Customer Reviews

Routledge Intensive Dutch Course (Routledge Intensive Language Courses)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a native speaker of English, and a learner of English's cousin (German) for 3 years, I began to notice the similarities between German, Dutch and English in terms of vocabulary and grammar. After enjoying the music of so many Dutch musicians (which are not popular here in America-even when they do sing in English), I decided that I wanted to study Dutch. I ran into a few problems over the several months of self study, and this product has helped me overcome these problems.

As the book states, Routledge Intensive Dutch Course is an intensive course designed to develop one's language capability from nothing to the European standard, B2, within the time frame of a year. Those people who are looking to spend a week or two touring in the Netherlands or Belgium will probably find the contents of this book to be a little bit too much. However, if one is a language fanatic or has moved to a Dutch-speaking country, this book provides enough information so that one can be decently conversational, while not being totally fluent with the language.

Routledg Intensive Dutch Course is broken down into 11 different units. The first 8 units provide information on a variety of topics, while the last three units focus on the Netherlands and Belgium. Cultural tidbits about the Netherlands and Belgium are also sprinkled throughout the book, which helps the learners, in reality, learn a little bit more about the language they are learning.

Each unit is further divided into several sections. There are structure sections, which focus on Dutch grammar, communication sections, which focus on speaking appropriately/differently in different contexts, cultural sections and listening exercises. The listening exercises are fewer and farther between than I would personally like, but then again, the authors suggest that this book is to be used within an actual classroom setting, and with the aid of a professor, more listening would obviously be incorporated into the course.

Each unit also contains a nice selection of vocabulary. Several vocabulary lists are scattered throughout each unit. This is nice, as it allows one to easily memorize the words as he or she proceeds through the unit as opposed to having one large/comprehensive list of vocabulary at the end of each unit, which leads the reader feeling ultimately overwhelmed. I was also impressed by the variety and arrangement of vocabulary in this book. Previously, I had worked about half way through the "Teach Yourself Dutch" book, and I felt that the vocabulary selection was not good for someone who already speaks both English and German. I would rarely work through the exercises in that book because I could easily understand 80-90% without actually doing the exercise. With the Routledge book, however, there is a nice variety (and a larger amount) of Dutch vocabulary from the start. This allows one to easily get into the swing of sitting down and memorizing vocabulary.

Using this book as a self study tool, I find that some of the exercises are not useful to me, since I am the only person in my town who speaks/is learning Dutch. For a classroom setting, these exercises seem to be right on. The other exercises (grammar and written) are all appropriate, even for someone who is learning independently.

My only complaints about the book are that there are not enough listening exercises for one who is not in an area where he or she can expose him or herself to Dutch, and also that the audio CDs were more costly than the book itself. I cannot understand why the book is listed at $50, while the CDs are $90. The CDs do not contain any frills, and neither does the packaging. It seems like the book would be more costly to produce, but then again, who am I to judge. Overall, this set is a nice program for learning Dutch. If one wants to "get by" while in the Netherlands, then this book is too much, but if one wants to learn a nice amount of Dutch, than this seems like a good way of learning.

Don't purchase this as your first book on the Dutch language. It overemphasizes the colloquial, spoken language, with all its slang and grammatical complexities without laying a solid foundation in the basics of communication. The subjects presented concentrate on day to day situations so it's very interesting, but I would have been completely overwhelmed had this been my first book on Nederlands. Although I know only een beetje (a little) from the other boeken that ik heb gekocht (I bought), I know genoeg (enough) to get through the first few lessons without too much difficulty.

In a stunning demonstration of crudity, the book doesn't shy away from quoting passages containing foul language, which certainly has no place in any textbook, IMHO.

So, first look for a book that's makkelijk (easy) and then when you've mastered some of the elements of the language, you'll be ready for this one.

It appears that Routledge intends to discontinue the sale of the language courses as packs with CDs. That's a shame if it's true! I bought the book and CDs separate, but together they make a most powerful learning program.

The coursebook is intended for a college classroom setting. The Unit lessons are broken up and emphasis for each "bite" is either on reading, listening (with CDs), writing or work with a partner/class. There are some exercises that are intended for classroom and/or with a partner, but can be fun when you study by yourself. The full course with CDs has a pronunciation guide in Appendix 2 and there is also an extensive and meaningful vocabulary list.

I want to achieve a Dutch language proficiently level that is fluent and at an intermediate level. It is true that this is probably not the best choice for someone just starting out with no Dutch learning experience. Last year, I worked though another popular program, but, like other programs, that one was centered around "tourist talk" (where's hotel, take me to the airport). With this course, I am busy working toward my final goal of being fluent in the Dutch language. Yes, with this program, that goal is now within reach.

