I began studying Dutch two days ago, but I really wanted to squeeze in one more Hebrew-related activity before moving on. So yesterday I decided to go walk around Borough Park, a neighborhood in southwestern Brooklyn. I am nearly positive…
I found it extremely difficult to get through Michael Erard’s new book, Babel No More: The Search for the World’s Most Extraordinary Language Learners. And I mean that as the highest form of praise. Michael Erard’…
I have an unread book on my shelves, Russell Shorto’s The Island at the Center of the World, published in 2004. The book’s subtitle is “The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan & the Forgotten Colony That…
I have to admit, earlier this week I had kind of stalled on the fifth Pimsleur lesson for Dutch. I was not finding this particular half-hour lesson easy. Not at all. I redid it several times, committing some of…
Yesterday, six days after starting Dutch, I ventured out to an NLBorrels gathering at an Irish bar in midtown Manhattan. I Completely Forgot to Take Pictures, So All I Have to Offer Is a Picture of My Dutch…
I have been feeling I need more language practice, so I decided it would be a good idea to volunteer at one of the tourist information centers I’ve noticed around New York City. For Help with Helicopters, Bagels, Broadway…
Yesterday was my second volunteer shift at an Official NYC Information Center. This gig is turning out to be one of the best ideas I’ve had in a long time. Unlike last week, where I got to work…
I have decided that foreign-language grammar books have properties similar to cleavage. Wednesday at my favorite local café, I had my Dutch books laid out in a pile in front of me while I redid some Pimsleur lessons on my…
The other night I went to another NLBorrels gathering at a midtown bar. As I have mentioned previously, this organization holds regular social and networking events for Dutch expats living in New York (and other cities as well). Times…
In my Essential Dutch Dictionary, by Gerdi Quist and Dennis Strik, who are also the authors of my Essential Dutch Grammar, I came across information about the Nederlandse Taalunie (Dutch Language Union). The authors describe it…
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