I amsterdam - Classes & Workshops in English

ACCESS is a not-for-profit organisation established in 1986 to bridge the gap between the international community and English-speaking services available in The Netherlands. They supply free information from an extensive database, offer publications, events, a professional counselling referral service, run a free helpline, and provide several fact sheets covering various subjects relevant to expats. They also provide a substantial choice of English language workshops to help you ease into life in Amsterdam.

Tel: +31 (0)20 423 3217
email:info@access-nl.org
Website:www.access-nl.org

Sample Access Workshops & Courses

• First Aid Training in English
  Care Initiator Course Plus Program - The Care Initiator Course Plus is a 12 hour programme. It is a video-based, Instructor supervised course with lots of confidence-building, hands on practice. As well as teaching the Essential Skills of Patient Care this course adds the Secondary Skills of Patient Care whilst following the latest consensus medical guidelines. This course meets the recommendations by the Health & Safety Executive for Appointed Persons in the Workplace. This course is also recognised by the Dutch Orange Cross.
  
  
• Adjusting to life in Holland
  Culture Shock Presentations - Facilitated by ACCESS.
  
  ACCESS offers transitional solutions for corporations who have hired people from abroad to work for their companies. Through specially designed forums, ACCESS provides the crucial information that helps expatriates achieve successful assimilation with daily life in Holland. Targeting the specific needs of Expatriates, corporations can request those topics to be facilitated by ACCESS. There is no question that there is a lot of information available out there to learn about daily life in Holland. However, for an individual who is trying to make a favourable impression at a new job, this process can become all-too-overwhelming very quickly. ACCESS strives to ease that burden for both the employer and employee. In so doing, ACCESS offers a variety of packages whereby the needs of the employee are addressed in a casual and supportive environment.
  
  Choices include:
  
  -  What’s What, Where & How? - Life’s Dailies focuses on the essentials: Strippenkaartjes, trams, buses, food shopping, everything you need to know about bicycles, medical & doctor issues, and much more.
  - Families Move Together addresses the multiple needs within the family unit as they adjust to a new living situation, commute, schools, child care, medical & doctor issues, social gatherings, entertainment, etc.
  - Singles in the City.  Where do singles hang out? Find out where sport clubs are, dance clubs, language classes, nightclubs, movies, literature, and other events.
  
  Essentially, ACCESS hopes to bridge the gap for Expatriates and guide them to discover living a full and well-adjusted life amidst the exciting cultural gifts that Holland has to offer. These sessions can be facilitated during lunch hours or 90-minute timeframes before or after the workday. The workshops are also available for private individuals in a group format of a minimum of 10 participants.
  
  
• Holidaying in Europe
  Tips For Where to Go and How to Get There.
  
  So you are now living in the Netherlands, in the centre of Europe with some wonderful holiday adventures ahead of you. There are so many holiday options available - but where to start?? If you are asking yourself questions such as: which is the cheapest way to get my car to the UK, or do I need a visa to go to Prague, or which hotel chain offers inter-connecting rooms for my family of 5, or how do I make sense of the European rail network, or which websites can I use to assist with my decision of where to go and how to get there - then this course is for you.
  
• Caring From a Distance
  If you are an adult son or daughter living away from your home country, you may find yourself involved in new situations as your parents age, and you step in to help them. This informative workshop will outline some of the most common issues our elderly parents face and provide useful advice, resources and strategies for the long distance caregiver. Despite the challenges, there are ways to maintain peace of mind while providing long distance elder care. Though the tasks can be difficult, with a little research and planning you can ensure that your parents are well cared for. This course is run by an RN and a member of Access Counselling Services.
  
