Amy Verkerk has quietly built something extraordinary. With 12.5 years of commitment to coaching and language training, she’s become a powerful figure in the world of English education not because of flashy titles or viral posts, but because of her honest dedication to people, language, and learning.
Amy Verkerk began her career in a modest setting an office so small it had to share space with a wardrobe. That’s where her teaching journey took root, helping children preparing to emigrate to New Zealand. It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t easy. She designed her flyers, stuck A4 posters at the local Albert Heijn, and juggled evening lessons while caring for a newborn, praying he’d stay asleep during class. That is where the essence of her story lies: in grit, in patience, and in faith that small beginnings can lead to big growth.
Over the years, Amy Verkerk has moved from that small office to teaching professionals across industries that span from robotics to farming, from theology to engineering. She didn’t chase prestige she welcomed variety. She’s taught cloud software specialists, cigar machine operators, security consultants, and even a Dutch motocross champion. Each student brought a new challenge, and each one, in turn, taught her something about language, learning, and life.
But what makes Amy Verkerk truly unique is her philosophy. For her, language learning is never just about grammar or vocabulary. It’s about expression. It’s about confidence. It’s about the courage to be vulnerable and try. She teaches her clients that fluency isn’t simply knowing words it’s about using them to show up fully as yourself in another language.
Amy Verkerk is especially sensitive to the emotional layers of language learning. She’s seen too many adults carry the scars of a discouraging comment made by a teacher years ago like “You’ll never learn English.” She understands how those words can echo into adulthood and become mental blocks. But she’s also seen how people break through that self-doubt when given encouragement, empathy, and the right tools.
She doesn’t pretend the journey is easy. Amy Verkerk openly shares how, as a British expat, she too has faced moments of helplessness. She recalls crying in a supermarket over a misread promotional sign not because of the missed deal, but because of the feeling that she couldn’t fully navigate the world around her. That vulnerability is something she brings into her work not as weakness, but as understanding. It’s the bridge she builds with her clients. It’s how she creates space for them to grow.
Through it all, Amy Verkerk remains grounded in gratitude. She hasn’t forgotten the people and organizations that opened doors for her: talkingENGLISH, De Taaltrainer, BTR Trainingen, OCD Opleidingen BV and of course, Franklin Adema, who gave her the first in-company opportunity back in Kampen. These moments, and the trust of these partners, helped shape a career rooted in collaboration.
Amy Verkerk does not seek to be the loudest voice in the room. Instead, she listens. She adapts. She observes. She brings curiosity and respect to every new industry she teaches in. Whether she’s working with a politician or a pepper farmer, her approach remains the same personal, empowering, and deeply human.
It’s also clear that Amy Verkerk measures success differently. She isn’t counting likes or followers. She’s counting courage of the professionals who dared to speak up in meetings, who braved their first presentations in English, who allowed themselves to be beginners again. That’s the real impact of her work. And it’s lasting.
What stands out most about Amy Verkerk is not just her impressive client list or the diversity of industries she’s impacted it’s her authenticity. She has built her career one lesson at a time, one conversation at a time. No shortcuts, no pretenses. Just honest work, patient teaching, and a belief in people’s ability to grow beyond what they thought possible.
As she celebrates this 12.5-year milestone, Amy Verkerk isn’t just looking back. She’s still learning, still evolving, and still deeply committed to making language learning a transformational experience. For anyone who’s ever doubted their voice in another language or their ability to find it Amy Verkerk’s story is proof that with guidance, support, and a bit of stubborn hope, you can.
Her work reminds us that communication is more than just speaking well; it’s about being understood. And that sometimes, the most powerful transformations begin in the smallest of rooms, with someone like Amy Verkerk cheering you on one sentence at a time.
