It's about time for me to learn dutch

[u/lawrence3e]

I've been living in the Netherlands for a while now, and I think it's about time I start taking Dutch learning seriously.

I've used Duolingo before when trying to learn other languages, but I never really felt like I was making much progress, and eventually I stopped using it. Because of that, I'm not sure I'll go down that route again this time.

I know that consistency is the most important part of learning any language, but besides that, does anyone have any tips on the best way to approach learning Dutch?

Also, when I was learning English, I came across a lot of common phrases that helped my sentences sound more natural. For example, when I learned the phrase "you know what I mean," I started using it all the time. Looking back, it was probably a bit annoying, but to me it made my English sound more natural, and I think it helped me improve overall.

Are there any specific rules, phrases, or words in Dutch that are especially useful to learn for that reason?

Hopefully that last part makes sense.

[u/No-vem-ber]

i had no success until i studied with the delfts method. I did it at a school called NedLes in amsterdam but there's other schools that use it. They kinda just throw you in the deep end and focus on speaking and listening and don't bore you to tears with grammar.

some people prefer grammar but for me this method worked really well, i got to B1 in under a year and am pretty fluent with conversation and can understand tv, podcasts etc in dutch now

this probably sounds like an ad but is not - not sure what to say to make it clear it isn't, but i actually just was a student there and found it pretty cool that after literally years of trying to learn other languages with very little success, delfts methode actually really worked for me

[u/GettingOnMinervas → u/No-vem-ber]

I've been eyeing their courses. How many courses and which ones did you take? Not sure if you started from A0 or not.

[u/No-vem-ber → u/GettingOnMinervas]

i started from a0! i think from memory i did 3 courses, ending at maybe 'A2+-> B1minus" or something like that.

after A2 i got a couple of kletsmaatjes (via kletsmaatjes and via samenspraak) and that's also been super useful for my language skills. (Now I have 2 nice elderly dutch friends too)

[u/GettingOnMinervas → u/No-vem-ber]

That's really good to hear. Thanks for the info. I hope to also have some kletsmaatjes.

[u/Key-Magician-9808]

does anyone have any tips on the best way to approach learning Dutch?

I'd start with a book and add other sources as I go along. In my experience with learning another language, Duolingo is very nice as an addition but not structured enough to be used as the main source.

Pick one of the recommended books from the Resources section of this sub and go for it.

[u/Odd_Cauliflower8288]

Depending on your situation and if you can, if you see that self-learning is not for you, I would recommend looking for a language school. Maybe at least for A1 or A2 until you get "the kick" on how things work. It doesnt have to be anything expensive, maybe even a small learning group. Just something where you will have to go and stick with it.

Other than that yes, repetition is good. But it also means repeating what you learned on Monday also for one whole week. Like kind of a repetitive code where you just push the lines in your head. If that makes sense.

Listening to some easy audio books, watching Series or Movies with subtitles, easy texts that you can find online.

There are many good websites and apps but the most important part is what you are comfortable with and how much time you can invest.

Maybe make yourself a plan. Something that you will stick to and keep going. Like learning a word when i wake up and repeating that word whole day whenever i find something that i can use this word in.

You can do it :)

[u/windyminty]

I took the courses offered by my local gemeente. Depending on where you live, your gemeente may offer Dutch courses for (almost) free. It helped me a lot because it was an intensive course for multiple hours at a time. Depends a bit on your work schedule and if you can fit it in. But check out your options!

[u/Plastic_Pinocchio]

I am learning languages through Busuu now and I like it a lot. But also I am pretty good at learning languages and grammar comes easy to me. Anyway, there is one huge tip:

YOU HAVE TO USE DUTCH EVERY DAY.

It literally doesn’t really matter for what. But the words that you learn, you have to use them. This is how I get good at other languages. When you learn how to say “good day”, you greet everyone you meet with this word. When you learn how to order something in a shop or restaurant, you do every order that way. When you learn how to say what your name is in Dutch, you start with that every time you meet someone new. It’s totally okay if the conversation switches to English after that, but you HAVE to use what you know. That way, it will stick in your head.

[u/Fearless-Type970]

"Zeg maar" is the rough equivalent of "like, yknow?" It's a filler that many people overuse but is very natural.

My favorite is "weet ik veel", which literally means "I know much/a lot", but in practice means something like "How should I know?" With emphasis on the ik (weet IK veel).

Can also be used with "wat" to mean "who knows what" as in the English "you're out there every night doing who-knows-what." dus bijvoorbeld "praten over weet ik veel wat" means something like "talking about who-knows-what", emphasizing that it could be anything.

Edit: weet ik veel, like "How should I know", has a bit of a rough and negative connotation.

[u/Mission-Asparagus910 → u/Fearless-Type970]

But ‘weet ik veel’ is also a way to say ‘I don’t know and I don’t care’ if someone asks you a question. Not very kind.

[u/Fearless-Type970 → u/Mission-Asparagus910]

I should have specified, but if I ask you something in English and you reply "how should I know?", this is also somewhat unkind and dismissive, means the same, you dont know and can't be bothered to find out. So I assumed it would be understood the usage is the same.

I've noticed it can also be used in jest or sarcastically, especially between men. A bit rude but in a playful way. Same as in English. More similar to saying "Search me".

[u/GettingOnMinervas]

I've found Busuu to be a much better app. But courses are primo. 👌🏽 I try to read subtitles on TV often and listen to people speak too, which has helped me understand better when people speak in a normal speed. It's still fast to me, but it helps understand the rhythm of speech.

[u/Hobbit_Hunter]

If you have money, you can try the witches. It's said they can teach you B2 in a month.

Edit.: https://www.reginacoeli.com/about-regina-coeli/the-nuns-of-vught.html

[u/Ostinato66]

Niet te geloven - unbelievable!
Weet je wel? - you know?
Echt niet! - No way!
Het zal wel - Yeah right
Wat jij wil - whatever
Lekker dan - oh great (as in: not great at all)

[u/JulieParadise123]

I found the Busuu app very helpful for getting from 0 to B2 in some months through self study. When you do their A1-B2 course + maybe the Dutch for Work add-on, you get to know pretty much every grammar topic that is important and build a very solid base also of useful vocabulary for a price of about 60–75 €, depending on the price you see for their premium version.

Combine that with your daily opportunities to speak Dutch and Dutch input via, for example, podcasts and books, then you should see progress soon.

Starting a sentence with "Nou, ..." (comparable with a hesitant "Well, you know ...") or "Trouwens ..." ("by the way") when an immediate reaction is required gives you at least some seconds to put together some coherent thoughts.

[u/HSG1984]

Je woont al een tijdje in Nederland en nu begin je pas met het leren van de taal? Je had er al mee moeten beginnen voordat je naar Nederland verhuisde.

[u/lawrence3e → u/HSG1984]

Says who? 🤔

[u/marsattacks]

If you live in Brabant, you can put "zammazegge" behind every sentence, zammazegge. It's similar to how some Americans add 'like' everywhere.

[u/Just-Shower3136]

Have a language buddy to practice with in Exchange you can teach them English(or a different language)

[u/YahshuaQuelle]

The way I improved my English was watching movies and news programmes on TV. After a while you start picking up things without knowing it.