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No language is easy, but if you really want to learn Dutch, you can! Dutch is a logical language with orderly syntax and few foreign words adopted into its vocabulary. Most foreign words are English loan words. Dutch belongs to the Germanic family of languages as well as Danish, English, and German. Edit

Steps

1. Make sure you really want to learn this language and that you are determined to learn it, because any new language is hard work.

2. Go to your nearest bookstore and buy books/audio tapes for beginners so that you can start with the basics. If you are a beginning learner, translate simple texts, poems, songs, and Dutch kids' books. A dictionary, and quick grammar reference guides, as well as more informal basic Dutch books can all be really helpful tools when something slips your mind.

3. Take at least a 1/2 hour to an hour out of your day to practice Dutch. Lots of students find it more productive to study in twenty minute sessions as opposed to one hour sessions.

4. Make sure you learn the basics like your name, where you live, and your age before diving into the harder stuff.

5. Carry a small notepad in your pocket with vocabulary; you can study it anywhere. You may find it very helpful to review only four or five irregular verbs each day.

6. Take at least one year of introductory Dutch taught in your own language. Being exposed to it in your own language and learning the basic grammar before immersing yourself in it will make the overall experience a little less overwhelming. If you are taking this class in college or a community college and aren't using it to graduate, don't take the class for a letter grade. This takes the pressure off getting the grade and makes the experience more relaxed and enjoyable, just remember that what you put in is what you get out.

7. Become friends with people who speak better than you or are in a higher level class. Having someone who is always there to help you out can really pay off.

8. Research potential language schools in the Netherlands. This is the best way to learn, as you will be immersed in the culture and language, yet there is structure and guidance to facilitate quick learning.

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Tips

* As many former exchange students will attest, the only way become fluent in any foreign language is to be willing to make a fool of yourself. Do not worry about being perfect. Study, do your best, then inflict your Dutch on the Dutch. Do not take it personally if they correct you.

* If you're able to spend time in the Netherlands, participate in all of the school related activities. Study hard, but play hard too. Having a beer or two at a pub can really let your inhibitions about speaking imperfect Dutch go out the window, and you can explore how much you know. Make friends, socialize, and explore the country with your newfound friends. At the end of your journey you will have learned more Dutch than you would've taking years of classes, and you will have friends from countries all around the world to visit next time you go traveling! Avoid people from your country. Being around someone who speaks your language will cause you to always revert back to your comfort zone in speaking your native tongue. If you're in your comfort zone, you aren't learning.

* Read, speak, and think in Dutch as much as possible.

* Word grouping is extremely useful to some.

* Ignore the myths: "Dutch is very difficult." Any language is hard at first glance. As you progress, the language will grow steadily easier; the same with any other.

* Realize that you have an advantage over other learners if your native language is Germanic. Dutch and English used to be one language. They're practically cousins! To Russian speakers, Polish is easier than English!

* Stay positive and optimistic. Don't become crestfallen by minor difficulties. Keep studying!

* Get a penpal.

* Find a language partner at http://www.itakli.com then talk to him or her using http://www.skype.com

* Never let yourself become bored. If you do, then language learning isn't for you!

* Learn word etymologies.

* Visit The Netherlands and stay at a Jeugdherberg (youth hostel). They usually maintain inexpensive rates. However, be warned that many Dutch speak English well. You may need to explicity ask people if you can practice speaking Dutch otherwise you may find yourself in mostly English conversations.

* It may be easier for you to learn Dutch by listening to Dutchmusic. Try finding Dutch covers of songs that you know, or try search for musical songs. They tend to be easier to understand.

* To aid in pronunciation, here is the alphabet in closely approximated English:

* A(ah), B(bay), C(say), D(day), E(ay), F (ef), G(gay), H(haa), I(eeh), J(jay), K(kah), L (ell), M (emm), N (enn), O(oo), P(pay), Q(koo), R(air), S (ess), T(tay), U(ooh), V(fay), W(vay), X(ixx), Y(I), Z(set). Once you know the sounds of the alphabet, it'll be incredibly easy to pronounce any word in Dutch.



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Warnings

* If you do get the chance to talk to someone in Dutch, make sure you do not offend anyone: for example, refer to authority figures with "U", not "je". "U" is formal, or for someone you just met or don't know well, and "je" would be used if you were talking to a child or a friend.

For learning Dutch Category Uncategorized Level Unspecified Second language English Created May 13, 2008 15:38 Views 1272 Share:

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