Facebook can help you learning the Maltese language. Let’s find out how.
First of all, there are two active groups where you can (and should) post questions about Maltese. The first one is for beginners, and the second one is for advanced students. Both focus on the proper use of Maltese. The second one is really high-level, it’s the place where natives ask each other questions.
Another important trick is to put your account in Maltese. You can do so via the settings. This way, you’ll be immersed in a repetitive way. It won’t take you long to understand ‘Jogħġobni‘ means ‘I like’ and ‘paÄ¡na‘ means ‘page.’ Unfortunately, Facebook hasn’t managed yet to translate everything into Maltese, so you’ll still see some words of English. And don’t forget how to switch it back to English though. You could also change your location to Malta, increasing the likelihood of getting ads in Maltese.
There are many pages in Maltese, like the page of Television Malta. You could try to read the comments too – even though the quality isn’t guaranteed. It could also be nice to flood your wall with posts in Maltese, but it only makes sense when your level is high enough. But there are some pages posting in both English and Maltese. My favourite is the People of Malta, regularly posting about people in Malta. Another one is a page about the weather, occasionally posting in both languages.
If you’re at least at intermediate level, try out this page with short sayings. It’s a page made for native Maltese language lovers. An alternative is Isma’ ftit.
YouTube is one of the many ways you can learn almost any language with. So let’s take a look at channels helping Maltese students study the Maltese language.
Maltese YouTube channels for beginners
Let’s start with the basics. Jeanette Ellul is a Maltese national who publishes a bit about everything, but she also has a playlist with simple Maltese phrases and words.
My very own channel with videos explaining Maltese, its grammar and many useful phrases. It also has a verbs course.
A series of lessons were published a long time ago on this YouTube channel. For beginners, that’s it. Even if some channels have interesting videos like this 8-hours long one, they don’t seem to have more than a few. Or the quality is rather low.
Another good series for kids, published by DeeMedia, is this one. If you’re looking for Maltese stories read out loud, check out this channel.
National broadcaster Television Malta has a YouTube channel too. Make sure to try out several of their videos, some of them – like the one below – have subtitles in English.
Other broadcasters have their YouTube channels too. Check out the news, you might already know what they’re talking about, and speakers pay a lot of attention to their pronunciation. One News Malta is one of these broadcasters, NETnews is an alternative. Comments may be interesting as well, but some people don’t write these properly. Feel free to try to interact with them.
Feeling like karaoke? Some Maltese songs are translated, so you can sing along while learning Maltese, if there are English translations. This search might help you.
Another tip is to switch your location to Malta. This will increase the probability of having Maltese ads when you’re on YouTube. You can switch the settings via the profile picture on the top right, or the three dots if you don’t have a profile on the top right.
Channels for advanced Maltese students
Many series have been published online in Maltese. The main problem: subtitles and many of them aren’t really recent…Try to understand as much as you can from series published by DivertmentMalti, KlassiGhalinaFans and Soraya Queen.
Don’t forget to follow your own hobbies and interests. If you like to cook, type in ‘riÄ‹etta’ – the Maltese word for recipe – and you’ll find channels like the one below.
Looking for other resources to learn Maltese? Find them here.
Dutch grammar is… well, Dutch grammar. Always a good idea to know the rules, even though there are many exceptions. Some handbooks also include grammar as well as books to teach yourself. But in this post, we’ll cover books focusing primarily on the Dutch grammar. Disclaimer: I might get a small commission if you buy the book through the links. Stars (*) are based on my opinion.
1. Klare Taal! and Klare Taal plus (4,5*) by Jenneke van der Toorn-Schutte + Nice presentation, clear, many good exercises – Not practical, price Audio: no Level: absolute and advanced beginners Language: Dutch only Paperbackprice: high-highest Format: only paperback Buy via Bol.com here or here. The plus version is for advanced beginners, also available on Amazon.
2. Dutch Grammar for Beginners (4,5*) by Alain de Raymond + Easy, practical, exercises, price – Layout Audio: no Level: beginners Language: English Paperbackprice: low Format: ebook and paperback Buy via Amazon.com.
