Can you speak Dutch?
#1
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Can you speak Dutch?
It has been said that the Netherlands is the most difficult place tolearn the local language for an English-speaker as most of the people from the age 5 upwards speak very good English indeed.
However, inability to speak Dutch still restricts employment opportunities. What are your views?
However, inability to speak Dutch still restricts employment opportunities. What are your views?
#2
Re: Can you speak Dutch?
I used to do business with a couple of Dutch companies and visited there a lot. I tried my hardest to learn the language but found it very difficult.
My experience was that nearly every Dutch businessman spoke better English than I did, so it didn't help my cause.
My experience was that nearly every Dutch businessman spoke better English than I did, so it didn't help my cause.
#3
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Re: Can you speak Dutch?
Did help us a bit though when we moved to SA and had to speak Afrikaans
#4
Re: Can you speak Dutch?
I lived in Holland for 21 years, but because I moved over when I was 21, I found that I picked up the language fairly well. I spoke fluent Dutch within 4 years without lessons. I now live in Australia, in a flower growing region, and speak almost as much Dutch as English some days !!
The biggest problems in Holland is that almost everybody now speaks very good English. You should just try to speak the lingo. They do appreciate the effort. The language is difficult because of the prenunciation, but once you get the hang of it, you will surprise yourself.
Just practise "Scheveningen" or "goede morgen" "hoe gaat het met U" Its all in the G.
The biggest problems in Holland is that almost everybody now speaks very good English. You should just try to speak the lingo. They do appreciate the effort. The language is difficult because of the prenunciation, but once you get the hang of it, you will surprise yourself.
Just practise "Scheveningen" or "goede morgen" "hoe gaat het met U" Its all in the G.
#5
Re: Can you speak Dutch?
I lived in Holland for 21 years, but because I moved over when I was 21, I found that I picked up the language fairly well. I spoke fluent Dutch within 4 years without lessons. I now live in Australia, in a flower growing region, and speak almost as much Dutch as English some days !!
The biggest problems in Holland is that almost everybody now speaks very good English. You should just try to speak the lingo. They do appreciate the effort. The language is difficult because of the prenunciation, but once you get the hang of it, you will surprise yourself.
Just practise "Scheveningen" or "goede morgen" "hoe gaat het met U" Its all in the G.
The biggest problems in Holland is that almost everybody now speaks very good English. You should just try to speak the lingo. They do appreciate the effort. The language is difficult because of the prenunciation, but once you get the hang of it, you will surprise yourself.
Just practise "Scheveningen" or "goede morgen" "hoe gaat het met U" Its all in the G.
Nederlands is vrij makkelijk ;-)
#7
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#8
Re: Can you speak Dutch?
I lived there for almsot 8 years, it took me most of those 8 to learn Dutch. And now I don't live there anymore I miss speaking it! Luckily I'm working for a Dutch bank so I do get to hear it every now and then.
But it was only when I had my daughter that I needed to speak Dutch, and my husband never really learnt it. I had colleagues who had lived there 25 years and didn't speak it.
But it was only when I had my daughter that I needed to speak Dutch, and my husband never really learnt it. I had colleagues who had lived there 25 years and didn't speak it.
#10
Re: Can you speak Dutch?
Oh I can so relate to the original post.
The damned Dutch will not be patient enough with people trying to learn Dutch, but then will insist that they magically speak it! My own husband (see above) can't stand my bad Dutch pronunciation, but how can I improve it if I can't practise and get feedback?!
I think some words and phrases were made up to torture non-native speakers.... try "graag gedaan" -- "gr" and two more "g"s before you can make it through the answer to "dank u wel" which is far easier to say. No wonder the Dutch are so polite, they thank you and then sit back and laugh when you have to reply.
The damned Dutch will not be patient enough with people trying to learn Dutch, but then will insist that they magically speak it! My own husband (see above) can't stand my bad Dutch pronunciation, but how can I improve it if I can't practise and get feedback?!
I think some words and phrases were made up to torture non-native speakers.... try "graag gedaan" -- "gr" and two more "g"s before you can make it through the answer to "dank u wel" which is far easier to say. No wonder the Dutch are so polite, they thank you and then sit back and laugh when you have to reply.
#11
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Re: Can you speak Dutch?
The Dutch vocabulary is something between German and English. The grammar is definetely more German than English. However, I can very easily read and understand Dutch newspapers but when the language is spoken there are far too many guttural sounds.
#12
Re: Can you speak Dutch?
I agree with you on the gutturals. I do my level best to clear my throat of all secretions when speaking Dutch, but it's still not good enough.
#13
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Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Uden, The Netherlands
Posts: 42
Re: Can you speak Dutch?
In the beginning it is great that everyone around you speaks english and you can communicate with people. Then you do your best to learn the language and as soon as anybody hears you have a slight english accent they just right in and start talking english to you. It annoyed the hell out of me when I was trying my damndest to learn dutch and practise speaking it. Nowadays I get my own back. I walk around stores speaking english to my wife and when an assistant walks up and asks in their best english if they can help I just turn round and say in dutch 'sorry what did u say' with a confused look on my face. It is sooooo much fun watching them walk away scratching their heads - you can almost hear them mumbling to themselves 'I am sure he was speaking english - am i going mad?'. Vengence
I teach Maths at a Dutch state school now and apart from the eternal struggle with De and Het life in Dutch land is not at all bad.
#14
Re: Can you speak Dutch?
Good on you for learning! Hope I am as good as you one day. I need the immersion, as I've mentioned my husband is too impatient to teach me.
#15
Re: Can you speak Dutch?
A lot of funny and helpful remarks here. I think you have to just take it slowly, accept that people are going to speak English to you a lot. But they do appreciate the attempts to speak Dutch, and I've found them very willing to answer "wat bedetet....in het Nederlands". Luckily I did German "O" level at school, taught the classic grammatical way, which is a great foundation, a flying start for Dutch, which I'm learning from the grammatically based "Hugo - Dutch in Three Months" ( Three months!!!!!! Imagine!! )