CVO Semper leads the way for language learning and integration in Belgium

CVO Semper is the largest Centre for Adult Education (CVO) in the Brussels Region and the northern suburbs of the capital. Its speciality is offering high-quality language courses by experienced and qualified teachers for affordable prices.

The school runs courses in Dutch, French and English – the lingua franca in the international context of multilingual Brussels – as well as classes in German, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Russian, Arabic and sign language. Dutch courses are free from level 1 (A1) to level 6 (B1) and are subsidised by the Flemish government.

Different levels of proficiency, beginner or advanced are taught. Professional courses include French for medical purposes and DFPs (Diplômes de Français Professionnel, which is in high demand in Brussels.

CVO Semper also gives shorter courses that focus on themes such as pronunciation, applying for a job and preparing for federal government language tests.

In order to best meet individual needs, classes are organised during the day, in evenings and on Saturdays. Face-to-face and distance learning further expand the options for students.

The centre also welcomes newcomers who have chosen Belgium for family or professional reasons and are learning Frenchor Dutch because they need it in everyday life, at home and at work.

In addition to language classes, CVO Semper offers photography, fashion and electronics, ICT and vocational courses in Dutch at centres in the Flemish periphery. This enables students to have more practice as well as contact with native speakers.

Tuition aimed at business and the job market

The school was initially founded by the BECI (Brussels Chamber of Commerce) as a vocational training centre in 1970. It became CVO Semper in 2019, following the merger with the CVOs of Meise-Jette, Strombeek and Vilvoorde.

Since 2005, it has been a partner centre of the Paris Ile-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIP), and has been offering the Professional French Diploma to its students for almost 20 years.

There is a real demand from students for courses that are specifically adapted to the professional context. BECI underlines the importance of training aimed at business and the job market, which helps employers find the right talent.

As a multilingual country, languages are an important key to successful integration and participation in Belgian society as well as its job market.

Personal motivation for learning a new language

Some students learn an additional language for fun, or to develop their network of friends, so in this case it becomes a personal challenge. Finally, there are students who take courses at a university or college, sometimes as part of an Erasmus exchange. 

To make the learning experience more enriching, students have the opportunity to visit theatres and exhibitions and writers are invited to schools to present their books. There are also study breaks of a few days to countries such as France, Germany and Italy, as well as day trips in Belgium.

Student exchange programmes

In the centre’s Tandem project, students are matched with different target languages. A French native speaker learning Dutch could be paired up with a Dutch student learning French.

The school also takes part in Erasmus projects with a partner institution in Tenerife, organising student exchanges.

Technology and innovation

Technological advancements in the centre include artificial intelligence and the language processing tool ChatGPT. The school ensures that it keeps up with these trends and offers innovative solutions.

It also prioritises meeting the changing demands of students and business clients. People are looking for shorter courses and its ‘at home’ online courses are proving very popular. They were launched during the coronavirus pandemic and students continue to like studying in this way.

With many of the school’s high-demand courses tailored for businesses and organisations, classes can fill up quickly. Students are advised to enroll for these courses as soon as possible.