking the Advanced Dutch course at TopTaal, a course aimed at participants from level A2 who want to improve their language skills. This is a project in collaboration with the City of Amsterdam for residents who are not required to integrate. He found the first year particularly difficult. And although speaking comes easily to him, writing remains a challenge. 'I am dyslexic, which makes learning a new language extra difficult. I have lessons twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I don't always understand the grammar, but it's getting better and better.'
Best runner
In addition to his language lessons, Kevin works for his cousin who owns a small hotel in the center of the capital, near Dam Square. 'I have always worked in the kitchen and I do miss that now. Currently, I only do breakfast two days a week. Ultimately, I would like to become a chef because I really enjoy cooking. I often cook for myself. I think Jamie Oliver is a great chef, so I use many of his recipes. Lots of vegetables, fish, rice, and pasta. I don't make Kenyan food because I don't like it and find it a bit boring.'
I really enjoy understanding more and more
What is his dream? 'To become the best runner in the world. I want to compete in the 2020 Olympic Games as a runner for the Netherlands. That's why I train fanatically. Usually six times a week, sometimes even twice a day. Only then is there a chance to participate in the Olympic Games. If I win, I want to be able to speak Dutch well. So I am also busy learning the language even better.'