Question:
I am a student who want to learn your language and actually I started
studying Dutch on my owm.
the problem is that a friend of mine who is from America-born Dutch told me
that I don't neet to learn Dutch because most of Dutch people understand
and speak English very fluently and he also told me that it would be very
difficult to catch an opportunity to speak in Dutch even in the
Netherlands.
I mean as a Dutch learner.
At his remarks I am now very disappointed and lost confidence to continue
to study Dutch.
I want to learn Dutch not only to write in Dutch but also to speak Dutch
with Dutch people.
I started Dutch language with a dream of exchaging my views on many things
with Dutch speakers.
but If I can't get a chance to speak Dutch what is it for?
I want to know what the truth is and want to seek advice from Dutch
speakers what I shoul do with
my Dutch study.
For a foreigner studying a foreing language as a hobby, the chance of using
the language and the feeling of achievement is really important.
I mean I don't need to speak Dutch for my living,but I am a real lover of
language and determined to study Dutch after I considerd long time.
Do you really think I don't need to learn Dutch just to communicate with
Dutch peole?
Is it really true that I may not have a chance to speak Dutch as a
foreigner.
Is there any Dutch language certificates for foreing learners?
Answer:
In general, this is correct.
This is complete nonsense. Apart from the American communitiy maybe,
almost everyone speaks dutch here. It is true that the Dutch very
easily switch to English if they notice you are a foreigner and have
difficulties in expressing yourself. But don't get discouraged,
continue in Dutch...
Having learnt Dutch as a foreign language myself I nowadays couldn't
even imagine living here without understanding the language.
For the mere exchange of information, you will perfectly find your way
with English. But if you are interested in people, want to know _more_
of things you can better learn their language. And wasn't it Goethe
who said, that as many languages you speak that many times you are
man.
There is the "Certificaat Nederlands als vreemde taal", the official
certificate of Dutch as a foreign language of the "Taalunie", the
Dutch-Belgian-language union. You can do the beginners level or the
advanced level. It is internationally recognized.
By the way: If you know English, Dutch will not be too difficult to
learn. And you have a really big advantage if you also want to learn
German...
Submit Your
Own Answer!
