Dutch Conversation-Grammar 1732 Studios

Dutch · Unit 15

Unit 3: Verkiezingen in Nederland

Refresher Course, Book I

Verkiezingen in Nederland

164 lines

Verkiezingen in Nederland: the narrative

The narrative

Each unit of Book I opens with a short account of one side of life in Holland. The 1961 speaker reads it at the speed of ordinary speech.

Read each sentence, then listen to it. The English is beside it. The words of the narrative come back in every section that follows, so this reading is the ground of the unit.

  1. 1

    The Dutch Parliament consists of two chambers: the First Chamber and the Second Chamber.

    Hetit; the
    NederlandseDutch
    ParlementParlement
    bestaatexists
    uitout of
    tweetwo
    kamers:rooms
    dethe
    EersteEerste
    KamerKamer
    enand
    dethe
    TweedeTweede
    Kamer.Kamer
  2. 2

    The latter is directly elected by the people in national elections.

  3. 3

    The First Chamber is chosen by the Senates of the Provinces, which are themselves separately elected by the residents of the eleven provinces.

  4. 4

    But these Provincial Senates enjoy a reasonably great degree of freedom in the selection of representatives to the First Chamber.

  5. 5

    In contrast to the United States, where voting is a privilege, in Holland it is also a duty.

  6. 6

    That is to say, that those who do not vote are fined. But if they so desire, they are permitted to cast a blank ballot.

  7. 7

    The total number of seats in the Second Chamber are divided among the different parties in relation to the number of votes each party receives.

I. Narrative

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 10: Verkiezingen in Nederland.

The section appearing as "I. Narrative" presents an account, read at normal conversational speed, of an historical or cultural facet of life in Holland, and is accompanied by both Dutch and English texts.
  1. 8

    In the Netherlands, one first votes for a party and only then for a person.

  2. 9

    So one usually only indicates one's party on the ballot.

  3. 10

    If, for instance, this party gets ten seats in the Second Chamber, then the first ten persons on the list will automatically be assigned those seats.

  4. 11

    However, if one should favor the twelfth name on the list, then one indicates this on the ballot.

  5. 12

    Should this twelfth person receive many votes, then he takes the place of the tenth person in the Chamber.

  6. 13

    After the First and Second Chambers have been elected, the Queen appoints a person to form the Cabinet.

  7. 14

    She has complete freedom in this choice.

  1. 15

    After this person has formed a cabinet, he presents it to the parliament.

  2. 16

    If it is approved by Parliament, it comes into power.

  3. 17

    If Parliament disapproves, the Queen then appoints another person and the entire procedure is repeated until a cabinet is formed which obtains parliamentary approval.

Verkiezingen in Nederland: vocabulary, part 1 (1)

Vocabulary practice

These are the words and phrases of the narrative, one at a time, in the speaker's voice.

Listen to each one, then say it. The scorer on the device compares your reading with the speaker's and shows which sounds matched.

  1. 18

    genieten

    to enjoy

  2. 19

    bestaan uit

    to consist of

  3. 20

    de bevolking

    the population, people

  4. 21

    verkiezingen

    elections

  5. 22

    moeilijk

    difficult

  6. 23

    de inwoner

    the inhabitant

  7. 24

    de vrijheid

    the freedom

A. Vocabulary Practice

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 10: Verkiezingen in Nederland. Learning the Narrative, Part 1.

This part contains words and phrases which you will later hear used in the narrative sections of this unit. On tape you will hear the word or phrase in Dutch, then in English. You will immediately repeat the Dutch word or phrase on tape in the pause left for this purpose. The native speaker will then repeat the word or phrase in Dutch as a guide to good pronunciation before continuing with the new word or phrase in both Dutch and English.

Before moving on to the next part of this lesson, try doing the vocabulary practice again with your book closed.

Verkiezingen in Nederland: vocabulary, part 1 (2)

  1. 25

    de keuze

    the choice

  2. 26

    de afgevaardigde

    the representative

  3. 27

    rechtstreeks

    directly

Verkiezingen in Nederland: oral reading, part 1

Oral reading

The narrative's sentences come back in the book's variations: a change of tense, of case, of modifier. They build up to the sentence as the narrative has it.

Say each variation after the speaker. The sentence marked as basic is the narrative's own, and it closes the run.

  1. 28

    In Parliament there are two chambers

  2. 29

    There are two chambers in Parliament

  3. 30

    The Dutch Parliament consists of two chambers.