What isn't said here is that the course is incomplete without the CD-ROM, which isn't included and isn't available even from routledge. In fact, I would say that without the CD-ROM the book shouldn't even be sold, but apparently the folks at Routledge disagree.

I'd be interested to know how many beginners have managed to learn Dutch using this course. Having already learned French, German, Spanish, and Japanese using the grammatical method, I recently started Dutch using a similar approach in the "Hugo Dutch in Three Months" course.

Seeing the Routledge book in my local library I've now had it by me as a companion to Hugo, but find its approach way inferior to the clear and simple Hugo approach. Unless you have a high IQ and a fantastic memory, you'll find this book hard going since, unlike Hugo, it throws masses of new Dutch at you in a single chapter.

As others here admit, you need an existing knowledge of Dutch to get on with this book. Yet the preface professes to be a course which "starts from scratch" and is "on a par with level B2 of the Common European framework for languages", with a "distinctive approach asking how is language used in particular contexts and why" etc. etc.

Instead of pursuing such lofty goals, a language book needs to ground the student in basics, instead of throwing a mass of new Dutch at the student with each chapter. This may suit the intellectually gifted, but not me, and I do have a gift for languages.

I found the absence of a simple structure, and excessive colloquialism overwhelming, turning with relief to the simplicity & clarity of the Hugo text, which explores a new Dutch structure with each chapter, elaborates on it with a conversational passage & adds several clear and simple DRILLS in order to literally drill it into you.

The drill approach ( "boring", according to its detractors )really does the job well, as I found with Eleanor Harz Jordan's "Beginning Japanese" which set me up well for two years residency in Japan.

The use of repetition & drills of basic elements, is how great tennis players, pianists etc, perfect their art, and it works in language learning also, despite the alternative view that we adults should be "thrown into" in a language like children who are born into the language.

Simplicity and an emphasis on basics have enabled me to pick up four foreign languages, so I'll stick to what works for me - Hugo - and then I'll be able to more appreciate the detailed language instruction of the Routledge book.

This book is serious in sense you must know you have to study hard. Although I speak more languages (and I bought a cd.as recommended in one of the reviews) I find it quite difficult if you think to "do it yourself" with no teacher.You have to have somebody who can teach you, otherwise you'll find it very difficult. It goes without saying you have to buy a good dictionary and a grammar book. However, I would always recommend you to buy a Total Dutch system of Michel Thomas.If you get only this book (and a cd as well, otherwise you'll find it very difficult because you don't know how to do correct pronunciation and if you're a total beginner,you should have somebody ready to give you a hand.However, this is also said in the preface of the book. I have put only 4 stars, because I feel the cd should be included in the price, and because it's very difficult for total beginners.On the other hand, learning a new language is always a serious thing, so from this point of you it's really o.k. However, you'll need an extra help.

The authors of the Routledge Intensive Dutch Course advise that it is "designed to be used as a classroom context." At a first glance, it does indeed seem to be a fairly comprehensive introduction to the Dutch language. It is, apparently, on a par with level of B2 of the Common European Framework for Languages. I assume that, when used in a classroom context, level B2 can be achieved within the recommended total 320 hours of study. As a classroom instruction manual, it rates four stars.

HOWEVER, the authors also advise that the "key and the explanations on grammar do make it possible for SELF-STUDY, even though (occasional) assistance from a teacher is advisable." I strongly disagree. This is definitely NOT a self-study course! Even if used with the two CD's (which are sold separately), I believe that the dialogues are too challenging for the absolute beginner. Furthermore, the explanations of Dutch grammar are unnecessarily obtuse. I recommend that SELF-LEARNERS try a combination of the "Pimsleur Dutch Comprehensive Course" along with "Essential Dutch Grammar" by Henry R. Stern, and with a good bilingual dictionary, BEFORE attempting the Routledge Intensive Dutch Course in a self-study situation. As a self-study course, Routledge Intensive Dutch merits three stars ... at best.

I've been learning Dutch for almost eight years, and this book is a particular favorite of mine. I like that the book's a little larger, more closely resembling the textbooks of my college years. Very easy to work with. I wouldn't suggest ever working with only one resource, but in conjunction with a good dictionary (I recommend the big blue Routledge one) and a few more grammar guides, this book's just right.

I'm only giving it four stars because you REALLY need the audio CDs, and Amazon does not seem to have them in stock. The exercises were fine on paper, but I'd have really liked listening to them.