When learners tell me they want to speak Dutch fluently, they often imagine long, deep conversations about politics, philosophy, or culture. But the truth is: fluency doesn't start there. It starts with the tiny, ordinary interactions that fill your day.
Have you ever had this moment? You're in a shop, the cashier asks you a simple question in Dutch, and your brain freezes. You know the words, but they seem to line up in English first, waiting to be translated. By the time you've found the Dutch version, the moment is gone.
When people tell me they want to speak Dutch, I often ask them: "How much Dutch do you listen to?"