3. Eenvoudige basisgrammatica NT2 (4,5*) by Jenneke van der Toorn-Schutte + Simple, many exercises, lists of words – Price, Dutch only Audio: no Level: beginners Language: Only Dutch Paperbackprice: high-highest Format: paperback Buy via Amazon.com or Bol.com.
4. Beter Nederlands: een inleiding (4*) by Dina Bouman-Noordermeer + Content, clear, exercises, price – Not popular, presentation Audio: no Level: advanced beginners, second book for intermediate Language: Dutch only Paperbackprice: low Format: only paperback Buy via Bol.com or Amazon. The book for intermediate students is also on Bol.com and Amazon.
5. Dutch Grammar Support (4*) by Marijke Huizinga and Yvonne Zevenbergen + Content, structure, price – Presentation, no translations for examples Audio: no Level: beginners and intermediate Language: English Paperback price: average Format: ebook and paperback Buy via Bol.com (here’s the ebook) or Amazon.
6. Dutch grammar you really need to know (3.5*) by Gerdi Quist and Dennis Strik + Right level, perfect reference book – Structure and presentation Audio: no Level: (absolute) beginners Language: English Paperback price: low Format: ebook and paperback Buy via Bol.com or Amazon.
Well-reviewed grammar books written by Jenneke Oosterhoff are Basic Dutch: A Grammar and Workbook (available on Amazon and Bol.com) and Intermediate Dutch: A Grammar and Workbook (available on Amazon and Bol.com). However, I can’t (yet) recommend them because I haven’t seen them yet.
Let’s review books teaching you Dutch without a teacher. Obviously, you can also learn a lot from classroom handbooks as well as from grammar books, especially if you’re at a higher level. But here, we’ll cover books primarily designed for people willing to learn the Dutch language on their own. Disclaimer: I might get a small commission if you buy the book through the links. Stars (*) are based on my opinion.
Teach Yourself: Complete Dutch (5*) by Gerdi Quist and Dennis Strik + Popular and useful, well-structured and practical – Outdated, no series Audio in Dutch from the Netherlands Level: (absolute) beginners Language: mostly English Paperbackprice: high Formats: ebook and paperback Buy via Amazon or via Bol.com
Dutch in three months (5*) by Jane Fenoulhet + Structure, dialogues, quality, price – Condensed, outdated, no series, price with CDs (Tip: get the audio for free via an app in the newer version) Audio in Dutch form the Netherlands Level: (absolute) beginners Language: mostly English Paperbackprice: lowest Formats: paperback Buy via Amazon (here’s with CDs) or via Bol.com (old version)
Learn Dutch: Speak, write and understand (4,5*) by Alain de Raymond + Easy, structure, price, exercises – Layout, only for absolute beginners Audio in Dutch from Belgium Level: absolute beginners Language: mostly English Price: lowest-low Format: ebook and paperback Buy via Amazon.com
Dutch for Dummies (4,5*) by Margreet Kwakernaak + Popular, fun and easy, cultural insights, pronunciation guide – Lack of structure, no exercises Audio in the Dutch from the Netherlands. Level: (absolute) beginners Language: mostly English Price: average Format: paperback Buy via Bol.com (2nd edition here) and via Amazon (alternative here)
300+ common Dutch language errors made by English speakers (4.5*) by Alain de Raymond + Useful, exercises, price – Presentation, structure Audio with Belgian accent Level: advanced beginners, intermediate Language: mostly English Price: lowest Format: ebook and paperback Buy via Bol.com or Amazon
Beyond the dictionary: A Guide to Correct Word Usage for the English-Speaking Student (4*) by Bruce Donaldson + Useful, clear examples, relevant – Presentation, old No audio Level: intermediate, expert Language: mostly English Price: average Format: paperback Buy via Bol.com or Amazon
Dutch with ease (4*) by Assimil + Fun, lots of content, phonetics – Presentation, price Audio with Dutch accent Level: (advanced) beginners Language: mostly English Price: average (without CDs), high-highest (with CDs) Format: paperback Buy with CDs via Bol.com or Amazon, or without CDs via Bol.com or Amazon.
