Learning dutch?

[endrien]

I find dutch culture pretty interesting and I like how they seem to be open to new ideas. I've always wanted to learn a second language and be fluent in it, I took(was forced by Canada) french for 3 years and I didn't like it as I wasn't at all interested in France or the language in general so I never really did well with it. After doing some research I believe I would like to learn dutch. I was thinking about using Rosetta stone for a basis and then trying to read dutch literature and watch videos/listen to radio etc. Would this be a good way of going about it? Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks!

[Groteske]

Ugh I would suggest learning your native tongue first and foremost and then become fluent in English.

And eh if you are not gonna live in the Nederlands or use the language constantly then it wont be easy at all. I speak Japanese to myself all the time! People think I'm crazy and I don't even have anyone to speak Japanese to so I might be totally wrong or something!

But yeah get some sticky notes and label everything in your home with the correct Dutch word for that item and just every time you are gonna use that object think of that object in Dutch and use the Dutch word as the only word you use when thinking of that thing.

Immersion is the best way to learn anything.

[SnOwBunZz]

English is somewhat similar to Dutch and French also has had an influence on the Dutch language, so you shouldn't be having too much trouble.

Rosetta Stone isn't really a good programme if you'd ask me, but it's a start. There are plently of Dutch people here so you always could ask someone if you don't understand something. 'DT' comes to mind.

[endrien]

Ugh I would suggest learning your native tongue first and foremost and then become fluent in English.

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[Speed]

@Snow
Yeah, but the grammar here is so.. so.. damn..
You better have enough patience to learn it, because you'll need it.

And if you just want to learn it for coffeshops, no probs they speak English.

EDIT: My word of advise is just to make a trip here, blend in with people and you'll learn it.

[Groteske]

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Your native tongue meaning the language your ancestors spoke and English is becoming the language of the world! Many people speak English but their grammar is terrible.

[endrien]

Your native tongue meaning the language your ancestors spoke and English is becoming the language of the world! Many people speak English but their grammar is terrible.

Yes I quite aware of that, I was wondering why you were telling me to learn a language that I already know, as English is my native tongue. I wouldn't consider my grammar bad, but it is the not the best.

[Groteske]

Yes I quite aware of that, I was wondering why you were telling me to learn a language I already know as English is my native tongue. I wouldn't consider my grammar bad, but it is the not the best.

Well I didn't know that! Where in America do you live? Or NA? Or wherever?

Eh I want to learn Mandarin and Japanese but I don't even really want to visit either nation. I wish more Americans were bilingual.

[endrien]

Well I didn't know that! Where in America do you live? Or NA? Or wherever?

Eh I want to learn Mandarin and Japanese but I don't even really want to visit either nation. I wish more Americans were bilingual.

I live in Canada; Newfoundland more specifically . I find Japanese extremely interesting, however, it is quite difficult to learn without immersion.

I plan to go to the Netherlands eventually(Not just for Coffee shops, but they contribute to the cause)and I would find it much more enjoyable to be able to speak in their native language regardless of most people there knowing English.

[Mashedpoturtles]

Hey I wont mind trying to teach you a little dutch.

[endrien]

Hey I wont mind trying to teach you a little dutch.

That would be great .
Also does anyone know anything about many games having dutch? I was thinking after I learn a bit I could play something like Zelda:OOT in dutch, however, they only have a German version .

[Mashedpoturtles]

When I was a kid that game has helped me learn english, but there's no dutch version...

you can play stuff like asassins creed with dutch subtitles though idk if thats useful

[endrien]

When I was a kid that game has helped me learn english, but there's no dutch version...

you can play stuff like asassins creed with dutch subtitles though idk if thats useful

Looking around, there doesn't seem to be many dutch versions of games . Mostly only german. I wonder why that is?

[ApocaRUFF]

Well I didn't know that! Where in America do you live? Or NA? Or wherever?

Eh I want to learn Mandarin and Japanese but I don't even really want to visit either nation. I wish more Americans were bilingual.

Most Americans are bilingual. The average stereotypical white person, isn't. But the average stereotypical white person isn't that common anymore. Even a lot of Rednecks know a second language (except for the stereotypical southern redneck wannabe, which is a dying breed).


A lot of Americans either speak Spanish or French. There's other languages, too. Chances are if you come form a Mexican/Spanish background, you'll speak Spanish, and a large portion of Americans do.


Also, Americans speak a very unique version of English. A lot of the words you use aren't actually English in origin, though a lot of them have been adopted into "American"(this isn't just USA, but includes English in all of the American continents) English. Also the spelling in "American" English usually quite different than normal/British/UK English. Which is why there are literally two different ways of being taught English.

Often if you learn English in a foreign country through a class or book, it'll specify which kind of English it is.


Give us a couple hundred more years and we'll have evolved English into our own unique language ;D More or less, anyways.



TL;DR: Most Americans ARE bilingual, they just don't speak the languages you wish they did.

Looking around, there doesn't seem to be many dutch versions of games . Mostly only german. I wonder why that is?

I would say it's mostly Russian. But because not many gamers speak Dutch, so it isn't very profitable to make games in Dutch. Though there ARE games that offer Dutch (usually singleplayer games) versions, or that have player-made mods that translate everything into Dutch.

[Hatashi]

Just keep in mind the ''t ex kofschip'' and you will be just fine.

Just kidding.
If you have the patience to learn the Dutch grammar, go ahead.

Most of the English movies have Dutch subtitles here (Almost all of them), so watching those will help you.

[MrTingTing]

Dutch people are awesome :3
I live near the netherlands, we go there pretty often. Mostly to buy vla & liquorice As a german i'm finding it really really easy to understand dutch, but speaking it is another thing

[Hatashi]

Dutch people are awesome :3
I live near the netherlands, we go there pretty often. Mostly to buy vla & liquorice As a german i'm finding it really really easy to understand dutch, but speaking it is another thing

Shit, I just went to the fridge to see if we had any.. and we didn't .

[k3lster]

Best wishes to you in learning Dutch endrien!

t ex kofschip

Is this like some sort of dutch ending word or something? :o

Eh I want to learn Mandarin and Japanese

@Groteske- I could probably help with Mandarin and somewhat Japanese since I've got background in both.

Anyone Spanish here wanna teach me the language? :P

[Groteske]

TL;DR: Most Americans ARE bilingual, they just don't speak the languages you wish they did. .

Yeah and that sucks! I wish I lived near a little Tokyo or Chinatown.

[endrien]

I started using Rosetta stone today and I have to say, Dutch grammar is definitely a bit different. For example "Zij" can mean she or they.

[Hatashi]

Best wishes to you in learning Dutch endrien!



Is this like some sort of dutch ending word or something? :o


@Groteske- I could probably help with Mandarin and somewhat Japanese since I've got background in both.

Anyone Spanish here wanna teach me the language? :P

It is some kind of a ''cheat'' (If I may call it for that) for most of Dutch grammar.

[endrien]

After digging for a bit more information on good methods of learning dutch, I've decided to ditch Roseta stone. It's apparently useless in terms of practicality. Instead I will go with http://www.dutchgrammar.com/en/?n=Grammar.DutchGrammar for written dutch and grammar and Pimsleur dutch lessons for pronunciations and spoken dutch. From what I can tell after doing that grammar course I should be able to read basic dutch and will be able to read some children's stories so I will gradually be able to progress through children's stories to more advanced things. Pimsleur is supposedly very good for speaking dutch and should give me a very good basis .