Anyone learnt dutch?

[UlyseesEggsAndEatsThem]

And did you do it at home? What aids did you use?

TIA

There is always \link{http://www.learndutch.org\this site} although I found the Dutch weren't really bothered if you could speak the language and weren't like other countries who appreciate that you tried.

I muddled through regardless!

Yes, me. Taught myself from newspapers and TV (I'm in Flanders) and helpful colleague (I use the term lightly) who taught me such useful expressions as "penis envy". Where are you? It's very easy to learn if you have learned German.

I learned Dutch when we lived there for three years. Went to a local night school. I had some basic German from when we lived there which helped and the structure of sentences etc was pretty much the same. Agree with TwoIfBySea that the Dutch speak good English and therefore you don't HAVE to speak the language BUT if you live there you will find that there is a sense among the Dutch that you should at least try. It isn't that they can't understand you because of course they almost all speak very good English but I very definitely felt that after about a year there was a feeling from the Dutch that I should be trying.

I crashed my car near where we live, which is a rabidly Dutch speaking part of Belgium. The police were called and refused to speak French to the Francophone who had hit me - he had to send for a friend to interpret. The police were v nice to me as I stumbled along in Dutch and told the French speaker that if I could make the effort to learn Dutch and had only lived here for a few years, he could perhaps do the same.

I can read Flemish (v.like dutch), I used to live in the flemish speaking bit of Belgium, and on the TV there they don't dub the english out they just wrote the subtitles in flemish underneath. Thats how I learnt it, just sort of clicked in. I know German which helped a lot!

Flemish and Dutch are the same thing, Smurfgirl, just different accent and occasionally different words for things (the word for carrots is different in Dutch Dutch). Where did you live?

No - was supposed to go to a special convent where you only spoke dutch to learn it for work (they all spoke english but as Dutch Co. they thought would be good for us to know and another sting to bow!!) - BUT I chickened out!!

Oh ok

I lived in Leefdaal. Went to BSB for 6th form. Am having MASSIVE Belgium cravings at the mo actually. With hindsite it was the best place to live aged 16-18. My dad worked at Everberg.

I lived in Enschede for a year when at university. I hurt my back very badly while I was there so I ended up on a Dutch language course to fill some time. It was great! I also used some books and tapes before I went.

Smurfgirl, I bet you got pissed in the Europa Cafe as well, of an evening, didn't you?

Oh God yes. Although its called the 'pub' to us commoners It was snooks in Tervuren and then onto the pub, but by y13 had moved into getting tram into town and getting absolutely trashed! Do they still go to the pub on Fri? (assuming you know BSB!)

Yup, Friday night it's full of BSB students! Impossible to get a babysitter on a Friday night as they are all getting tanked up in there.

What is/where is Snooks??

I was a bit of a babysitting queen. Every single sat night. Made a fortune (you are ripped off you know!).

Friends who have younger sibs at BSB say it is not as good as it was, new heads etc but I think thats because they are more strict about people bumming off of an afternoon.

Am quite heartbroken that I won't get to live there again actually. Fab experience! Didn't meet any belgians, didn't see much of belgium...just got drunk really. FAB!

Snooks is in Tervuren, umm, sort of on the back streets off the square, you walked down this big hill and then the road with the tram stop on was in front of you.

Good times!

had dutch students in my halls at college. never learnt spelling but i know "tele-guy-ka" is TV and"no-ken in de ko-ken" is naughtiness in the kitchen (don't ask!) Don't suppose this is any help at all though. sorry UEAET. :)

Smurfgirl ... how old are you?

I went to the BSN for 8 years ... we used to thrash you lot at hockey

Oh, ja en ik spreek een beetje Nederlands ...

Yes, I know we are ripped off by the BSB students - 6 euros an hour instead of 2 euros an hour from Kind en Gezin. And supposedly double rates after midnight. Shocking.

Will find out if Snooks is still there. When did you leave?

cheers everyone, not got time to read all the replies but will soon xxx

Ghosty and Tanzie I left BSB in 2002. (i am 21 now)

its still 6 euros an hour? its not gone up in nearly 4 years then!

i was sat nostalgering with my friend about belgium today over lunch!

Oh my goodness Smurfgirl ... you make me feel so old
I left the BSN in 1988 ....

Sorry ghosty

I think they still do ISST every year and I think there is still intense BSN/BSB/BSP rivalry!

Oh yes, the ISST ... always was BSN/BSB/BSP rivalry back then too ... huge rivalry between us and the ISB too ...
Don't feel Smurfgirl ... rejoice in your youth

Oh God ISB too...

If it makes you feel any better had nothign to do with hockey ever, best friend was captain in Y13, I spent most of my time dossing/smoking/drinking in the Europa (and babysitting for loads of money !)

Oh God, some of your friends will have been my babysitters I expect!