My methods for learning Dutch

Many friends have asked me about my methods for learning Dutch. Here, I’d like to share the methods that have been most effective for me. I am currently at a B2 level in Dutch, meaning I have no issues with everyday communication, and I can follow about 80-90% of business meetings and local TV shows.

My learning methods focus on two key points:

1. Persistence

2. Attending classes

I don’t particularly enjoy online courses; I need interaction to learn more effectively, and I lack motivation without a financial commitment. Therefore, paying for classes has been the best choice for me. Some schools are very strict, and failing exams means you can't continue. When I first came to the Netherlands 13 years ago to attend university, I took Dutch classes at the Xian Chinese School. Back then, maintaining an 80% attendance rate and passing the exams meant a partial refund of the course fee, which motivated me to attend classes regularly.

I have attended various schools in Den Haag, Amstelveen, Breda, and Eindhoven, including local institutions like STE and Volksuniversiteit, spending at least 5000 euros. Classes provided structure and helped me make great friends, which is crucial for local integration.

I have also found language buddies, both young and old. While living in Amstelveen, an elderly gentleman kindly chatted with me in Dutch every week for free and helped with my homework. His patience was unmatched, and talking to him offered valuable insights into different generations of Dutch people.

Another significant factor in my Dutch learning journey was my job at a law firm and a large Dutch corporation before moving to Amsterdam. Dutch people dominated these environments. Imagine being in a law firm where everyone speaks Dutch (lawyers tend to have their own egos). They certainly wouldn’t switch to English for one foreigner. I remember in 2016, everyone discussed the US presidential election, a topic I was very interested in and followed daily. However, I felt limited in expressing myself and had a smaller vocabulary at that time, which made me feel shy and unable to join the conversation, resulting in a sense of helplessness. Similarly, having a Dutch partner and being at a family gathering where everyone speaks Dutch can also be challenging and make you feel left out.

After moving to Amsterdam, I discovered that international companies and foreigners are indeed plentiful here. When I try to speak Dutch, people can tell I’m a foreigner and often say, “We can speak English if you prefer.” I insist, “Nee, ik wil graag oefenen” (No, I want to practice), and they continue conversing in Dutch, providing more opportunities to practice. The locals are generally supportive, and I’m not afraid of making mistakes; as long as I can understand and communicate, that’s what matters.

Whether or not to learn Dutch, and to what extent, is entirely a personal decision. Dutch is a relatively small language. For example, when I toured museums in Italy, the information was available in English, French, German, and Spanish, but not in Dutch. Another example is when I traveled to a Spanish island with a friend who speaks French; she communicated with the Uber driver in French, while I couldn’t use Dutch. However, I was pleasantly surprised that I could communicate with hotel staff in Dutch in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, as some Dutch and German words are similar, despite pronunciation differences between Zurich’s Swiss German and standard German.

While Dutch might not be widely applicable outside the Netherlands, it certainly offers advantages for long-term living and local integration. It helps in the workplace, social integration, and information access.

Learning the local languge is the best way to understand its culture!

Lydia

Amsterdam 27 July 2024