  
• Emotionally Intelligent Parenting
  Course presented by Sharon Lewis (Clinical Psychologist)
  
  Heard about emotionally intelligent parenting and want to learn more? If so, then here is a new parenting programme that will help you:
  
  - Understand yourself and your emotions
  - Build your child’s self esteem
  - Manage your child’s inappropriate behaviour
  - Avoid sibling rivalry
  - Learn to problem solve and managed conflict
  
  This programme is offered over five two hour sessions. It is packed with role-plays, discussions and interactive exercises. The rewards are children who are emotionally intelligent, self-disciplined, responsible, and socially skilled.
  
  
• Prenatal Yoga
  A course for all trimesters of pregnancy presented by a qualified and very experienced pre-natal yoga instructor and includes:
  
  - Pranayama: breathing techniques to refresh and energize.
  - Yoga nidra: for relaxation and to help let go of tension.
  - Natural ways to cope with nausea.
  - Yoga postures and exercises to tone and strengthen.
  
  The course teaches body awareness, how to deal with physical and mental changes and replenish energy stores.
  
  
• Paediatric Care Initiator Course
  The Paediatric Care Initiator Course is a 6 hour Emergency Course designed to train the layperson in the Primary Care Essential Skills only.  You can only enter this course after completion of the Care Initiator Plus course as outlined above.Paediatric MEDIC FIRST AID is a video-based emergency care course with Instructor-supervised practices. This program teaches appropriate Primary Care skills CPR/first aid skills for the care of infants and children. Adult care skills are demonstrated where appropriate. Paediatric MFA makes excellent training for school bus drivers, parents, grandparents and baby sitters. This course meets the recommendations by the HSE for Appointed Persons in the Workplace.
  
  
• Having a Baby in The Netherlands
  An information evening for couples who are having a baby or considering having a baby in The Netherlands. This seminar is presented by an ACCESS childbirth educator and covers; The Dutch Health Care System for Pregnancy and Childbirth; Type of Caregivers available; General protocols for Hospitals; and The Kraamzorg (Maternity Nursing Care).
  
  
• Childbirth Preparation Course
  A six-session course. This popular course presented by an ACCESS childbirth educator is geared towards couples in the last trimester of pregnancy. Some of the topics covered include; Introduction to the Dutch Health Care System; Normal labour and childbirth; Medical interventions (forceps/vacuum use, induction procedures, etc.); Breathing and relaxation exercises for the various stages of labour; Toning strengthening exercises for the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles; Pain relief, including epidurals; and Post-partum period.
  
  
• Baby Basics
  General First Aid & Better Understanding to Prevent Cot Death Designed to enable you to feel confident in protecting your baby from 'sudden infant death' syndrome (cot death), using up-to-date information from world health organisation guidelines. Clear advice on keeping your baby safe during illness and infections and how to deal with accidents inside and outside of the home.
  
  
• Easy-to-Do Postnatal Exercises
  Weakening of the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles following the birth of your baby is common. This class will teach you simple exercises you can do at home in your own time. They will help you to strengthen the muscles, promote good circulation and help with posture.
  
  
• Nurturing Baby
  Help and advice on feeding techniques with both breast and bottle feeding by an experienced British midwife. Discussions on frequency of feeds, night routines, support when dealing with a colicky baby and any other general concerns.
  
  
• Babies Sleep Clinic
  A workshop over 2 and 1/2 hours for parents. The workshop content will include:
  
  - Understanding babies' sleep patterns
  - Why babies wake at night
  - Physical reasons
  - Psychological reasons
  
  The effects of sleep deprivation on parents are also covered, with solutions presented regarding establishing bedtime routines, how to deal with night time waking and strategies for getting babies to sleep through the night.
  
  
• Confident Parents, Confident Children
  Building positive relationships for a happy family.
  
  This workshop is designed to help parents to develop their confidence and competence and to provide an enriched and happy upbringing for their children. It is suitable for parents of children of all ages. This course is run by a chartered psychologist.
  
  Issues addressed will include:
  
  - What do our children need from us?
  - What are the needs of parents?
  - Developing high self-esteem for both parents and children.
  - Good communication and much more.