  4. 31

    The people elect the Second Chamber

  5. 32

    The Second Chamber is directly chosen by the people.

  6. 33

    There are national elections

  7. 34

    The choice among parties is very difficult

B. Oral Reading Comprehension

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 10: Verkiezingen in Nederland. Learning the Narrative, Part 1.

The sentences of the narrative now appear in a variety of grammatical patterns to facilitate the learning process. Repeat each phrase or sentence on tape after the native speaker, building up to sentences which are contextually equivalent to those in the narrative. At the end of each quarter these sentences appear in their natural contextual sequence on tape and in the book. Repeat each sentence after the native speaker.
  1. 35

    He votes for party “A”

  2. 36

    He favors party “A” over party “B”

  3. 37

    He lives in a house

  4. 38

    He inhabits a house

  5. 39

    He is the inhabitant of the house

  6. 40

    He lives in a city

  7. 41

    He is a resident of the city

  1. 42

    The Provincial Senates are elected by the residents of the provinces.

  2. 43

    They are free to elect whom they wish

  3. 44

    They are free in their choice

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    They enjoy great freedom

  5. 46

    They enjoy a reasonably great degree of freedom

  6. 47

    The Provincial Senates enjoy a reasonably great degree of freedom in the selection of representatives to the First Chamber.

  7. 48

    The Dutch Parliament consists of two chambers.

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    The Second Chamber is directly chosen by the people.

  2. 50

    The Provincial Senates are elected by the residents of the provinces.

  3. 51

    The Provincial Senates enjoy a reasonably great degree of freedom in the selection of representatives to the First Chamber.

Verkiezingen in Nederland: vocabulary, part 2

  1. 52

    de plicht

    the duty

  2. 53

    krijgen

    to get

  3. 54

    de boete

    the fine

  4. 55

    opleggen

    to impose upon

  5. 56

    stemmen

    to vote

  6. 57

    het blanco stembiljet

    the blank ballot

  7. 58

    inleveren

    to submit

  8. 59

    wensen

    to wish, desire

A. Vocabulary Practice

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 10: Verkiezingen in Nederland. Learning the Narrative, Part 2.

This part contains words and phrases which you will later hear used in the narrative sections of this unit. On tape you will hear the word or phrase in Dutch, then in English. You will immediately repeat the Dutch word or phrase on tape in the pause left for this purpose. The native speaker will then repeat the word or phrase in Dutch as a guide to good pronunciation before continuing with the new word or phrase in both Dutch and English.

Before moving on to the next part of this lesson, try doing the vocabulary practice again with your book closed.

Verkiezingen in Nederland: oral reading, part 2

  1. 60

    Voting is only a right

  2. 61

    Voting is also a duty

  3. 62

    In Holland voting is a right as well as a duty.

  4. 63

    He receives a fine

  5. 64

    He who does not vote receives a fine

  6. 65

    He is given a fine

  7. 66

    On one who does not vote, a fine is imposed.

B. Oral Reading Comprehension

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 10: Verkiezingen in Nederland. Learning the Narrative, Part 2.

The sentences of the narrative now appear in a variety of grammatical patterns to facilitate the learning process. Repeat each phrase or sentence on tape after the native speaker, building up to sentences which are contextually equivalent to those in the narrative. At the end of each quarter these sentences appear in their natural contextual sequence on tape and in the book. Repeat each sentence after the native speaker.
  1. 67

    On those who do not vote, a fine is imposed.

  2. 68

    They who do not vote are fined.

  3. 69

    One is permitted to cast a blank ballot

  4. 70

    If they so desire, they are permitted to cast a blank ballot.

  5. 71

    In Holland voting is a right as well as a duty.

  6. 72

    On one who does not vote, a fine is imposed.

  7. 73

    On those who do not vote, a fine is imposed.

  8. 74

    They who do not vote are fined.

  9. 75

    If they so desire, they are permitted to cast a blank ballot.

Verkiezingen in Nederland: vocabulary, part 3

  1. 76

    de zetels

    the seats

  2. 77

    verdelen

    to divide

  3. 78

    het aantal

    the number

  4. 79

    verscheidene

    various

  5. 80

    aanduiden

    to indicate

  6. 81

    als

    when, if

  7. 82

    echter

    however

  8. 83

    voorkeursstemmen

    favorable votes

  9. 84

    tussen

    between, among

A. Vocabulary Practice

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 10: Verkiezingen in Nederland. Learning the Narrative, Part 3.

