Archive for January, 2010

Learning Dutch

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

When learning Dutch I used:

Free software:

  • Before You Know It: uses flashcards to teach you quite a varied basic vocabulary. Nice but irritatingly requires you to type exactly the correct answer (including capitalisation)  - and sometimes two flashcards within the same set will be identical on one side and different on the other, meaning you’ll always have to guess.
  • Nieuwe Buren Oefeningen (got it from the local library I think): Pretty dry and uninspiring but gets the job done.

The local library:

  • There’s a lot of state support for foreigners to learn Dutch, the easiest to find being that libraries are well stocked with learning material.

Courses:

  • A 5-day intensive course in Arnhem. Was expensive but very effective, I’d recommend splitting your 5 days to be Wednesday through Friday and then Monday, Tuesday the following week to keep yourself sane.

Books

  • The standard textbook everyone talks about, and that was used by all teachers I used is Taal Vitaal, the blue one is the textbook and the green is the exercise book

Tutor: