Hoe gaat het met jou?*
japra | Nov 17, 2009 | Comments 19
A guest photo from Mr. DJ! This is the park not far from his office.
I haven’t been doing a good job reviewing the materials from my Dutch class. However, I have been paying close attention to people speaking around me. That should count, right? Also, I attended a Dutch art class last weekend. The instructor translated her directions, but I was surprised how much I could understand without her translations. I think it helps a lot to have visual cues, though. While I was listening to the radio yesterday, I could hear words I knew but they were spoken so quickly that by the time I figured out one word, the announcer had said five other words in the meantime!
I am off on an outing with some friends from my Dutch class today. Misschien zullen wij het Nederlands spreken (maybe we’ll speak Dutch) :-)
*How’s it going with you?
About the Author: JaPRA is an expat Texan living in England with her husband (Mr. DJ), their 17-year old daughter (Roxi), and their dog Trudy.
Beautiful picture! I wish my German was coming along that good. I’m taking a private but now I’m rethinking maybe to take a class. So hard to speak it especially when the Germans here are not friendly!
Kathy, I found that being in a class really motivated me to study and keep up! It’s a lot more fun too :-)
It’s so nice seeing different colors out of doors – all we see here is green – great, but no variety.
I’d imagine that trying to listen to the radio in Dutch would be very frustrating! Have you tried listening to some Dutch music? I remember when I was speaking Spanish I had a bunch of tapes (yeah, that’s right, I go way back) and it helped a lot.
Today is #3′s birthday. I had planned on a bike ride along the water but for once it’s drizzling here – we’re supposed to meet some of her friends this afternoon at a garden so IT BETTER CLEAR UP!
Julia, I have listened to some Dutch music, but really should do more. Thanks for the reminder!
Hope #3 enjoyed her BD party. It looked so pretty!
Ooooo Aaaawwww! Beautiful!!
Carla, the leaves are almost done falling here. Mother nature has been entertaining us here for months!
Great fall colors! I’m really intrigued with the similaries/differences between Dutch and German. I always thought with the little German I know I could get along in Holland, but I’m beginning to have doubts about that….
Kathy, everyone I know who knows German tells me they can read Dutch but can’t speak it. I can read a little bit of German, but the spelling is different. I can also understand a few words now too, but I don’t think I could speak it. Maybe with a little practice?
What a peaceful little park! Looks like a great place for a lunchtime walk.
I’ve always found radio particularly difficult because in addition to the fact that they’re speaking quickly and not very precisely, typically they’re also using a fair amount of slang that one doesn’t (or I didn’t, at least) learn in the classroom. TV newscasts tended to be easier for me–perhaps drier, but easier. :)
Anne, that is so true about the radio! And conversations around me as well. I find that unless people are speaking textbook Dutch or phrases I learned in class, it takes me a while to figure out what they’re talking about. I guess this is where TV comes in…
Beautiful photo, thank Mr DJ for his contribution. They say the best way to learn a language is to be immersed in it…so you’re in the best place for that. Have a great day.
We had a lovely time in Delft, Christine. I’m so glad we went yesterday when the weather was good. Today is gross.
That park looks like some primeval forest. I love it!
Lucylucia, it took me a while to make the switch from the extremely manicured gardens of England to the more natural look of the parks here in Holland. I love both now!
vas iz lossen!!?
(i’m learning french from tapes. i think maybe some of the tapes have been erased and replaced with zongs from the zeider zee)
Ha! Zongs from the zeider zee, eh? You’re a natural ;-)
you can block my comments if necessary…
No way, Chris!!!
We would say that “hoe gaan dit met jou”. So similar yet different in many ways.