This part contains words and phrases which you will later hear used in the narrative sections of this unit. On tape you will hear the word or phrase in Dutch, then in English. You will immediately repeat the Dutch word or phrase on tape in the pause left for this purpose. The native speaker will then repeat the word or phrase in Dutch as a guide to good pronunciation before continuing with the new word or phrase in both Dutch and English.

Before moving on to the next part of this lesson, try doing the vocabulary practice again with your book closed.

Verkiezingen in Nederland: oral reading, part 3

  1. 85

    The seats are divided

  2. 86

    A number of seats are divided

  3. 87

    A number of seats is divided

  4. 88

    The total number of seats is divided

  5. 89

    A number of parties

  6. 90

    Different parties

  7. 91

    Various parties

B. Oral Reading Comprehension

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 10: Verkiezingen in Nederland. Learning the Narrative, Part 3.

The sentences of the narrative now appear in a variety of grammatical patterns to facilitate the learning process. Repeat each phrase or sentence on tape after the native speaker, building up to sentences which are contextually equivalent to those in the narrative. At the end of each quarter these sentences appear in their natural contextual sequence on tape and in the book. Repeat each sentence after the native speaker.
  1. 92

    Several parties

  2. 93

    The different parties

  3. 94

    The total number of seats in the Second Chamber is divided among the different parties.

  4. 95

    He indicates his party

  5. 96

    He indicated his party

  6. 97

    He has indicated his party

  7. 98

    They indicate their party on their ballots.

  1. 99

    If he wins, he then enters the Chamber

  2. 100

    If he wins, he then enters the Chamber

  3. 101

    But if he wins, he then enters the Chamber

  4. 102

    If he wins, however, he then enters the Chamber

  5. 103

    However, if he receives many votes, he enters the Chamber.

  6. 104

    The total number of seats in the Second Chamber is divided among the different parties.

  7. 105

    They indicate their party on their ballots.

  8. 106

    However, if he receives many votes, he enters the Chamber.

Verkiezingen in Nederland: vocabulary, part 4

  1. 107

    benoemen

    to appoint

  2. 108

    nadat

    after

  3. 109

    voorleggen

    to present, introduce

  4. 110

    vormen

    to form

  5. 111

    aan het bewind komen

    to come to power

  6. 112

    goedkeuren

    to approve of

  7. 113

    afkeuren

    to reject, disapprove

  8. 114

    de Koningin

    the Queen

  9. 115

    de Koning

    the King

A. Vocabulary Practice

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 10: Verkiezingen in Nederland. Learning the Narrative, Part 4.

This part contains words and phrases which you will later hear used in the narrative sections of this unit. On tape you will hear the word or phrase in Dutch, then in English. You will immediately repeat the Dutch word or phrase on tape in the pause left for this purpose. The native speaker will then repeat the word or phrase in Dutch as a guide to good pronunciation before continuing with the new word or phrase in both Dutch and English.

Before moving on to the next part of this lesson, try doing the vocabulary practice again with your book closed.

Verkiezingen in Nederland: oral reading, part 4

  1. 116

    The Queen appoints a cabinet former (lit.)

  2. 117

    The Queen appointed a cabinet former

  3. 118

    The Queen has appointed a cabinet former

  4. 119

    After the First and Second Chamber are chosen, the Queen appoints a person to form the Cabinet.

  5. 120

    The cabinet former presents the Cabinet to the Parliament

  6. 121

    After the Cabinet is formed, it is presented to Parliament.

  7. 122

    The Cabinet comes into power

B. Oral Reading Comprehension

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 10: Verkiezingen in Nederland. Learning the Narrative, Part 4.

The sentences of the narrative now appear in a variety of grammatical patterns to facilitate the learning process. Repeat each phrase or sentence on tape after the native speaker, building up to sentences which are contextually equivalent to those in the narrative. At the end of each quarter these sentences appear in their natural contextual sequence on tape and in the book. Repeat each sentence after the native speaker.
  1. 123

    The Cabinet came into power

  2. 124

    The Cabinet has come into power

  3. 125

    If the Cabinet is approved, it comes into power.

  4. 126

    After the First and Second Chamber are chosen, the Queen appoints a person to form the Cabinet.

  5. 127

    After the Cabinet is formed, it is presented to Parliament.

  6. 128

    If the Cabinet is approved, it comes into power.

