We're doing a lot of worksheets, learning grammar by doing grammar.
It hurts sometimes.
Those who are fluent in Nederlands can't begin to understand how a monolingual Kiwi might feel when she begins on her worksheet. The instructions were:
Noteer de juiste tegenstelling.
1. Als kind ben je van je ouders afhankelijk, als volwassene ben je________
I quietly sighed. I had no idea what afhankelijk or volwassene meant, and this seemed important.
I moved on.
2. Hoofsdstuk een en drie van dit boek zijn heel belangrijk, maar hoofdstruk twee is _________________
It was a long day this morning, and minus 4 degree celsius when I left home ... although I have to admit, the temp did rise to the giddy height of +2 by lunchtime.
I came home, ate and pondered my linguistic failures before climbing back into bed with a book and accidently falling asleep in the sun. Sun through glass is a beautiful thing here in Antwerpen, it works just like the real thing ...
Tot straks.
So you're an English teacher?
ReplyDeleteI was ... in Turkey. Here I'm just waiting to be legal, learning a language and grammar as I go.
ReplyDeleteI read your article on expatica.com. This comment has no relation to your post, but can you give me info on where I can get these flemish classes? I live in Brussels though, but the Antwerp office may give me some feedback?
ReplyDeletethanks!
Hi anonymous ... in the original article I had written 'track down the Huis van het Netherlands and find out how to start classes.
ReplyDeleteIf that is difficult then do what I did. I found out the name of a language school near me, phoned them and they passed me onto 'De Shelter' here in Antwerp. I was given an appointment and assessed there (there was a waiting list), and then streamed into a language school.
If you need more help, let me know and I'll get my Belgian partner to search for contact details for you in Brussels. :)