Learn Any Language

May 30, 2019March 2, 2023

Best Dutch language learning podcasts

Podcasts are an excellent way to learn languages by listening. Wherever you are, improve your Dutch skills with these podcasts.

Hear news fragments read slowly and head over to the ‘Say it in Dutch‘ podcast. Ideal for advanced beginners to intermediate students. In each episode of around 30 minutes, someone reads a news story in Dutch, but very slowly. To get the PDFs with the transcripts you’ll have to pay though.
Duration: 30 minutes, level: A2-B1, transcripts: paid

In een beetje Nederlands – a bit of Dutch – you’ll learn in each episode about Dutch culture and many other topics in slow Dutch. The website is entirely for free.
Duration 10-20 minutes, level: A2-B1, transcripts: free.

DutchPod101.com is a Dutch learning platform. Except over 1000 podcasts for all levels, there are video lessons, exercises, transcripts and vocabulary lists. Making an account is necessary, and some of the features are paid.
Duration: variable, level: A1-B2, transcripts: account/paid

Learn basic phrases with LinguaBoost, you can listen to the podcast here. However, you’ll have to pay to get the transcripts.
Duration 5-10 minutes, level: A1-A2, transcripts: paid via this link.

Interested in simple, everyday stories of about 5 minutes? That’s what Dutch teacher Caroline makes with her podcast 5 minuten Nederlands. It’s intended for intermediate students, transcripts can be asked via her email address in the link.
Duration: 5 minutes, level: B1+, transcripts: on demand

Yes, you can learn by listening, even in the bus! ©

The Dutch Online Academy features podcasts for advanced beginners and intermediate learners. A simple text is read about a specific topic is read slowly. Occasionally it focuses on a grammar topic, but no explanations are given in the Podcast. Transcripts are available for free.
Duration: 3-10 minutes, level: mostly A2-B1, transcripts: free

One of the few podcasts also using English are the ones from Dutch Grammar. They focus on a topic per podcast, with useful phrases. It’s one of the older podcasts, but you can find the transcripts and their translations via the link.
Duration: 1-6 minutes, level: A2-B1, transcripts: free

However, there are many other podcasts unrelated to language learning. There is a huge selection of podcasts from Belgium you can find on Vlaamsepodcasts.be. If you prefer podcasts from the Netherlands, go to Podcast Luisteren. Need some help to choose one? Read my other article.

Spotted another one? Let me know in the comments!

May 19, 2019April 20, 2022

Dutch news, slowly read

Watching the news is an excellent way to improve your comprehension skills. However, sometimes it goes too fast. That’s why I started making videos in slow Dutch. And here’s the first edition:

You’ll get the translation of the most difficult words. Plus, you can slow down the speed of the videos. So you’ll be learning news words in a Dutch context!

Don’t forget to subscribe to my Youtube Channel for more.

January 6, 2019July 2, 2020

Als in Dutch

Learn the Dutch language from Belgium, also called Flemish

Als is translated in English as ‘if’ and ‘as’. However, many English speakers learning Dutch will have three challenges while using als: the word order, the connection with when and the comparative.

The word order
Conjunctions such as because, while and so that change the order of the words. If the conjunction is in the middle of the sentence, the verbs will be at the end:
-Ik ga naar huis als ik morgen niet moet werken.
-I go home if I don’t have to work tomorrow.
If you start your sentence with the conjunction, the verbs will be at the end of the first part of your sentence, and the next one starts with inversion:
-Als ik morgen niet moet werken, ga ik naar huis.
-If I don’t have to work tomorrow, I go home.

The connection with when
‘Wanneer’ has the same meaning as ‘als.’ However, wanneer also has another meaning: ‘when’ with time in the past. You can’t use als in the following case:
-When I went to school, I was happy.
–Wanneer ik naar school ging, was ik gelukkig.
Same goes for questions. When you’re asking questions with when, always use wanneer:
-When do we go?
-Wanneer gaan we?

The comparative
Als has also other uses, apart from being a conjunction. Here are two of them:
-I work as a coach.
-Ik werk als coach.

-It’s the same as yesterday.
-Dat is hetzelfde als gisteren.

The first meaning is ‘in the capacity of’, and the second meaning one is only used with the same as, not by using the comparative as in the following example:
-I’m bigger than you.
-Ik ben groter dan jou.

Also, when you’re using the structure ‘as … as … ‘, only the second as will be als:
-as big as him
-zo groot als hem
The first one will use zo.

Exercises
Put the words in the right order (both starting with als and with als in the middle):
– ga – wil – iets – ik – hem – naar – als – wil – wel – drinken
Fill in wanneer / als (both are possible):
– … heb je tijd?
– … je tijd hebt, kom je dan naar mij?
Translate:
– He’s as fast as his sister.
– If you study Dutch, you’ll need a good teacher.

Solutions
-Als ik iets wil drinken, ga ik wel naar hem. / Ik ga wel naar hem als ik iets wil drinken.
-wanneer / wanneer or als
-Hij is zo snel als zijn zus.
-Als je Nederlands studeert, zal je een goede leraar nodig hebben.

Interested in Dutch language lessons? Book me for private lessons (here‘s $10 extra).

December 29, 2018December 29, 2018

Laugh: how to use humor to learn a language

While I was teaching Dutch and my student was talking about her week, she said she went shopping for food. In Dutch, that’s ‘boodschappen doen’. However, she had to buy lots of things, so she added: ‘ik heb grote boodschappen gedaan’. Which means literally ‘I have done a big shopping.’ I started laughing.

Why? Literally, it was a good guess – it was a good student. But figuratively, it means going to the ‘big’ bathroom in Dutch… So I taught her the expression and we both laughed.

Humor is one of the reasons students forget they’re in a classroom. Which is why as a student, I also use it when I’m following classes. It’s so much more fun!

Even as a teacher, it’s important to laugh during classes. It makes it so much more fun! You’ll look forward to your next class, time will fly and you’ll enjoy your lessons.

How to laugh more in class
There are some jokes that always work. For example, if the teacher is asking for a volunteer, just say the name of another student. Or when your teachers asks you a difficult question, say ‘too difficult. Next question please.’

Another riskier one, is to give the wrong answer to a question that’s too simple. Make sure to smile at your teacher when he/she looks at you. Or when the teacher gives you the solution to a question, and you reply ‘correct!’

Humor outside of class
Don’t limit yourself to your lessons. When a native speaker gives you a compliment about your language skills, reply their skills are also good. Laughter guaranteed!

A trickier one is to tell something very rude, and say someone taught you it was something very nice to say… Beware to choose the right context for this…

And one last trick: don’t overdo it. Lessons are meant to be nice, but don’t think everyone should laugh all the time, it’s a language lesson, not a comedy lesson.

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

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!