77 puntjes op de I (4*) by Emily Palmer + Useful, exercises, good complement to handbooks – Not popular, no solutions to exercises, difficult Dutch Audio with accent from the Netherlands Level: intermediate Language: Dutch only Price: average Format: paperback Buy via Bol.com or Amazon
Dutch for Self-study (4*) by Hinke Van Kampen & Ruud Stumpel + Quality, exercises, explanations, comprehensive – Presentation Audio in Dutch from the Netherlands Level: (absolute) beginners Language: instructions in English Price: average Format: paperback Buy via Bol.com or via Amazon.
Colloquial Dutch (4*) by Bruce Donaldson + Relevant, many wordlists, cultural references – Presentation, price Audio in Dutch from the Netherlands Level: (absolute) beginners Language: English Price: high Format: paperback Buy via Bol.com or via Amazon.
Are you willing to learn Dutch with films and series? Great idea. It will not only help your listening skills, but also improve your vocabulary. Here are some tips to learn with series and films. Also, you can switch on Dutch subtitles on your TV with teletekst (888). But let’s focus on websites you can find Dutch films – with Dutch subtitles -on.
VTMGO: free Number one is the Flemish commercial broadcaster. You can watch live television on several channels. But if you hit the ‘film’ button, you’ll find many films. Some of them are in Dutch, look for ‘Vlaamse films.’ You’ll also find many series and other programmes to watch. Don’t forget to hit the subtitle button on the right below. And what’s the cost? You’ll only need to make an account. Which is completely for free. There are some ads though. Check out how it looks in the video below.
NPO start: free (+ paid option) Via the Dutch public broadcaster called NPO, you can watch films even without making an account. Click on the ‘direct naar’ and through on ‘films’ or ‘series.’ There are many films available, even with a category for Dutch speaking films. Click on the settings on the right, below, to turn on the subtitles. Unfortunately, some films are only available in the evening to avoid kids from watching them. There’s a paid option to see more films and avoid ads.
VRT NU: free Via this link, you’ll get access to the different categories from the Flemish public broadcaster. You’ll only need an account to see the many films and series – plus all the other programmes of the broadcaster. However, it’s a bit hard to find the Dutch films. On a positive note, I couldn’t see any adverts.
It’s time to learn while having fun
Netflix: paid Netflix is an obvious choice to watch films, both for Dutch films and series and Belgian ones. Especially if you already have a subscription, for which you have to pay. Change the language in the settings in your profile. Even watching English films with Dutch subtitles might help. Also check this app: it will show subtitles in two languages, both in your language and Dutch (or other languages). There’s also a pop-up dictionary.
YouTube: free (+ paid option) Due to people uploading films without having the necessary rights, YouTube takes down many films. However, there are always a few Dutch films available, as well as some Belgian ones. Same so for series. Subtitles? Sometimes there are, sometimes there aren’t. You can switch on automatic subtitles, but they are of a lesser quality. The paid YouTube library offers many films but isn’t easy to navigate.
When do you use de, and when do you use het as an article? That’s one of the most frequent questions beginning Dutch students ask. De and het in Dutch are both used to translate the English ‘the.’ So let’s take a look at how you can find out.
First of all, there are rules. The two main ones are: nouns in the plural always take de as an article, e.g. het boek, de boeken. And the other rule: nouns with a diminutive take het as an article: for example de tafel, het tafeltje (the little table). And what about nouns with a diminutive in the plural? They take de: de tafeltjes.
Other interesting rules: you can make verbs nouns, as in the verb ‘to make’, it would be ‘the making.’ In Dutch, it’s ‘maken’ and the verb nouns ‘het maken.’ And, you’ve guessed it: these verb nouns take het as an article. Also, nouns referring to people usually take ‘de.’
There are many more rules. But for every rule, there’s an exception – it’s Dutch after all. Let’s see some of those rules. Words ending with -ing, -ij, -el, -er, -ie and -heid take de as an article. Well, usually. So… does it make sense to learn these endings by heart?
Unfortunately not so much. But here’s an important tip to you: most nouns take de as an article. So you can make a list of het-words, or you can simply watch this video below with the 100 most common het-nouns.
Another piece of advice. If you hear someone using a word you regularly use, and it isn’t what you expected, write it down. Make a list of those words you typically struggle with. Also, feel free to get one email a day with an exercise to practise your articles here or to download this app to practice with flashcards.
And a little hint: in my online courses, I always add the article next to the word. See you there!
