Foreign Exchange student: Netherlands?
Im planning to be an exchange student to Netherlands in 11th grade. Do you think i will learn enough Dutch to be fluent? i study the phonetics every day 7 days a week. The conversational part, i only know the basics. Will the kids at school pick on me lol? im a nerd you see. Doing it for a year.
Netherlands - 4 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
If you are willing to speak Dutch and put in some effort you can learn enough to get fluent in a few months. In a year you can be letter perfect if you are young enough. I am not sure you will be able to get fluent, even less perfect, before you come, but that is not needed either. Whatever your language abilities, if they want to pick on you they will find something, if only the colour of your eyes. But being the foreign kid does make it easier not to get picked on. But the Dutch, also at that age, are pretty good English speakers and will help you out when needed. Make sure everybody knows you want to learn Dutch or they will all try to make it easier for you and talk English all the time.
2 :
If you're only doing a foreign exchange for a few weeks, I wouldn't sweat the Dutch part. The kids there will have great fun teaching you anyway .... but having the basics before you go is a great idea, you'll get the chance to put it into practice, and you'll probably be speaking Dutch within a couple of weeks. I would say that you will attract attention simply because you're an exchange student. But don't sweat it, European schoolchildren are accepting of those who are a little different.
3 :
I cannot say how good your Dutch is now but I can tell you that studying a foreign language in school and actually living in a foreign country and speaking that language is really different. But this is a once in a lifetime chance for you to experience life in Holland and to improve your Dutch. Don't be scared, just try your best. Most of the ppl don't expect you to be fluent. When I first went to France, I thought that I could speak French well, but everytime I asked someone a question in French, they would reply in English. As time went on, this happened less and less often. My impression of Dutch ppl is that they as a whole are polite. And there are things that are universal such as male-female attraction. Be sure to dress neatly. No need for skin tight clothes, but leave the baggy shorts and oversized shirts and backwards baseball caps at home. Also, be aware that although Holland is a foreign culture, it is still part of western civilization and is considered a nice country to live in.
4 :
hey don't worry. i'm an expat student at ASH. you'll learn a lot of it in 1 year. my first year i was able to talk in shops and to some dutch people and you also pick it up quickly. what school and i can tell you more. i'm a freshman and my brother is a junior so...
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