{"id":6550,"date":"2024-02-05T12:02:09","date_gmt":"2024-02-05T12:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clozemaster.com\/blog\/?p=6550"},"modified":"2024-02-05T12:02:11","modified_gmt":"2024-02-05T12:02:11","slug":"best-way-to-learn-dutch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clozemaster.com\/blog\/best-way-to-learn-dutch\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Way to Learn Dutch: Tips and Tricks to Improve Your Study"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"books<\/p>\n

When I first moved to the Netherlands with my family, I was a teenager who couldn\u2019t speak a word of Dutch. I remember sitting down in front of the TV, turning the channel to my favorite program, and realizing with dismay that I had no idea what any of the characters were saying. It\u2019s been a long journey in the twenty years since then, and I\u2019ve learned a lot along the way. In this article, I will share some of my favorite tips and tricks, as well as the best way to learn Dutch depending on your skill level, interests, and the time available to you.<\/p>\n

Regardless of where you are in your journey, the best way to learn Dutch is to have fun and build sustainable, consistent habits. Having good resources is important, but an intensive course is no good if you\u2019re a busy parent with only ten minutes to spare each day.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Keep a Diary<\/h2>\n

I discovered this trick relatively recently, and it has quickly become one of my favorite tips for language learning. It\u2019s easy to overthink this concept, focusing too much on grammar, sentence structure, or spelling. However, although these concepts are useful to keep in mind, producing perfect writing is not the objective of this exercise. The goal is to get into the habit of thinking and writing in Dutch daily.<\/p>\n

For this exercise, you\u2019ll need either a notebook, a journaling app, or the notes app on your phone. Then, set a time, and get into the habit of adding something to the journal each day. It doesn\u2019t have to be much, especially in the beginning. It could be a sentence about how much you liked the soup you had for lunch, a paragraph summarizing your day, or pages of rambling. Go at your own pace and commit to what you feel comfortable with. Remember, this isn\u2019t about producing memorable, perfect prose. It\u2019s about learning to think in Dutch. This is about learning how to find the words to express your thoughts and opinions, as well as describing memories and experiences.<\/p>\n

Speaking Dutch, especially with native Dutch speakers, can be an intimidating first step to take. It\u2019s a fast-paced environment and leaves little time to formulate even simple thoughts for new learners. If you find yourself struggling to take that crucial step into Dutch conversation, then keeping a diary may be the best way to learn Dutch at this stage in your journey.<\/p>\n

With time, as you commit to keeping this diary, you might find that writing and thinking in Dutch becomes easier and easier. You may find yourself writing for longer and on more complex topics. It can be an excellent tool for growing your confidence.<\/p>\n

Another benefit to keeping a diary is that it can help you track your growth. After several years of study, it\u2019s easy to forget how you started. Keeping a diary can be an excellent tool for those days when you\u2019re feeling frustrated with your progress. Cracking open your first diary and comparing what you wrote then to what you know now can provide some valuable perspective on how far you\u2019ve come as a student.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Make a Habit of Listening Practice<\/h2>\n

I would personally argue that active listening while engaging with media you enjoy is the best way to learn Dutch at the beginning of your studies.<\/p>\n

When I first moved to the Netherlands, I made a habit of watching Dutch-spoken TV each day after school. In particular, I watched a lot of cartoons. Cartoons and children\u2019s media are a fantastic starting point, as the dialogue is often enunciated more clearly and spoken more slowly.<\/p>\n

In the beginning, I relied heavily on subtitles to understand what was going on. However, with time, I became familiar enough with the cadence of Dutch to begin picking up words and then sentences. With persistence, I began to notice that specific expressions and words belonged to certain actions or emotions. I relied on the subtitles less and less until, at a certain point, I stopped needing them altogether.<\/p>\n

The key to listening practice is to incorporate it regularly into your schedule. Daily if you can. Although it\u2019s tempting to slap a podcast on in the background and listen absently while doing something else, the best way to learn Dutch when using listening practice is to remain actively engaged. I find it best to use media you find genuinely interesting or entertaining. If you want to understand what\u2019s being said, it will make the entire process much more rewarding.<\/p>\n

With the amount of resources available online today, there\u2019s no shortage of potential options. For a full breakdown of how to use listening in your studies, as well as a list of resources to get you started, I recommend the following article on Dutch listening practice<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Engage in Conversation<\/h2>\n

The best way to learn Dutch at any level is to engage in Dutch conversation. Although this can be intimidating at first, especially for us introverts, the benefits far outweigh the cons. If you can persevere through the initial nervousness, speaking Dutch will become easier and easier. In combination with additional learning resources, such as a course and\/or active listening, this is a fantastic way to move toward fluency. When I committed to this, I saw a drastic improvement in just a year.<\/p>\n

If you are fortunate enough to be learning Dutch while living in the Netherlands, I would suggest committing to only speaking Dutch. During my time there, I would often meet many lovely people who would immediately switch to English the second they realized I was struggling. However, as tempting as it is to take that lifeline, I\u2019d recommend sticking to Dutch with dogged determination. It may feel like jumping in the deep end at first, but it\u2019s easily the best way to learn Dutch in my experience.<\/p>\n

When I first started learning, I came away with an impressive number of conversational blunders, which earned me a few bewildered looks from the people I was speaking to, followed by a slow and cautious suggestion of what I\u2019d meant to say (rather than the incredibly worrying and\/or offensive thing I\u2019d actually said). It\u2019s challenging at first and you will make mistakes. However, with time, speaking in Dutch will get easier. Persistence and practice are key.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re learning outside the Netherlands, your options are a little more limited. However, I would suggest taking to online communities. Finding Dutch groups online, be it on social media, instant messaging apps, or hobby communities, can offer brilliant opportunities to engage and practice.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Gamify Your Experience with Apps<\/h2>\n

When I first started learning Dutch, the options available for study were quite limited, especially outside the Netherlands. Now, more than ever, we have so many great options. We can so easily open our phones and have colorful, tailored apps available to deliver learning in bite-sized chunks. If you have virtually no time on your hands, using one of these apps may be the best way to learn Dutch.<\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s important to note that no app is ever going to provide a complete learning resource. During very busy periods of my life, I have often found myself relying on a preferred app to stay practiced, but within the scope of your overall learning, I would suggest only using them as supplements.<\/p>\n

Here are a few options to explore:<\/p>\n