Dutch word order is a headache to many of my Dutch students. What about this sentence:
Wrong, right? In the beautiful Dutch language, that’s just ‘normal’ word order:
So, let’s learn more about this sentence and basic Dutch word order. If you prefer video to walk you through this, here it is. The examples in the video are the same as the ones from this article:
Let’s start easy: most sentences are just like English sentences: a subject (who or what is doing the action in the sentence) and a verb.
What about questions? Questions will put the verb first, and then the subject… It’s called inversion. Plus, don’t use a ‘do’ to ask a question.
Luckily, if you add some words at the end of these sentences, it’s just like in English, so relax.
Let’s add some more words, at the end of these sentences.
Remember the inversion? The verb and the subject are ‘inverted.’ Used with questions, but also when you start a sentence with one or more words, typically time and place. Note the verbs and subjects are inverted:
You can’t have both time and place at the beginning of the sentence. Words like of course, actually and others also will use inversion.
Let’s talk about modal verbs like ‘must’, ‘want’ and others. An example:
Same as in English, but if you add more words, it will be in front of the second verb. Notice the word tomorrow is in front of to work. Put these words there.
Again, if you put something first in the sentence, inversion will happen.
Same so for questions. Note the second verb stays at the end.
The verbs remain at the end if you add a place here.
Actually, one could put place and time at the end.
But this does not apply to objects (what is being done, in this case the shopping) in sentences. You can’t put the shopping at the end in the following sentence.
It’s always ok to put everything in front of the second verb. So take the habit to put them there.
Second verbs can also be past participles.
So, if there are other words, put them in front of the second verb.
Let’s start with the negative, which is also explained in my grammar book for beginners – and has exercises! The ‘not’ is at the end, unlike in English. Don’t use ‘don’t.’
Same so for questions:
Note ‘geen’ is used in front of undetermined nouns.
But what about if you use modal verbs? Which one goes at the end, niet or the second verb? The second verb.
Same so for the past tense.
If you’re into the negative, check out this video:
Recap: subject + verb is the normal sentence structure, inversion switches verb and subject (with questions and if you put time/place/something else in front), put second verbs at the end and niet just in front of them.
Let’s start with subordinate clauses, the sentence that isn’t the main sentence. Note in Dutch, there’s always a word introducing that sentence (called a conjunction), unlike in English:
Take a look at the next sentence:
The verb goes at the end! This is called the catapult or the ‘bijzin’, which means sub-clause in Dutch. Note the verb always goes at the end in sub-clauses:
What about sub-clauses with second verbs, like modal verbs? And questions? Both verbs go at the end:
The negative can be put in both the main clause and the sub-clause:
A bit of a recap: with 2 verbs, both go at the end of the sentence in a sub-ordinate clause, also with questions.
If you start a sentence with a question, inversion will be used in the second sentence. Note the main sentence will keep the first verb at the start of the sentence, and the second one at the end.
Let’s get back at the sentence of the beginning. Tomorrow is with inversion, that is with catapult so both verbs go at the end, in between om and te there’s the rest of the words, while uses the catapult too:
Great! Take a look at my book for intermediate Dutch Grammar to do some exercises!
Many language students sometimes lose their motivation. Or they’re out of ideas. As a fellow language student, I’ve faced the same issues over and over again. To help you getting back on track, I made this course with plenty of advice and tips based on my experience both as a teacher and a student.
The course tackles the issues students usually face and provides a solution to these issues. How do you motivate yourself. What do you do during your language lessons. What should be your priorities while learning. The course is full of tips for all levels as well as resources to learn faster.
One tip to start with: immerse yourself. If you don’t see or hear the language you’re learning, you won’t learn. It’s as simple as that. Go to places where they speak the language. Subscribe to your favourite musician in that language. Switch your computer settings. Listen to music in that language. Read newsletters about the things you find interesting. Find language exchange partners. Read interesting articles. Listen to podcasts. Read books.
Want more tips? See you in the course or subscribe to my newsletter.
Are you looking for a Dutch course for beginners? Perfect! I’ve just published my brand new course: Learn Dutch in Dutch 3: the 1000 most used words. It follows the two first courses made for absolute beginners (here’s number one and here’s number two).
