Don't wait! Start speaking real Dutch, right now

Have you ever wondered how long it will take before you can express yourself in Dutch? No matter how much huiswerk (homework) you do, sometimes it feels as if it could take years, especially to talk about the things that you truly like instead of just small talk. But that is a depressing thought, don’t you think?

What if someone told you that you could start to speak Dutch, for real, within a couple of days? Would you like this idea? Maybe you would, but the chances are, you would also think, "No way can I learn enough in a couple of days. First, I have to learn a lot, and then, if I am lucky, one day, in the distant future, I might be able to have a Dutch conversation in the way that I want to."

In this article, I would like to share a couple of ideas that can significantly enhance your Dutch fluency within a short period. Having worked with thousands of people as a Dutch language coach, I have seen over and over again that people can make a lot of progress within a very short time and that gaining confidence can be easier than you ever imagined. 

Learning by speaking

To make the leap to speaking real Dutch, you need to be willing to play with some new ideas and concepts. If you do, then things can improve really fast!

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about learning and speaking Dutch? Do you see them as two separate activities? Do you believe that you need to learn Dutch before you can speak Dutch?

Then here is a first idea that can make a radical difference: learning and speaking Dutch is actually the same thing. When you speak Dutch, you will learn Dutch, and when you learn Dutch, you need to speak it, especially if you want to learn it fast!

See how a Brainwash language course from Talencoach can help you speak Dutch fast

Just start speaking

Starting to speak Dutch is actually not that difficult. You just open your mouth and start to say things! If it's right, then bingo, and if it's wrong, then you correct it. The most important thing is that you start to discover how the language really works when you start speaking.

The first goal is to figure out what works and what doesn’t, and to do it in a non-scary and even fun way. It's important to really open up and relax about the idea of making mistakes. 

Instead of trying to memorise a whole boring conversation on how to make an appointment with a Dutch dentist for the removal of your wisdom tooth, you simply start to play and start talking about the things that you really like.

Once you have started to talk, you obtain more information, so that, step by step, you know exactly what to do to create correct Dutch sentences all by yourself.

Keep it fun

What matters most is that you really have fun while exploring Dutch. Many courses can be quite draining because you are simply repeating standard sentences, and the focus is mainly on how to do things correctly without making any mistakes. New information needs to be studied and memorised, and there is little freedom to move away from the curriculum.

However, here is a harsh truth: it is very hard to become good at something if you do not like it or feel drained or bored by it. However, once you feel excited and something grabs your interest in a natural way, then all you need to do is continue having a great time!

Theory in action

Some time ago, I did a podcast where I shared three insider tips that can help you learn and speak Dutch a lot faster. That's why I would like to share three clips here.

This first clip demonstrates why it is important to really open up. The truth is that you picked up your own language when you were a baby, but now that you are grown up, something has changed...

In the second clip, you can see that speaking a language has little to do with school. It is easy to believe that you don't have a gift for foreign languages, especially if you don't have good memories from school.

In this last clip, you can see that expanding your Dutch vocabulary does not have to be a boring chore. You don't have to work with tedious flash cards, just use a bit of imagination!

Get that excited feeling

If you want to speak Dutch, then instead of feeling drained by it, why not feel excited about it? Many people have already discovered that, contrary to their initial expectations, learning and speaking Dutch can be quite exciting.

It is a great way to discover new things about yourself and the world that surrounds you every day. Just start doing it and see what happens!