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December 21, 2018July 2, 2020

Learn when to use ‘zo’ in Dutch

English speakers use so very often. ‘I think so.’ Or: ‘So, what’s next?’ Or: ‘that’s so amazing!’ Unfortunately, in Dutch, only the last one uses ‘zo’ the same way. Let’s learn when to use ‘zo’ in Dutch.

So in between sentences
One of the first mistakes I correct as a Dutch teacher, is using ‘zo’ in between sentences. It’s often used to combine sentences. But, in Dutch, we use ‘dus’. So drop the zo’s there.

So when do you use ‘zo’? Well, in Dutch, it has several meanings. One is ‘in this way‘ or ‘like this.’ So when someone asks: ‘how do you open the window’, and you’re showing it, you would say ‘zo’. Or, if you’d like to say ‘this way, we’ll never get there in time’, one also starts the sentence with zo. It’s also how a Dutch speaker would interpret ‘ik denk zo’. They would think you’d like to say you ‘think this way.’ Rather say ‘ik denk het’.

Another use is the same as in English, with an adjective. So good will be translated as ‘zo goed’. So big means ‘zo groot’. In this case, English speakers are quite safe. However, if you’d like to say ‘as big as … ‘ one would also use zo: ‘zo groot als’.

Another strange way to use zo is by saying ‘see you soon.’ One can use ‘tot zo’ in Dutch. Also, don’t confuse a zoo with zo. The one with animals is written in the same way as in English.

Exercise: fill in the missing words.
Jouw tuin is … mooi! Wil je dieren in jouw tuin? Dan wordt het een … ! Of wil je jouw tuin niet … veel veranderen? Tja. Je hebt geen tijd. … is het beter om geen dieren te kopen. Ik moet naar huis. Tot … !

Solutions: zo – zoo – zo – dus – zo

Did this help? Don’t forget to get Dutch tips in my newsletter.

November 28, 2018

10 tips for expats learning Dutch

Learn the Dutch language from Belgium, also called Flemish

New in the Netherlands or Belgium? Willing to learn the Dutch language? Here are 10 tips for foreigners learning Dutch.

10 pro Dutch tips

Many people in the Netherlands and Belgium speak English. So as soon as they hear you’re not a native, they’ll switch to English or even another language. To avoid this, pretend you don’t know English. Or use a horrible accent when you’re answering. Success guaranteed!
Look around. Names of streets have meanings. Road signs too. For example, one of my students thought ‘herhaling’ meant end in English. He was also surprised he has so many speeding tickets. Turns out herhaling means repetition, and this for zones where you could only drive 30 km/h!
Dutch is one of the closest languages to English! So if you think you recognise a word, it might be the right translation!
Libraries are free in Belgium and the Netherlands. Beginners can explore the kids’ sections and work their way up to fluent native level with novels.
Dutch or Flemish? Dutch (‘Nederlands’) is both countries’ official language, but Flemish (‘Vlaams’) is the dialect spoken in Belgium. Written, it’s 99% the same. Spoken, the accent is different. You can compare it to Brazilian Portuguese and the one spoken in Portugal.

Classes & courses

Dutch often combines different words. For instance, praten is to talk and groep means… group, you’ve guessed it. So a ‘praatgroep’ is a group where people talk. Easy!
Meeting Dutch people and Belgians can prove to be difficult. But why don’t you start with expat groups and work your way from there? Additionally, many cities have taalcafés. It’s an evening where languages are exchanged. Google the word taalcafé and your city or one nearby to find language exchange partners.
Another way to meet like-minded people is via evening classes. CVO courses are relatively cheap and you’ll find friends who share your struggles. Try to talk only in Dutch with the other students.
Working with Dutch-speaking colleagues? Ask them one word a day. That’s over 300 a year… And tons of funny conversations.
Last tip: join my Facebook group for Dutch learners, buy my online class for beginners and book some online language lessons with me ($10 extra)!

Also monthly tips to learn Dutch in my newsletter…

November 24, 2018November 24, 2018

Podcasts: how do you learn a new language with them?

