Learning Dutch with CERAN

Dutch is a West Germanic language, a bridge between English and German. Dutch is the mother tongue of nearly 23 million people in the Netherlands and Belgium. It is also spoken by another 5 million people as a second language. Dutch is also the official language of Suriname and one of the co-official or used languages in Aruba, the Netherlands Antilles, Namibia and Indonesia. Some populations also speak Dutch in other countries such as in the United States, South Africa, Germany and France, particularly in the Nord/Pas-de-Calais region. There are many reasons why you should learn Dutch. * Dutch is very similar to English and German. If you already speak English or German, you won't find it too hard to master Dutch. There are many similarities between these 3 languages, which makes it one of the easiest languages to learn for people with English or German as their mother tongue. * Dutch people will appreciate your efforts. The Dutch are used to foreigners speaking to them in English. So when foreigners (try to) speak Dutch, native speakers are pleasantly surprised and happy to help them. They will appreciate your efforts, try to speak more slowly and help you as much as they can. It's OK to make mistakes and even Dutch native speakers can be quite careless in their own language. Grammar rules are not always followed and even pronunciation is not always perfect. * Dutch is spoken across 4 continents, in Europe, America, Africa and Asia. Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands and Suriname, and it is one of the official languages of Belgium, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. It is spoken in most of the former Dutch colonies and in small emigrant communities all over the world. Dutch is also the parent language of Afrikaans, one of the 150 official languages of South Africa. Before Afrikaans was officially recognised by linguists, Dutch itself was one of this country's official languages. * Discover the wealth of Dutch culture and history. When you learn a language, even though you only focus on practical topics such as grammar and vocabulary, you find out more about the culture and history of its native speakers. As your thoughts are shaped by the language you speak, learning Dutch will give you a sense of how Dutch people think. When you learn this language, you open a window into Dutch culture and history and the Dutch way of life. It is also the perfect way to engage with local people. When you learn Dutch, you get an understanding of the country's culture and history, and learn about its sayings, humour and even its songs. * Learn Dutch to take advantage of new business or career opportunities. The Netherlands has one of the richest and most stable economies in the European Union. A large number of international companies have set up business in the country and the Dutch government gives small businesses a lot of help, by taking special measures to stimulate their development. So there are plenty of business and career opportunities in this "small" country. However, the many work opportunities aren't the only reasons for working in the Netherlands. There are other good reasons such as superb working conditions (with an excellent work-life balance), a good health system and an excellent standard of living. Although not all companies or positions require knowledge of Dutch, the fact you can speak this language will help you find work more easily and have a better overall experience. Even if you don't want to move to the Netherlands, knowing another language is still an extra skill when you're looking for a job in your own country. Learning Dutch lets you work for companies that have links to the Netherlands or that are in contact with Dutch groups.