The host of aussies in Holland is Sandy Moritz
Please send all correspondence and suggestions to Sandy
|
|
aussies in holland |
|
WELCOME TO THE AUSTRALIANS ABROAD INFO PAGE FOR
AUSSIES IN THE NETHERLANDS
THE DUTCH
LANGUAGE
ON
THIS PAGE:
USEFUL
SITES
ONLINE DUTCH LANGUAGE
COURSES
TIPS
FRISIAN
SWEARING
IN DUTCH!
MISC DUTCH LANGUAGE
SITES
USEFUL
SITES
ONLINE
DUTCH LANGUAGE COURSES
TIPS
I’ll tell you about my experiences with this
as well. I chose to go to one of the state language schools, and these were my
reasons:-
- I was given tests in my spoken, written, read and
understood Dutch to assess exactly what my level was, in order to place me in a
suitable class. As these schools are large, they have more classes to choose
from.
- Their teachers are very good, and have vast experience in
teaching people with all levels of Dutch.
- I was placed in a class within two months of my
tests.
- As these schools always have a waiting list, you are
encouraged to pass your exams – private schools have no reason to want you
to go too soon!
- There is a pressure of sorts, which I found good –
if you miss more than three classes without a good reason, you lose your spot in
the class. If you fail the exams two years running, ditto.
- There were about 10 nationalities in my class of about
15. The classes were taught ONLY in Dutch! Impossible when you speak no Dutch?
No – it’s a tried and true method for second languages.
- Our only common language was Dutch, poor as that was, so
we couldn’t cheat by reverting back to e.g. English when stumped –
we had to just keep on trying. We also socialised in the breaks in Dutch, and
several of them are still good friends.
- As they are state subsidised these schools are very cheap
compared with most private schools (I paid less than € 45 per
year)
- They are in most towns in the Netherlands.
- You may find that you are obliged to take Dutch language
classes in order to qualify for your visa to stay. If this is the case, then
the Gemeente (locality) you are registered with should pay these costs,
including the cost of the books.
- I passed my four NT2 (Dutch as a second language) exams
after only two years, and I know others here who have been paying
€ 200 per term for years at private language schools, and who are
still struggling.
- If you’d like to check this option out, ask at your
town hall (Gemeente Huis) for details of which school is allocated to your
gemeente. You will have to be registered as living in the Netherlands in order
to qualify for these schools
though.
On the
other hand, another Aussie Abroad here told me about her experiences at the
school she was allocated to, and they were not particularly good at all, so it
comes down to which teachers you get, and how that school’s teaching
policies are.
FRISIAN
It’s a little known fact that the Netherlands
actually has TWO official languages: Dutch and Frisian. Frisian (or
“Fries” as it’s known in Dutch – pronounced
“freeze” – or “Frysk” as they call it themselves)
is widely spoken in the northern province of Friesland. They have their own TV
programs, radio, press and literature, and many signs (incl. all road signs) are
in both languages. Children there learn both Dutch and Fries. If you’re
to live there you’ll learn Fries from the locals, but make sure you learn
Dutch as well, or you won’t be able to speak to anyone outside the
province! If you’re interested in learning or improving your
Frisian:English-Frisian
online dictionary http://dictionaries.travlang.com/EnglishFrisian/
Frisian-English online
dictionary http://dictionaries.travlang.com/FrisianEnglish/
online course in
Frisian http://mitglied.lycos.de/seelt/frikure1.htm
useful site for all sorts of
useful Frisian
links
http://friesecultuur.pagina.nl/
SWEARING
IN DUTCH!
http://www.santesson.com/enedcurs.htm
A light hearted site which nevertheless gives you the
lowdown on this aspect of the language. Enter at own risk! Incidentally, you
may have noticed that the word “shit” is used quite freely in NL.
My 70 year old mother-in-law (ex-schoolteacher, still in the church choir) uses
it as well, but she’ll give me a disapproving frown if I say
“damn” – it’s blasphemy, so that’s
different!
MISC
DUTCH LANGUAGE SITES
Copyright
© 1997 - 2002 Sandy Moritz
You may not publish or reproduce any of the stories from this
page,
on the Internet or elsewhere, without prior written permission.
All links to australiansabroad.com are by permission only.
If you wish to link to australians.com, you may send an e-mail to Australians Abroad stating your name and e-mail address, the Internet address of the site on which the link will appear, the nature of the link, and whether it is permanent or temporary.
|
|
 |
