1. Spreken
Speaking
Understand simple prompts and give short, clear answers.
S SayDutch
TAGALOG-FIRST · DUTCH A1
Your A1 Study Garden
A warm, printable companion for Speaking, Reading and Knowledge of Dutch Society—the three parts of the civic integration exam abroad.
Name / Pangalan:
YOUR EXAM MAP
Three skills, one calm plan
The official exam abroad is at Dutch language level A1 and contains three parts. SayDutch practice is original study material, not a copy of the live exam.
2. Lezen
Reading
Recognise common words, signs, forms and very short messages.
3. KNS
Dutch society
Know basic facts about life, values and institutions in the Netherlands.
Simple wins at A1. Maikli at malinaw ang pinakamahalaga. Use a subject + verb + one useful detail: Ik woon in Manilla. Ik leer Nederlands. Ik ga met de bus.
A gentle weekly rhythm
| Day | 15-minute focus | Little proof |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Hear and repeat 10 phrases | Record one introduction |
| Tuesday | Read signs and form labels | Circle every word you know |
| Wednesday | KNS topic: home and municipality | Explain 3 facts aloud |
| Thursday | Numbers, prices, dates and time | Say 5 times without notes |
| Friday | Short speaking answers | Answer 8 prompts |
| Weekend | One mixed practice + gentle review | Write 3 wins and 1 next step |
Exam-day reminders
- Listen to the whole prompt before answering.
- Use the words you know; a short correct answer is valuable.
- If you make one mistake, continue calmly.
- Check the current appointment instructions and required documents from DUO/your embassy.
SOUND GARDEN
Pronunciation without fear
Dutch sounds can feel unfamiliar to a Tagalog speaker. Aim for clear communication, not a perfect accent.
| Sound | Try it | Tagalog-friendly cue |
|---|---|---|
| g / ch | goed, graag, acht | Galing sa likod ng lalamunan; huwag pilitin nang masakit. |
| ui | huis, uit | Start with “a” lips, then round toward “u”; listen and copy. |
| eu | leuk, keuken | Round the lips gently; between “e” and “u”. |
| uu | uur, duur | Say “i” while rounding the lips. |
| ij / ei | tijd, klein | Often close to a quick “ay”. |
| sch | school, schrijven | Begin with s, then the Dutch throat sound. |
| final consonant | heb, hond, huis | Tapusin nang malinaw; huwag laging dagdagan ng vowel. |
Shadowing routine: hear one phrase → pause → copy the rhythm → hear it again → record yourself → compare only one sound at a time.
Polite survival phrases
| Dutch | Tagalog | English |
|---|---|---|
| Goedemorgen. | Magandang umaga. | Good morning. |
| Dank u wel. | Maraming salamat po. | Thank you. |
| Alstublieft. | Pakiusap / Heto po. | Please / Here you are. |
| Sorry, ik begrijp het niet. | Paumanhin, hindi ko naiintindihan. | Sorry, I do not understand. |
| Kunt u dat herhalen? | Maaari po bang ulitin? | Could you repeat that? |
| Kunt u langzamer spreken? | Maaari po bang magsalita nang mas mabagal? | Could you speak more slowly? |
| Tot ziens. | Hanggang sa muli. | See you. |
SPEAKING
Answer frames that travel
Change the words in pink mentally and reuse the frame. Speak every answer twice: once slowly and once naturally.
| Question | Answer frame | Tagalog meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hoe heet u? | Ik heet Maria. | Ano ang pangalan ninyo? — Maria ang pangalan ko. |
| Waar komt u vandaan? | Ik kom uit de Filipijnen. | Saan kayo galing? — Galing ako sa Pilipinas. |
| Waar woont u? | Ik woon in Manilla. | Saan kayo nakatira? — Nakatira ako sa Maynila. |
| Bent u getrouwd? | Ja, ik ben getrouwd. | Kasal ba kayo? — Oo, kasal ako. |
| Wat doet u graag? | Ik tuinier graag. | Ano ang gusto ninyong gawin? — Mahilig akong mag-garden. |
| Wat eet u 's morgens? | Ik eet brood en fruit. | Ano ang kinakain ninyo sa umaga? |
| Hoe gaat u naar uw werk? | Ik ga met de bus. | Paano kayo pumupunta sa trabaho? |
| Hoe laat staat u op? | Ik sta om zeven uur op. | Anong oras kayo bumabangon? |
Your turn
1. Vertel kort over uzelf. / Ipakilala nang maikli ang sarili.
2. Vertel over een gewone dag. / Ikuwento ang karaniwang araw.
3. Wat wilt u in Nederland doen? / Ano ang gusto mong gawin sa Netherlands?
Grammar seed: In a normal statement, the verb is often in position 2: Ik woon in Manilla. Vandaag werk ik thuis.
READING
Words hiding in daily life
Signs
| open / gesloten | bukas / sarado |
| ingang / uitgang | pasukan / labasan |
| verboden | bawal |
| wachten | maghintay |
| alleen op afspraak | appointment lamang |
| niet parkeren | bawal pumarada |
Forms
| voornaam | unang pangalan |
| achternaam | apelyido |
| geboortedatum | petsa ng kapanganakan |
| geboorteplaats | lugar ng kapanganakan |
| adres | address |
| handtekening | lagda |
Five-step reading habit
- Read the question first.
- Underline a name, time, date, price, or place.
- Scan the text for the same word or a close synonym.
- Eliminate answers that contradict one clear detail.
- Read once more before choosing.
Message: “Hallo Ana, de afspraak bij de huisarts is verzet. Kom niet op maandag, maar op woensdag om half elf.”
Question: Wanneer is de nieuwe afspraak?
Question: Wanneer is de nieuwe afspraak?
Sign: “Bibliotheek gesloten van 12.00 tot 13.00 uur.”
Question: Kun je om half één naar binnen?
Question: Kun je om half één naar binnen?
Remember Dutch time: half elf means 10:30—halfway toward eleven.
KNOWLEDGE OF DUTCH SOCIETY
KNS memory garden
| Theme | Key idea | Useful Dutch |
|---|---|---|
| Equality | People have equal rights; discrimination is not allowed. | Iedereen is gelijk. |
| Freedom | People may have their own opinions, beliefs and religion within the law. | Vrijheid van meningsuiting. |
| Government | The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. | De regering / het parlement. |
| Municipality | Register your address and arrange many local matters with the gemeente. | Ik schrijf mij in bij de gemeente. |
| Healthcare | For a non-emergency problem, the huisarts is normally the first point of contact. | Ik bel de huisarts. |
| Emergency | For urgent, life-threatening emergencies, call 112. | Bel 112. |
| School | Children have a duty to attend school from the legally defined age. | Kinderen gaan naar school. |
| Work | Employees have rights and duties; income may be taxed. | Ik werk en betaal belasting. |
| Home | Renters and owners have agreements, costs and responsibilities. | De huur / het huurcontract. |
| Daily life | Appointments, punctuality, direct communication and cycling are common. | Ik kom op tijd. |
Keep facts current. Government procedures and exam details may change. Use the official Naar Nederland package as the source of truth; this sheet is a memory aid.
Teach it back
Without looking above, explain these in one sentence each:
1. Wat doet de gemeente?2. Wie bel je bij een gewone gezondheidsklacht?3. Wat betekent gelijkheid?4. Wanneer bel je 112?