Learning Dutch or Another Language? Then Maximise Those ‘Micro-moments’

We all know that practice is key when learning a language. The challenge is finding the time.

Here’s a tip: use the small ‘micro-moments’ in your day to learn. Your commute, a quick trip to the shop, or even your daily walk – that ‘transit time’ can become bonus learning time.

Get started
Use these moments to check your vocabulary. Look around you: do you know the words for sky, tree, house, cat in Dutch, French, Spanish…? If not, look up one or two, and repeat them each time you see that thing.

Keep going
Pay attention to street signs, billboards, and bus stop ads. Try reading them and guessing meanings from context — you’ll be surprised how much you can figure out.

More advanced?
Use the ‘transit time’ to replay conversations you’ve had, or practise ones you’re about to have. Need to prepare for a tricky discussion? Try it out loud to improve fluency, pronunciation and confidence.

The good news? Even 10 minutes a day can make a real difference. Give it a try and see how far you get!

The author, Michelle McManus, speaks 3 languages fluently and is Senior Coordinator at The Square Mile Business Language Training in Leiden. Are you interested in more suggestions, or perhaps would like to learn Dutch, she’d love to hear from you through michelle@thesquaremile.nl