Embedded Files
Ok, so let’s get real. How long have you been living in the Netherlands now? And are you still telling yourself that learning the lingo is not necessary? That you get by easily in English? Let me guess some of your excuses for not taking any Dutch lessons :
Misconceptions about Dutch courses.
Here are some reasons you probably tell yourself you don’t need to take any Dutch lessons:
1. You are already learning Dutch with an app.
I bet you have installed an app like Duolingo and learned some basic phrases with it. Well done, especially for beginners it’s a good starting point to learn Dutch, without the stress of actually having to use what you have learned. However,and this brings us to one of the biggest drawbacks of using apps to learn Dutch: An app won’t get you to practise speaking. Forming sentences and speaking the language in practical contexts is really necessary. An app won’t give you that practice - a teacher will. Additionally, with an app like Duolingo you will learn stacks of useless words and phrases like “Their elephant drinks milk,” “My snake eats your cake,” “I have our cow,” “The knife is in the boot,”
Probably not the best arsenal of sentences to impress your neighbours with.
2. A Dutch course will be dull.
No way learning a language ever needs to be boring! In the olden days, language lessons were based upon the "grammar-and-vocabulary technique". This method wasn't particularly engaging or practical, and it hardly provided any opportunity to listen to and take part in real-life situations. Nowadays that is a completely different story. Just make sure you find the right school, the right lessons and the right teacher. Especially with the use of technology, even grammar lessons don't need to feel tedious anymore.Good lessons use a great variety of interactive activities, videos, audio and games. Your lessons should pass so quickly that you forget the time.
3. Learning Dutch is useless
It is true that you would probably get by in most big cities in the Netherlands in English. But did you really pack all your things and move to the Netherlands to just get by? I think one of the biggest advantages of learning Dutch is of course being able to understand daily information you encounter, such as signs in the street, announcements in the train or letters you receive from the “gemeente”, without having to ask people around you to translate. It will also facilitate your integration into your new town and street. It can all start with a simple “Hallo, hoe gaat het” and lead to a barbecue with the neighbours in their backyard. It will make you more independent, it will broaden your horizons and it’s also a great way to make new friends and expand your social circle. So no - There is no such thing as useless Dutch.
4. You will have lots of homework in a Dutch language course
Now that technology has made many resources available outside the classroom, homework doesn’t need to be boring,repetitive or pointless anymore. While homework should consolidate classwork, it should not replicate it. Studying for tests, doing workbook exercises, finishing incomplete classwork, memorising lists of useless words and writing compositions - it will all remind you of your schooldays.
In a good language class homework is so much more than that though. It provides continuity between lessons and offers opportunities for extensive activities in speaking, reading, writing and listening practice, which there may not be enough time for in the lesson.
So yes, there will be homework, but it’s usually manageable. And you are not at school anymore. Your homework will be practical and useful. Plus you are an adult now, with a job. And children. And the laundry to do. Your teacher will get that. Got lots of time? Brilliant! You can spend between three to five hours on your huiswerk. Got a more hectic week ahead of you? Carve out 30 minutes per day for your homework and you’re good to go. Didn’t have time to do it all? Geen probleem. Life happens, the teacher gets it.
The more you put in though, the more you’ll get out — and as long as you realise that and adapt your expectations in your language-learning accordingly, you (and your teacher!) will be fine.
Why take Dutch courses online?
With all the excuses out of the way, now let’s have a look at how to learn Dutch at your own pace and in an enjoyable way.
For this, I recommend you learn Dutch online. The advantages of an online Dutch course as opposed to classes in person are many.
Convenience
Online lessons you will be flexible in where you take your lessons. No matter where you are, be it in Boston for work or in Croatia on holiday , if you want to have a lesson, you can have your lesson. No more cycling back and forth through the rain after a long working day to get to your evening class; you just open up your laptop and the fun can begin.
Options
You have the opportunity to choose from thousands of schools and teachers. Find the best one for you.
More variety, more fun
Apart from these obvious benefits, there are a number of others that are less evident. Learning Dutch has never been easier or more enjoyable than it is now, especially in an online classroom. Visual presentations, videos, audio, interactive grammatical correction tools, online games, sending messages, and other multimedia resources are available in online courses to help you practise reading, writing, listening, and speaking the language. As it provides more fun and variety in learning, technology helps you learn faster and it also helps you stay committed to learning.
More chances of interaction
This might sound contradictory, but online learning can be great for increasing your chances to use the language and to practise speaking. Having access to a variety of different tools and resources, you get considerably more out of every session than you would when taking lessons face to face.
Top tips on how to improve your Dutch for free
No time yet to start taking Dutch lessons? No worries. Here is a useful list with great tips that could help you improve your Dutch language skills at home. The most important thing is to enjoy what you’re doing. If you see learning Dutch as a chore, you’ll never improve your Dutch. So, see these activities as some kind of game or sport. If an activity becomes boring, forget it and try something else. Good luck!
top tips to improve your Dutch
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse