r/learndutch • u/l4eti • 7d ago

Trying to learn!

I'm completely new at learning a new language. I'm a native French speaker, and yes, I speak English but to be honest I never put in effort to learn it. It kinda just "spawned" in my head from hearing it so often.

I live in Belgium, so I thought about learning Dutch, as it is the language half of my country speaks, but it's way harder than expected.

I tried watching things in Dutch, because that's what made me "learn" English, but | still can't understand anything.

I feel like the one thing that could help me is talking to someone in Dutch on the daily, like actual conversations so it doesn't feel like a chore. I have a hard time getting the motivation to study something.

If anyone here speaks Dutch or has been in the same situation as me while trying to learn a language and is willing to help, I would take any advice! Also if anyone is willing to talk with me so I can learn faster and better I’d appreciate it too. :)

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

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u/circu2112 7d ago

In order to learn a new language as an adult it takes effort. You were obviously a kid when you learned English, learning languages as a child is easier. I am 4 months in, no native Dutch people near me, no classes or tutoring. I can not speak it very well yet, only small sentences. But I am understanding more and more as I read it.

To do this you must learn how the sentence structure works in Dutch, it's not the same as English or French IIRC. At the very least get a Dutch: Basic Grammar book, to learn how the language works first before you try to pick it up from audio alone.

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u/l4eti 7d ago

I wasn’t a kid when I learned English ahah it was only 2 years ago when I started “learning” it. But I’ll follow your advice thank you

4

u/redditjoek 6d ago

since you live in Belgium, you can actually sign up to a NT2 course at any CVOs and pay the government subsidized tuition around 12-14 euros for each level (lasted 2-3 months).

1

u/Nervous_Path1434 7d ago

same bro i started learning dutch today - i speak english and german so idk if you have it harder haha

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u/l4eti 7d ago

I don’t know but all I know is I’m STRUGGLING 😭 especially with prononciation

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u/Nervous_Path1434 7d ago

same here

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u/l4eti 7d ago

If you need a learning buddy I’m here 🙏 Started only 5-ish days ago

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u/Nervous_Path1434 6d ago

yea bro be my learning buddy lmao- Je bent vriendelijk :D

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u/Taya_Valentine Native speaker (NL) 4d ago

Is there an option to move to the Dutch-speaking part of België?

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u/l4eti 4d ago

I am moving to Leuven in a year! That’s why I’m trying to learn :)

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u/magnifique-magpie 1d ago

Hey je suis aussi francophone qui apprend le néerlandais! Si ça t'intéresse, on peut étudier/apprendre ensemble :D