Well, this is indeed a frequent remark from my students. It is also a reality because it is in our nature to want to help other people. So, when you go to the store, for example, and you speak your best Dutch, it is frustrating when they either immediately respond in English or, worse yet, they don't understand you at all. What is the logical consequence of this? The conversation continues in English, and your good intention to speak Dutch this time, as your teacher has often advised you to do, goes out the window. And this is simply because we want to help each other. The shop assistant actually wants to be helpful because he feels that you are having difficulty. So, he responds in English, and in the meantime, he can also show that he is proficient in English. It is also true that many Dutch and Belgians speak English quite well. But of course, that doesn't help you.
Learning Dutch Online builds self-confidence!
So, I always give the following advice to my students who want to practice Dutch : respond again in your best Dutch, as your teacher has taught you to do, so that the shop assistant gets the signal that you are not here to improve your or his English, but that you simply want to practice Dutch. And with some luck, they will continue to answer you in, hopefully, clear and slowly spoken Dutch.
Perseverance pays off! Keep up the good work and good luck with your online Dutch lessons!
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