How to radically improve your Dutch within 7 days

Is the thought that one day you need to speak better Dutch always sitting in the back of your mind? You know the potential benefits: a better job, progress towards a B1 certificate or simply being able to connect with the people around you. But one question often remains: when will you start?

Finding the "right" time to learn Dutch

Even with the best intentions, you always find that now isn't the right time to start learning Dutch. In between work and family life, you are always busy. Even when you start a Dutch course, your mind tells you it will still take a long time before your language skills are good enough to use.

Years can go by and nothing changes. Yet you know you will need Dutch sooner rather than later, so what do you do next? Luckily, you have many options: apps, group classes, and podcasts. Chances are you have already tried all of these. 

Maybe you get to a stage where you know a few words and can understand roughly what people are talking about. But you struggle to put a sentence together and express yourself fully.

Ready for a change? Try a new approach

If you want to change, then you need to do something different. Would you believe it if someone told you that you can radically improve your language skills within seven days?

Seven days! That must be impossible, right? This is the typical reaction most people have. And yes, of course, the truth is that you cannot learn everything about a foreign language within seven days. But before you dismiss this idea, there are some things worth considering. 

Learn Dutch with Talencoach!

Why studying too much won't make you fluent

When most people think of learning a new language within seven days, they assume they have to study non-stop. The reality is much different. 

The biggest problem with the traditional approach to learning a new language is that most people study too much. They simply try to memorise words, phrases and sentences. But when you try to learn and memorise things you don’t really understand, you will never truly master the language.

A radically different way to learn Dutch

It is important to forget everything you think you know about learning and speaking foreign languages. The first step is simply exploring a new approach. If you do so with an open mind, you can soon discover that Dutch and English have many things in common.

Then, from day one, you start creating your own sentences, learn some simple rules, and after a few days start thinking directly in Dutch instead of English. 

You'll start to see that pronouncing words correctly is actually not rocket science, and with some simple techniques, you can start to guess the accurate meaning of Dutch words. 

You start to play, experiment and welcome mistakes. If what you said or wrote is correct, you repeat it; if it isn't, you change it. The process is very simple and confidence naturally grows.

One thing is important with this approach. You need to be engaged for 100 percent of it. Instead of just memorising, you develop a new way of thinking. You have to allow yourself to have fun with it. The more you laugh, the faster you'll learn and the more confident you will start to feel.

Does this method work for everyone?

While it sounds ideal, the truth is that this method does not work for everyone trying to learn Dutch. For example, if you prefer to focus on memorising vocabulary rather than being curious about the language, this program may not be the right fit.

But if you like to discover new things, love freedom and creativity, like to explore new ways of thinking and want to understand the world around you in the Netherlands, you will get a lot out of the course.