Faig Hasanov comes from Azerbaijan and has not lived in the Netherlands for very long. The 45-year-old Coevordenaar wants to integrate and for that it is useful to be able to read and write Dutch well.
Together with Bert Snijder (53) from Coevorden, the former law student is willing to do a lot to improve. Snijder is a volunteer on behalf of the Taalpunt in the municipality of Coevorden. They have been meeting twice a week in the Coevorder library since May to tinker with the language. The aim is to help Faig even better in Dutch society. He has been living in the Netherlands for three years now, more than two years of which in Coevorden. His time in the Netherlands started at the asylum seekers’ center in Drachten, followed by a short period in Amsterdam.
According to Snijder, Hasanov is developing well. “Faig is already very good at expressing himself in our language,” he says. It is still a bit of getting used to for Faig in the quiet Coevorden. ,,Certainly if you compare it with Baku. That is the capital of Azerbaijan. This port city has more than 2 million inhabitants. I am thinking about moving from Coevorden to the larger Arnhem, also because acquaintances live there. Amsterdam? No, that city is too busy for me.”
More than 1 million low-literate people
As long as he can, Snijder takes his ‘pupil’ by the hand. It helps that the volunteer has an enormous passion for books and reading. The native Groninger is now an experienced volunteer on behalf of the Taalpunt. “As a trained volunteer, I am very happy to support our participants. There is definitely a click between Faig and me.” According to Snijder, the Netherlands has more than 1 million low-literate people. “They are not illiterate, because the group of low-literate people has previously had (Dutch) lessons. But due to circumstances, these people sooner or later gave up. Ultimately, they have to cross a threshold, after which the Taalpunt can offer a solution. We like to help these people as volunteers. I like to pass on my passion, especially for the benefit of people who have fled and want to settle here.”
Faig is therefore a fast learner, but of course the Dutch language is sometimes difficult. What about words that (can) have different meanings? Or how should an e-mail be drawn up neatly and completely to a business relation? Snijder helps Hasanov, among other things, to get better at spelling and grammar. “I definitely see results. His active attitude and commitment also motivate me.” Faig, in turn, is a happy man. “People say I’m more open now. That’s because I can express myself better in this rather difficult language.”