Mathilde Lageman, Managing Director and Co-Owner; Wilfried Gradus, Managing Director and Co-OwnerThis is the driving force behind STE Languages, a language learning institute dedicated to helping international companies achieve commercial success while empowering employees to grow personally and professionally, all through the power of language. Although it has earned its stripes as a trusted collaborator with many local and global companies, it’s the journey it takes with both clients and learners that truly sets the company apart.
The journey begins with discovery with each learner. Through warm and welcoming intake interviews, STE Languages delves into their aspirations, challenges and needs. This approach ensures the learning experience is tailored to the learner’s goals, not just with the objectives of their employer.
As Mathilde Lageman, managing director and co-owner, explains, “We put ourselves in the shoes of the company and their employees because we understand the human factor is crucial and effective language learning can only happen if there is a teacher-student relationship.”
When the learning begins after finalising schedules, STE Languages remains committed to transparency and support. It takes the time to explain the objectives, methods and milestones of the program, making sure the students are fully motivated. Creating a supportive and engaging learning environment encourages learners to step out of their comfort zones, embrace new cultures and build lasting connections with their peers and instructors.
This ethos shows through tangible results. It is the core reason behind the company’s high levels of customer satisfaction. Every two years, STE Languages engages with Cedeo, an authoritative body in the Netherlands that evaluates customer satisfaction across various sectors. In its most recent assessment, it received a commendation for achieving a customer satisfaction rating of 96.3 percent, ranging from good to very good.
Wilfried Gradus, managing director and co-owner, when talking about the reason why STE Languages gets such stellar reviews, says, “Our key focus is communication. It’s not always about perfection. Yes, our students learn grammar and vocabulary. The real goal, however, is boosting their confidence to use the language on the job, even if they make grammatical mistakes.”
This approach is particularly effective when working with learners from diverse educational backgrounds. STE Languages understands that different learners have different needs and learning styles and tailors the teaching methods and materials accordingly. For highly skilled workers, a focus on grammar and the intricacies of the language may be appropriate, while for those with less formal education, a more practical, communication-focused approach often yields better results.
In one instance, STE Languages’ commitment to building confidence and practical communication skills led to a remarkable success story for a global transport company seeking to improve their team leaders’ English skills.
We put ourselves in the shoes of the company and their employees because we understand the human factor is crucial and effective language learning can only happen if there is a teacher-student relationship
The collaboration began with STE Languages visiting the company’s factories, interacting with workers and gathering insights into their language challenges. Using this information, along with the company’s top ten learning objectives, job descriptions and authentic materials, STE Languages crafted a custom-made program over two months, including 120 intake interviews.
The resulting course featured authentic content and trainers experienced in teaching learners unfamiliar with formal education. The company remained engaged throughout, participating in weekly progress meetings.
To gather feedback, STE Languages created postcards with smileys and space for comments. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with one participant noting, “This is the first lesson in my life that I really enjoyed.”
With the slogan ‘Meet, Connect and Grow,’ STE Languages is not only breaking down language barriers—it is empowering international companies in the Netherlands to foster effective communication, boost productivity and unlock the full potential of their diverse workforce. By investing in the language skills of their employees with the help of innovative and learner-focused training, international businesses can position themselves for success in a globalised world.