Twenty years ago, podcasts didn’t exist. Nowadays, they can be a valuable tool to learn any languages. New to podcasts? Here are a few tips to make the most out of them.

Podcasts?

What’s a podcast? It’s like a programme or a show on the radio. But it has one major difference: you can listen to it whenever you like. As a language learner, podcasts can be incredibly useful.

Advantages for language learners

There are only few non-natives starting a podcast. So chances are high you’ll be listening to a native speaker, inviting native speakers. They’ll make few language mistakes.
Podcasts is like radio on demand ©
Most podcasts come in series. So you’ll get used to the tone of the voices, you’ll get used to the host’s expressions and to the topics discussed.
Looking for a dialect or learning a pronunciation from a specific region? Search for a podcast meeting your needs.
You can listen whenever you like. While running. While waiting. While taking a bath.

Tips for the intelligent language learner

But, how does one learn while learning a foreign language? Let’s see.

Choose a topic of your interest. Don’t follow cat shows if you’re a dog person.
Write down new vocabulary and look it up. Or ask your teacher. Also read the description before listening.
Download a few ones extra for if you have some extra time.
Try to follow the same podcasts to get used to the voices and the vocabulary.
If your device can slow down the speed, do so if you need to.
Want to make one yourself about the language you’re learning? Don’t hesitate!

Also check out more tips in my newsletter.

November 7, 2018July 2, 2020

Top apps to learn the Dutch language

Almost everyone has a smartphone, so why not use it to learn Dutch? Let’s review the top apps for learning Dutch. Some have both a free and a paying option.

Top paying apps

Rosetta stone has an outstanding reputation for many languages, also thanks to their app you can try for free for 3 days.
LearnDutch.org‘s app costs $2,99 (price may change) and includes the 1000 most common words used plus pronunciation.
Mondly created an excellent app with many free features plus the possibility of paying for extra premium features.
Dutchpod101.com offers a few video language lessons for free but most of the content is paid. You can try their approach with some free apps.

Yep, you can learn with your smartphone too! Pro tip: switch the settings to Dutch.

Top free apps

Excellent and highly recommended is Nedbox.be. Read or watch news and answer the questions based on your level, not for absolute beginners though.
Duolingo is completely free and is an online leader with its multiple choice questions. A similar one is Babbel’s free Dutch learning application.
HelloTalk connects you with native speakers to simply chat.
Learn over 6000 words with this highly-rated app from FunEasyLearn.
To Learn Free has an uncountable number of quizzes on its old school website.
Head over to the Dutch Language Academy for grammar quizzes up to intermediate level.
Good texts up to intermediate level on Lingua.com‘s website.
Answer easy multiple choice questions with Clozemaster.

Top apps for advanced students (B2+)

Find expert spellingtests on Taaltelefoon.be.
Search for mistakes on the VRT’s game Taalklik.
Practise your grammar with exercises on ikschrijfbeter.nl.
Ignore the first questions on the Interuniversitaire Taaltest, the test starts from question 9 on.

Check for more apps in Google Play’s store.

October 30, 2018October 28, 2018

How to learn languages with YouTube

Learn with Udemy, the online course provider

YouTube is an excellent and free source to learn many languages. Let’s see how you can make the most out of it.

Language channels

The most obvious way to start is to look for teachers making videos to explain the language you’re learning. Look for those that teach at your level. Some will include numbers, like ‘lesson number 1.’ Here’s a list of channels to start with.

Music

One of the biggest parts of YouTube is about music. Why wouldn’t you combine the pleasure of listening to a genre you like with language learning? Make sure to look up the lyrics. Some people make videos with the lyrics in the videos, others put the lyrics in the description.

Comments

Whether you’re on a language learning channel or just enjoying a song, why not put a comment at the end of the video? Some teachers or others might correct you. For free.

News

Journalists try to use simple language to reach a wide audience. So tune in to the latest news. Plus, you’ll see images so you can relate the words you hear to the things you see. Also check if there’s a kid’s section.

Subtitles

Check in the videos if there are subtitles. Put them in the language you’re learning. Also watch videos in another language you don’t understand, and put the subtitles in the language you’re learning.