So how are you going to learn the Dutch language with my courses? The courses are completely in Dutch to guarantee total immersion. An example: in the first video you’re going to learn ‘hello’ while you see me waving and the word ‘hallo’ is written on the board. Bit by bit, basic words are added.
Why only Dutch? In my experience, the more time I spend on translation, the less time and energy I spend on practicing. If you can find a solution in the language you’re learning, use that solution. Start by learning ‘how do you say X’ in the language you’re learning, so every time you ask ‘how do you say X’ you’re already practising your new language. So that’s why all the videos, quizzes and MP3s are completely in Dutch.
MP3s? Yes, each part starts with a video – totally in Dutch, of course. The video is followed by a script of all the new words and a text including all those new words. Downloadable MP3s are added to help you pronounce the new words. A quiz is at the end of each part testing your progress – completely in Dutch, that is. Of course, if something isn’t clear I’ll answer all your questions.
So what’s this new course? It follows the first two and teaches you the 1000 most used words in the Dutch language with over 7 hours of video, over 100 MP3s and over 50 quizzes. The 1000 most used words are the ones natives use over and over again. What’s the point of learning ‘elephant’ as a beginner? Indeed, no point at all.
Looking for a handbook to learn Dutch? Here’s a list of books you would use in a classroom. Of course, you can also take a look at my list of teach yourself books and grammar books. But here, we’ll cover those books you’d use in a classroom. Make sure to find one according to your needs. Disclaimer: I might get a small commission if you buy the book through the links. Stars (*) are based on my opinion.
1. Contact (4,5*) by Intertaal + Presentation, quality content, complete – Price, no slow introduction Audio in Dutch from the Netherlands Level: (absolute) beginners and intermediate Language: Dutch only Price: highest Format: paperback Buy the textbook via Bol.com for beginners, intermediate and advanced intermediate. Buy the exercise book for beginners, intermediate and advanced intermediate.
2. Ter Zake (4,5*) by Intertaal + Topical: focus on business, nice presentation, quality material – Price, not much except business, no series Audio in Dutch from the Netherlands Level: intermediate Language: Dutch only Price: highest Format: paperback Buy via Bol.com or Amazon (German version)
3. Nederlands in Gang, Nederlands in Actie, Nederlands op Niveau & Nederlands naar Perfectie (4,5*) + Almost only exercises, good content, part of a series – Not a good mix, few explanations Level: (absolute) beginners, intermediate, advanced Language: Dutch only, except a little English in the first book Price: high Format: paperback Buy via Bol.com: in Gang (A1-2), in Actie (B1), op Niveau (B2), naar Perfectie (C1) Via Amazon: in Gang (A1-2), in Actie (B1), op Niveau (B2), naar Perfectie (C1)
4. De opmaat, Van start, In zicht, De sprong, Vooruit, De finale (4.5*) + Exercises & vocabulary, presentation, quality content, focus on preparation for Staatsexamen – No solutions Audio and video in Dutch from the Netherlands Level: (absolute) beginners and intermediate Language: Dutch only Price: high Format: paperback De opmaat and de sprong are a bit harder than van start and in zicht. Buy via Bol.com: Van start & De opmaat (beginners), In zicht & De sprong (advanced beginners), Vooruit (intermediate), De finale (advanced intermediate) Via Amazon: Van start & De opmaat (beginners), In zicht & De sprong (advanced beginners), De finale (advanced intermediate)
5. Totaal (4*) by Anneke van den Broek + Nice presentation, good content – Price Audio in Dutch from the Netherlands Level: (absolute) beginners Language: Dutch only except vocabulary Price: highest Format: paperback Buy via Bol.com, second book for intermediate level is here.
6. Vanzelfsprekend (4*) by Rita Devos and Han Fraeters + Good content mix, story-based learning, useful vocabulary – Old feel & look Audio & video in Belgian Dutch Level: (absolute) beginners Language: mostly Dutch but some explanations in English Price: middle-high Format: paperback Buy via Bol.com the textbook and workbook, or the textbook via Amazon.
7. Taaltrainer voor gevorderde anderstaligen (3,5*) by Emmeke Boot and Sytske Degenhart + Useful vocabulary, practical, focus on business – Layout, price Audio in Dutch from the Netherlands Level: intermediate Language: Dutch only Paperbackprice: highest Format: paperback Buy via Bol.com.
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