Two years ago, I arrived at the of Sheffield and began studying Dutch as part of a dual degree in Economics with Languages and Cultures. Although I had a family connection to the language, I had no prior experience learning Dutch or another Germanic language so I didn’t entirely know how I would fare with a language which at first glance looks rather baffling. Now, two years later, I feel pretty confident in my ability to speak, read and write in Dutch!
What I found surprising was that the classroom opened doors not only to the Dutch language but also the culture. Perhaps the unique, flexible and expressive nature of the Dutch language translated into the way it was taught.
By learning Dutch at Sheffield I have pushed myself academically but also improved my university experience as a whole.
Ben Ganpatsingh
Dual degree with Modern Languages and Cultures
Language learning at school conjures up memories of monotonous memorising, copying out endless conjugations and struggling to engage in conversation. But with Dutch at Sheffield I was met with a motivated group of peers who were not only interested in securing a good grade but also in improving their knowledge of the language and people the best they could. This level of engagement and enthusiasm is something cultivated by the teaching staff. Yes, grammar is an important part of language learning, but we also read novels, translated a Flemish theatre monologue, had conversation sessions with native speakers,...
The enthusiasm and ambition is contagious and not only did this lead to a positive, productive learning environment but also to close friendships with my classmates. This extended my learning outside of the classroom into my daily life and motivated me to explore more of what interested me about certain aspects of the language and cultures of the Netherlands, Flanders and Suriname.
By learning Dutch at Sheffield I have pushed myself academically but also improved my university experience as a whole. The next exciting step of said experience will take place in the Netherlands as I start an internship in Rotterdam in August as part of my Year Abroad! Not only have the last two years equipped me linguistically for this but also socially: I feel more than ready to jump into this new culture that I have grown to understand through my language classes.
