How you can speak Dutch more confidently in just a few days

Have you ever thought how nice it would be to be able to just chat with someone in Dutch when you meet them for the first time? Or to be at a party and have the best time ever, just by having some back-and-forth in Dutch? 

Simple conversations can create a lot of great moments in your life, and if you do it in a foreign language, it feels even better. But the strange thing is, no matter how much Dutch you have learned, having a conversation, even a simple one, is not easy.

Even if you know what you would like to say, phrasing it in Dutch that makes sense to Dutch people can be a difficult task, and sometimes it just takes too long. The Dutch person has already started to speak English, or simply disappeared.

Why levelling up isn't always the answer

Let’s assume that you are a resilient person and that having spontaneous chats with Dutch people is something that you really want to do; what should you do to make that happen?

If you have a Dutch level of A1 or A2, then the solution might seem simple: Just take a B1 course. If you already have B1, then go for B2, and if this does not do the trick, then aim even higher; go for C1 or C2. But the harsh reality is that passing the next level does not mean that you can now speak Dutch for real.

The reason is very simple. Speaking a new language, and certainly a language like Dutch, is a skill in itself, and most language courses are not designed so that you end up actually speaking the language. On top of that, the chances are high that you are standing in your own way, even if you don’t realise it.

Breaking the negative spiral

Here is a simple question: What are your current thoughts about Dutch? Do you think it is difficult, or that it is logical and doable? How much do you enjoy working on your Dutch? Do you see it as a tedious chore, or is it something that excites you because you can have so much fun with it?

Here is another question that can reveal a lot: When do you expect your first real results? If you believe that speaking Dutch will take a long time, then that is how long it will take. You will put in a lot of effort for low results and a constant nagging feeling that somehow you are not moving forward. These aren't very positive thoughts, are they?

The tricky thing is that the more you work at it, the more these negative thoughts seem real. The harder you try, the more difficult it gets. However, once you understand how language learning really works, it becomes easy to unleash Dutch-language freedom once and for all.

A holistic approach

Many people see learning and speaking a language as two separate activities. First, they will learn or study, and then they hope that somehow, sometime, someday, all of a sudden, they'll speak Dutch. But this simply isn't how it works.

Actually, there is no difference between speaking and learning. If you want to, you can start speaking from the very beginning, and when you start speaking, you immediately learn new things.

And once you have said it enough times, you don't need to study it any more. The principle is simple: Use it or lose it, and what you use is what you gain.

Natural learning

However, there is one important thing: You have to walk the path of natural learning. In most language courses, you’ll see or read things that don’t make sense, but then you work hard to try to memorise them. Although it may seem to work to an extent, it is very draining, and with a bored mind, it is hard to reach Dutch fluency fast.

However, if you use natural learning, you can make a lot of progress quickly. The principle is very simple. If, for example, someone says "hallo" to you, would it be hard for you to understand that "hallo" actually means hello? Of course not; this is something that you can deduce on the spot with no effort at all. And if you say "hallo" a couple of times, then this Dutch word becomes yours.

Working with what you already know

Here is an important secret: Dutch and English have a lot of things in common with each other, and this means that you don't have to start from scratch. You are already starting at a much higher level.

You have probably already discovered that the structure of a Dutch sentence is different from that of an English one. But, contrary to what you may think, Dutch grammar is relatively simple, certainly if you compare it to other languages like German. Within just a couple of days, you can learn how to create hundreds of sentences, all by yourself and about any topic you like.

The most important thing is that you start to explore. You will quickly discover what works and what doesn't. Once you know how to make your own sentences, then you simply speed it up and do it faster and faster. This is important in conversations; you need to be able to act and think fast.

Thinking Dutch

Something else that can become a good habit within days is letting go of translating. If you think in English or your own language first, then, before you know it, you’ll get stuck. You have to think in Dutch directly.

Language is a reflection of culture, so you need to try to understand Dutch culture too. Luckily, understanding culture is not something that takes intensive study; a couple of new insights will put you right on track.

All of this will help you be at ease while speaking Dutch. This confidence is something that cannot be studied, but it always follows once you have started speaking Dutch and having fun with it. If you love to explore new things and expand new horizons, it is easy to feel that positive energy all the time.

Finding the Dutch version of you

One exciting aspect of speaking more Dutch is that, within a couple of days, you can start creating the Dutch version of you. You can start building your Dutch personality. How would you like to communicate? Will you be serious, or will you be informal and tell jokes all the time?

One thing is certain. Once you start learning and speaking Dutch in this new and natural way, you will quickly discover that you know much more than you think you do, and that you do have the ability and capacity to quickly pick up and apply new aspects of Dutch. Once you start your path of natural learning, you can discover that great things are possible in a very short time.

Don't try to skip to the end

One warning at the end, for balance: Learning and speaking a new language can sometimes feel overwhelming, because in a way, a language never ends. There are always new words, new expressions and more. I always compare it to music; the notes may be limited, but the melodies are endless.

Discovering new things, even just in a new language, can make your life more intriguing and interesting. Once that first "struggle" is over, and you have started speaking Dutch, you know that it will only get better and that you can have fun with it.