shaunlearnsdutch-blog

[shaunlearnsdutch-blog]

Days 3-5

The days on the course pass incredibly quickly and a lot of information is absorbed in this time. Each day’s lesson focuses on a certain context such as ‘going to the doctor’ or ‘going for a night out’ and also aims to teach a certain principle such as ‘past-tense’ or ‘diminutives’ etc.

It’s an incredibly effective way of learning and a lot of progress is covered within the day.

I struggle with grammar. I didn’t have much emphasis put on it in school when I was younger and I have never seriously attempted to learn a language before - this is two things which I feel I have in common with the majority of native English speakers attempting to learn a second language. Effectively I am learning two things; the first is basic grammar principles and how to learn a language, the second is learning Dutch. It’s challenging for sure but a task I’m determined to undertake.

Last night we had a boerenkool stamppot challenge - all of the students were divided into groups in order to compete against each other to see who could produce the best traditional Dutch stamppot, as judged by our docents!

Social activities play a big role at the Winter School in Drenthe. This creates a warm and supportive atmosphere and also allows for many occasions to praat nederlands met andere studenten!

The fifth day of the course is a day-off from class and many of the students and docents met this evening to have a meal and a few drinks.

[shaunlearnsdutch-blog]

A1-A2 Level in Drenthe. The First Couple of Days.

My journey to the Dutch Winter School in Drenthe began in Rotterdam where I had spent a couple of days exploring the city. As I sat on the train looking out across the prodigiously flat Dutch landscape I became very excited by the thought of exploring the language some more over the next few days. 

I decided that I better spend my journey revising what I had learnt the previous month in Amsterdam!

I got off the train at Beilen where a car was waiting to drive me and the other Winter School students to the vakantiepark.

Upon arrival we were allocated our rooms and started planning our first barbecue! This was done as a group and was a great way to meet all the other students on the course. Everyone has their own story and reason for learning Dutch, some because of work but others for studying or as a personal challenge to themselves.

The first lesson the following day was difficult. It definitely felt like a level above my classes in Amsterdam, as it should! Separable verbs was the main topic of the day. It will take me quite some time to get my head around it and I suppose the only way to get to grips with this principle is to use them as often as possible. It’s just a case of remembering them.

The lessons are a mix of listening, speaking and reading exercises with slides and examples from the teacher.

It’s a curious thing, I don’t always realise how much I am learning until I reflect upon it all and consider that I now know words and sentence constructs that I didn’t just two days ago. The course moves at a fast pace and a lot of information is absorbed in this time. The number one rule is to do your homework each evening, if you do this you can keep up with the following day’s lesson.

[shaunlearnsdutch-blog]

Why I’m learning Dutch

It may seem like an unusual choice but to me learning Dutch makes complete sense!

I finished my MA last summer and decided to invest my new found free time in learning a language. I’d long since become frustrated that I didn’t speak any languages beyond my own native English and had resolved myself to study a second language as soon as I could find the time. Completing my university study gave me that opportunity.

I have a number of Dutch friends and really enjoy the country, as a self-employed artist I also visit for business occasionally, so learning Dutch seemed like a logical choice for me. 

I first started being introduced to the language learning process through youtube videos and phone apps. This proved useful to gain a very basic understanding of grammar and a limited vocabulary but I felt that in order to begin to properly grasp the language I should look at undertaking a period of more intensive study. I couldn’t find any Dutch tutors near where I live in Scotland so I decided to look for courses in the Netherlands. It was at this point that I found dutchwinterschool.nl and #dutchgrammar!

I first attended the Dutch Winter School in Amsterdam in January when I completed the introductory 0-A1 level. This proved to be an incredibly enriching experience. Having never gone through the process of learning a language before I found it all quite fascinating - each day I would walk through the city on the way to my lesson and I would notice new things; street signs and snippets of conversations. It felt incredible. Such a small thing but it felt like a huge achievement. 

As the days went on my confidence slowly began building and by the third day I was ordering my coffee, asking for prices and requesting to pay.

I hadn’t initially planned to study the next level in February but I decided to go for it following my experience on the 0-A1 group in Amsterdam.

I’m due to begin the Winter School course in Drenthe tomorrow. I’ll keep you updated.

Shaun Fraser