Verkiezingen in Nederland: check-up

Check-up

Two speakers put the narrative as questions and answers.

Answer each question from what the narrative said, then say the answer. Later sections ask the same questions without the text, so answer from memory where you can.

  1. 129

    Of what does the Dutch Parliament consist?

  2. 130

    How is the Second Chamber elected?

  3. 131

    Who elects the First Chamber?

  4. 132

    How are the Provincial governments set up?

  5. 133

    The Parliament of the Netherlands consists of two chambers, the First Chamber and the Second Chamber.

  6. 134

    The Second Chamber is elected directly by the entire population.

  7. 135

    The members of the First Chamber are elected by the Provincial governments.

  8. 136

    The Provincial governments are elected by the residents of the province they represent.

II. Check-Up

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 11: Verkiezingen in Nederland.

The material of the narrative is now presented in still another form to assist you further in completely assimilating the narrative. You will repeat both questions and answers based on the narrative material after the native speaker. Do this section thoroughly since you will be expected in the sections that follow to answer as well as ask these questions from memory.
  1. 137

    How are the seats of the Second Chamber apportioned?

  2. 138

    Doesn't one vote for [individual] persons in Holland?

  3. 139

    How is a cabinet formed in the Netherlands?

  4. 140

    What happens after the cabinet has been formed?

  5. 141

    If parliament rejects the cabinet, what happens then?

  6. 142

    How often can this happen?

  7. 143

    The seats of the Second Chamber are divided among the political parties according to the percentage of votes they have received.

  8. 144

    One usually votes only for a party; however, if one wishes one can indicate partiality for a particular person.

  9. 145

    The Queen appoints a cabinet-former to form a cabinet.

  10. 146

    After the cabinet has been formed, it is presented to parliament.

  11. 147

    If the cabinet has been rejected by parliament, the Queen appoints another cabinet-former.

  12. 148

    This procedure is repeated until a cabinet has been formed that is acceptable to parliament.

Verkiezingen in Nederland: the dialog

A conversation to listen to

Two Dutch speakers talk about the matter of the narrative, recorded without a script.

Listen first with the text, then without it. The aim is to follow the whole conversation by ear.

  1. 149

    Tell me one thing, Mr. van den Burgh, of what does the Dutch government consist? Are there two houses in Holland, as there are in the American government?

  2. 150

    Yes, we have two chambers – the First Chamber and the Second Chamber. The members of the Second Chamber are chosen by direct ballot in national elections.

  3. 151

    And then how are the members of the First Chamber chosen?

  4. 152

    Well, they're chosen by the Provincial Governments. The provincial legislatures enjoy considerable freedom in the election of members of the chamber.

  5. 153

    Who elects the Provincial legislatures?

  6. 154

    There are eleven provinces in the Netherlands, and the inhabitants of those provinces choose their own provincial governments.

  7. 155

    How does one indicate one's choice on a ballot?

I. Dialogue for Listening

DLI Dutch Refresher Course (1961), Book I, Lesson 12: Verkiezingen in Nederland.

The Dialogue for Listening section is for oral comprehension. The student should follow this section in his text, as he listens to it on tape, until such time as he can dispense with the text and understand everything from the tape alone.
  1. 156

    It goes like this: if one wants to vote for a party only, one places a cross before the first name on the party list, the so-called “list-leader.” However, if one prefers another person, one can check his name.

  2. 157

    I understand from what you say that that doesn't happen very often?

  3. 158

    Indeed so; most Dutchmen vote for the “list-leaders,” and, so, not for a person, but for a party.

  4. 159

    I see! And how are the seats divided among the members of the chamber?

  5. 160

    The total number of seats in the Second Chamber are apportioned among the different parties according to the percentage of votes they have received.

  6. 161

    Then, the organization of the Second Chamber presents a clear picture of the political organization of the people?

  7. 162

    Yes, especially since a Dutchman not only has the right to vote, but also the duty to do so.

  8. 163

    And the cabinet, who elects that?

  9. 164

    The Queen appoints a person to form a cabinet. He forms a cabinet which then must be approved or rejected by parliament.

The particulars

The course
Valette, Dutch Conversation-Grammar (1913) and its Key (1893); Defense Language Institute, Dutch Refresher Course, Books I to III (1961). Public domain. The teaching pages, the readings' English, the answers to the conversations and the narration are ours.
Reading aloud
Digital narration, directed by 1732 Studios.
The book
Max Havelaar, the work this course leads to, free to read here.
Data
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