Good way to learn Dutch?

[draggar]

Some of my sites are getting a lot of traffic from Belgium so I was thinking I may want to learn some Dutch (I have someone who can read and write German at my disposal if I ever need it).

What would be a good way to learn? I've found some software packages as low as $20 (but I know - you get what you pay for).

Are there any suggestions?

 

[Gerry]

I'll see if I can find the software package my wife used for Italian.

In 8 weeks she was speaking flawlessly in basic conversational Italian. When we were in Italy, many grocer, hotel, site staff thought she was Italian.

Yes, you get what you pay for. But this package was so impressive we purchased a couple more.

Actually, perhaps the best way to learn Dutch is marry a dutch girl.



Keep in mind that ALL nations in Europe are multicultural and multilingual. It is not uncommon for inhabitants to speak 5-9 languages.

 

[Rico]

i'll help you $50 an hour, pm me

 

[draggar]

Actually, perhaps the best way to learn Dutch is marry a dutch girl.

I'll tell my wife that.

Keep in mind that ALL nations in Europe are multicultural and multilingual. It is not uncommon for inhabitants to speak 5-9 languages.

Yeah, most people in Belgium speak either Dutch, German, or French (or all 3?). It's just that a couple of my sites are getting traffic form Dutch based sites (.nl and .be) and even some German (but I have someone I can use for German translations).

 

[Gerry]

EDIT: Conversational Italian in 7 Days, McGraw-Hill

Just looked on amazon and did not see a Dutch edition.

 

[tekz999]

Fastest, free way, but not so accurate, but the dutch understand -> babelfish,altavista,com

 

[Rockefeller]

http://www.rosettastone.com/

 

[Gerry]

http://www.rosettastone.com/

Have you ever personally used any of their products?

I know some people who have (one a family of four - Chinese / husband-wife japanese) and they were very disappointed with the price/quality. Both groups ended up getting something different and much cheaper.

I also imagine that it depends on the language to be learned.

 

[draggar]

My wife got the Rosetta stone for German (second hand) and wasn't too overly impressed with it, too.

I have an old program for French and German that I got on clearance (when I worked for Staples). Maybe I should play with the German one.

Hmm, from what it looks like - Dutch is based of of German (well, a Germanic language, like English?). Maybe I'll get that German SW out to get some basics down (kinda like learning Spanish before you study Portuguese).