Telephone number:	+31 (0)71 527 2187
E-Mail:	i.van.de.calseyde@hum.leidenuniv.nl
Faculty / Department:	Faculteit der Geesteswetenschappen, Leiden Univ Centre for Linguistics, LUCL Frans
Office Address:	Witte Singel-complex van Wijkplaats 3 2311 BX Leiden Room number 1.04a

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As I do not have a permanent office, please contact me on this number: 00 31 653 38 98 25  

Born in Brugge of Dutch parents and having grown up in Belgium as well as in the Netherlands, I was, from a young age, confronted with two separate languages, Dutch and French, with their respective variants of Flemish and Walloon. Coming into contact with different languages, and consequently with different cultures, so early made me aware of the fundamental diversity in the customs and ideas of both societies.   Through my study and work experiences as a teacher of the French language in the Dutch corporate sector and as a court interpreter for the police and the Justice Department, I considered it an exciting challenge to teach the language on the one hand, and on the other to let Dutch businessmen and lawyers experience how closely language and culture are interwoven.  

In my current work, I find it fascinating to investigate together with students the diverse facets of French society, in particular within the business sector and the legal world. Using contrastive analysis, students can discover how people express themselves in different environments: how does a Dutch businessman negotiate with his French trading partner, for example? And how does a French-speaking suspect defend himself in a Dutch lawsuit?

Isabelle Van de Calseyde,
Responsible for relations with the Paris Chamber of Commerce and CCIP examinations  

Awarded the honour of «Chevalier dans l’ordre des Palmes Académiques» by Claude Allègre, Minister for National Education, 1998

Each year, on the occasion of the "Dies Natalis", the Student Council of Leiden University presents examples of excellent teaching skills, and rewards them, to inspire all teaching staff. Over 30 study associations have nominated their best teacher for this award. I was greatly honoured to receive the LSr-award 2011.