Language settings

Change your language settings in the language you’re learning. This will force you to use the language. Also, change your location (here’s how). By changing the language settings and your location, you’ll increase chances the ads will appear in the language you’re learning.

October 28, 2018October 13, 2019

Maltese verbs: the full conjugation of to get

Learn the Maltese language to express yourself in Malta's official language

Maltese verbs can be very tricky. Let’s see the full conjugation of one of the Maltese language’s easier verbs: to get.

The present of to get

The present tense uses the imperative as a building block. There are two imperatives in Maltese: one for the single, and one for the plural. For to get, it’s ikseb for the single and iksbu for the plural.

The single will put NTJT in front of the verb, and the plural NTJ. This can be confusing, because in most European languages the endings change. So here is the conjugation:

Notice ‘you get’ and ‘she gets’ is the same? Good! You’ll need the context to know which form it is.

The future tense

To form the future tense, simply put ‘se’ in front of the present tense. Isn’t that easy?

The present continuous

Just as easy as the future tense: simply put ‘qed’ in front of the present tense.

The past tense

This tense gets a bit more complicated. Maltese uses two basic forms for the past: ksib and kiseb. The last one is used for the third person (he, she, they) and the first one for the rest.

The past changes the endings, unlike the present. So the endings are -t, -t, -, -et, -na, -tu and -u. So here it goes:

One last point: the ‘she’ form and the ‘they’ form eat the e from kiseb.

Most verbs follow this structure, with minor adjustments. Are you interested in more full conjugations? You’ll find over 100 of the most used verbs in Maltese in my book!

October 8, 2018April 10, 2021

10 Dutch language challenges for foreigners

Learning Dutch? Good choice! Dutch is one of the languages closest to English. Even if they’re pretty close, here are some typical mistakes foreigners make while learning the language.

In Dutch, ‘ik wil‘ means I want. Yes, that’s confusing. Especially since Dutch uses ‘ik ga’ or ‘ik zal’ for the future tense.

If you want to put a sentence in the negative, you’ll soon learn about niet and geen. So when do you use niet, and when geen? Simple: if you can replace the not by no, it’s geen. As in:
-He doesn’t have a phone (can be ‘he has no phone’, so geen).

When you’re using the comparative in English, you’re sometimes forced to use the word more. As in: more dangerous. However, in Dutch, you’ll always add -er.
-Gevaarlijker ( = more dangerous)

Talking about g’s: the pronunciation of the G is so difficult, there’s even a wikihow page dedicated to it!

Since we’re reviewing pronunciation, the ij, the uu, the eu and many other diphtongs can be tough to pronounce too.

Another tricky one is the translation of who. In a question, it’s wie. But if you use it as a replacement of ‘that’, it’s die.
-De man, die studeert, is mijn vader. ( = the man, who studies, is my father)

How do you say ‘to like‘ in Dutch? Whenever my students ask the question, I prepare for a sigh. Yes, you can use to love, which is less strong in Dutch. But it’s better to use ‘graag’, which you add to a verb.
-Ik werk graag. ( = I like to work)
-Hij heeft graag kinderen. ( = he likes kids)

The order of the different parts of a sentence is… well. Dutch. Subsentences have their own way of putting words and using words as while or because complicates matters. Here’s one little rule: when starting with time or place, use inversion.
-Hier werk ik. ( = here I work)
-Soms werk ik. ( = sometimes I work)

Another disturbance in the order of the sentence: separable verbs. Some verbs have a part that occasionally splits with the main part. Fun, huh? Oh yes, if you forget that little part, it can change the whole meaning of the sentence.
-Ik werk af. ( = I finish)
-Ik werk. ( = I work)

Which article do you use, de or het? There are some rules: persons use de and diminutives use het. But there are so many exceptions. Make sure to use the right article for words you use most.

Need more tips to learn Dutch? Get language lessons with me ($10 extra) and subscribe to my free newsletter.

September 28, 2018

What to do in language group classes

One of the most popular ways to learn a language is through language classes. Even though there are many types, a group class can be the easiest (and cheapest) one.

