Social event 'Utrechters talk to Utrechters' a great success
The initiative by Stichting Taal Doet Meer was organised for the third time
On Monday April 1st, 2019, the third edition of the socialising event 'Utrechters talk to Utrechters' took place, this time organised by Utrecht University in collaboration with Stichting Taal Doet Meer.
No less than 160 people, of which eighty were students, teachers, and associates of the university and eighty were non-Dutch speaking Utrechters, dined with each other in the University Hall. The Utrecht Young Academy was also involved: Five of sixteen tableheads were UYA-members.
Aside from establishing contacts, the programme revolved around getting a sneak peek into the university's organisation. During the dinner, the researchers inspired their table companions by talking about their field of expertise, and afterwards the guests went scouting through the University Hall.
A successful evening
The task 'try to have at least four good conversations with someone you don't know' was passed amply by all guests. Everybody was assigned a seat from the start in order to properly mix all non-Dutch speaking guests and UU-associates. Conversations revolved around the fields of expertise of the researchers and the experiences of the non-Dutch speakers with Dutch culture.
I just met a professor for the first time in my life
About Stichting Taal Doet Meer
Taal Doet Meer is a professionally-led voluntary organisation that works on apporachable and sustainable encounters between Dutch Utrechters and Utrechters that originally speak a different language. 'Utrechters talk to Utrechters' is an initiative by the organisation aimed at making participants conscious about what they - as citizen, neighbour, colleague or employer - can mean for non-Dutch speakers. It is also the ideal opportunity for non-Dutch speaking Utrechters to practice their Dutch.