I have been having issues with my Dutch language progress since I stopped going to courses, and I reached the conclusion that the best way to fix that was to work on my skills. Short of actually conversing with people, I went for the next best option; I joined the library!
The Amsterdam Central Library opened in July 2007, and occupies a staggering 28,000 m2, making it the largest public library in Europe. (source) And next door is the Conservatorium!
Of course, once I navigated my way around becoming a member (about half in Nederlands and half in English) the first thing I did was enquire as to where the language department was. Level 5. I could be in a lot of trouble on this level.
This is about a third of the printed resources for learning Dutch. Or course, not all of them are from English!
Around the corner there is an entire section of well known novels translated from English into simple Dutch, just for people like me to practice from! Of course I think I’ll have to read the first couple with a dictionary next to me!
Given that we do live in the 21st Century however, what the library has to offer is computer courses! And computers in order to learn on!
So my plan is to head to the library at least twice a week for a few hours each visit and study like I used to in class!
I can see myself spending a lot of time here!
Are you already starting the novels or will you start with a different approach? Do you have any tips you can share on successful self-paced learning? Or maybe it’s too soon to tell?
I’m going to start with a novel that has been lent to me by a friend so that I can return it 🙂 And I have no tips on self paced learning to speak of yet, let’s just hope I can make this work for me!
When I have lived in non English speaking countries, the library has been my friend too (actually that’s not correct as I frequent the library regardless of the language spoken) but it definately made it easier, dictionaries plus simple or familiar books are a brilliant way of expanding vocab once you have some basic grammar down.