A great start is to ask for a try-out. So you can check if you’re at the appropriate level, and if you like the teacher’s style as well as the pace.

Writing during classes can help you a lot!

At the end of the class, your teacher may give you homework. Make sure to always do it – some teachers even correct it for free! One tip: don’t do the homework just before or after class. The more you spread your learning, the better.

While you’re in class, be active! There are many ways you can learn much more during the lessons. Listen actively to the other students. Ask questions. Write down words your teacher used that are above your level and look them up afterwards. Or, even better, bring a dictionary. Or use a digital one on your smartphone.

If you’re scared to speak, remember all the other students are scared to speak too. You may want to ask questions to them to make sure they feel comfortable too. Learning involves making mistakes. And if you’re not making mistakes in class, where will you?

Talking about speaking: during breaks, start to speak the language you’re learning with your fellow students. They may want to take up the good habit of having a language partner.

If you have some sense of humor, use it. People will be more relaxed, you’ll be more relaxed, your teacher will be more relaxed. You don’t have to be funny all the time, but if you associate learning with fun, you’ll be looking forward to the next lesson.

Many teachers give extra resources. Check them out after doing your homework. The teachers will select the best ones for your level and your individual needs.

August 21, 2018August 24, 2019

Dutch numbers 1-100

Let’s see the Dutch numbers from 1 to 20 to start with. 0 is nul.

Check if you can recognise similarities between Dutch and English.

From fifteen to nineteen, notice it’s just five plus ten etc…

Let’s see how it goes further…

From here on, it’s just one to ten + en + 30 or 40 or 50. Don’t forget to put the ¨ on two and three. They’re there for the pronunciation.

One tip to practice the numbers: make calculations. For example 2 + 3 = 5. Or whenever you see a number in your neighbourhood, try to say it out loud.

August 21, 2018August 20, 2018

How to choose your type of language class

How do you choose language classes? Let’s take a look at the available options and start with the classic language school.

One of the most efficient ways to learn a language is by following classes at a language school or a language institute. These schools adapt to the needs of the student and use an individual approach. Many of them offer a wide range of language learning tools, like lessons at your home or company, own learning materials, phone lessons and e-learning platforms. Be ready to speak, as a good language school makes their students talk. One disadvantage: these classes are the most expensive type of classes. If you’re short on cash, ask for group classes.

people university — Many universities offer language classes ©

If you’d like to find a cheaper option, classes at universities or non-governmental organisations might be a good choice. Unlike language schools, their first goal isn’t earning money. Usually, their tools and services are more limited and the groups tend to be bigger. You probably won’t have too many choices when it comes to location, and the hours of the classes will be set in advance, so no canceling. Make sure to be active in class: ask questions, do your homework and talk to the teacher.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/160082970@N04/44112113312/

The cheapest

The cheapest option: group classes by the government. Even if they tend to be the least efficient, there are many reasons why you could follow them. If you don’t want to improve too quickly. Or if you want to meet fellow students. Or if you need to often skip classes. A limited number of locations. The groups are the biggest. The services are the most limited. And progress will move at the pace of the least capable learner. But these don’t need to be a disadvantage. As for universities, be active and participate.

One of the most diverse types of classes is given by individual language teachers. There are many teachers looking for students, both online and offline (I teach on italki.com and here’s $10 extra). Materials, prices, teaching methods, number of students in a class, progress, quality, and location all depend on the teacher. So make sure to agree in advance on the price, location, number of students and materials. Also, communicate what you’d like to do and where you’ll meet exactly. To find teachers, look for ads on websites like justlanded.com.

Tips

Always ask for recommendations from your local friends and colleagues. They might give you specific advice about the possibilities in your location.
Ask your teacher or language school if you can try the class just for one lesson. That way, you’ll quickly know what to expect. And you won’t be stuck in a class you’re not interested in.
Check if your company or organisation can get you discounts, or maybe even offer you language classes for free.
Find out where you can find Dutch language classes in Belgium and where you can follow Maltese language classes.