Learning Flemish Dutch in 100 Days

Trisha founder of
Language Learners Journal

Hallo there, starting in September my next language project will be learning Flemish-Dutch in 100 days!

Dutch is spoken by around 23 million people. It is a Germanic language at the heart of Europe. Spoken in the Netherlands (Holland) and Belgium. Flemish is the Belgian variant of Dutch and is spoken by over 5 million people in Belguim and parts of France!

Over the last few years, I’ve undertaken a number of language projects including…

  • Icelandic Basics in 28 Days – (Success).
  • Exploring Scots in 28 Days – (Failed).
  • Spanish in 90 days – with the goal of having a 15-minute conversation with a native speaker. I managed 20 minutes PLUS a Facebook LIVE! (Success – goal smashed).
  • A Year of Mandarin 2019 – I’ve had a 15-minute conversation, but the ultimate goal is for 30 minutes of conversation time!

During each challenge, I’ve documented my personal language learning journey on social media to inspire and (hopefully) help motivate other language learners. Plus to share the resources I have used.

For this challenge I want to demonstrate…

  • What you can achieve in just a minimum of 15-30 minutes consistent study a day over 100 day period.
  • Prove that you don’t need to move to a country to learn the language!
  • Demonstrate that you can learn a language independently and without breaking the piggy bank.

Why Learn Dutch?

Bruges, Belgium. Photography by Simon Dunbar.

More often then not English is spoken better in Europe than by UK natives! So if that is the case why bother!?

During my last trip to Belgium just saying things like please and thank you seemed to earn me the respect of the locals and they appreciated me trying.

As Holland and Belgium are my favourite places to visit I’ve been feeling for some time now that learning Dutch would be of great benefit to me – even if it’s just to read the menu without a double take.

Image may contain: text

The Goal: To learn to speak and read in Dutch to B1 level within 100 days, so I can have conversations with the people I meet – in Dutch – and make sense of the menus!

The Starting Line…

Currently I am a complete beginner in Dutch, but I’ll aspire to a B1 ‘cusp’ level within 100 days. Given my native language and knowledge of other Germanic languages I feel this is challenging, but not unrealistic.

Goal setting is really important in language learning and I will have a plan in place because ‘you will never reach you destination if you don’t know where you are going‘!

The Plan?

Bruges, Belgium. Photography by Simon Dunbar.

To set aside a minimum of 15-30 minutes consistent study time per week for the next 100. I’ll spend the first 10 days listening to materials and building vocabulary. Then I will move on to reading and writing before speaking.

I’ll be documenting the whole thing via my blog and on social media and post updates every 25 days. I’ll be working in blocks of 25 days.

Block 1

  • The input method through audiobooks, podcasts, and vocabulary builders.
  • Work through the ‘Learn Dutch’ modules.
  • 15-30 minutes study per day.

Block 2

  • Start to speak in Dutch.
  • Continue to work through the ‘Learn Dutch’ modules.
  • Increase study time to 30-45 minutes per day.

Block 3

  • Book some lessons with professional tutors.
  • Find a Dutch speaking study buddy to study with!
  • Continue with the input method.

Block 4

  • At the end of Dutch in 100 days, I’ll be doing a Facebook LIVE in Dutch!

Resources For This Project

Bruges, Belgium. Photography by Simon Dunbar.

I’ll be using all of the resources on Parleremo. This free language learning platform is packed with useful tools and materials. This means I don’t need to waste time searching the web. I can open up a Dutch Radio station and listen to some music whilst logging my progress. I can also find access to hundreds of news sites, play games, watch videos, download or even create my own vocabulary lists and lots, lots more.

I’ll also be taking part in the Parleremo Language Marathon to help keep me motivated whilst learning Dutch. Many challenges tend to use Facebook Groups, but what I like about this challenge is that it is hosted on the Parleremo platform and has a wide range of resources in 35+ different languages!

UTalk is one of another one of my favorite resources for learning languages. It uses verbal, visual and fun exercises to teach languages. A fabulous free alternative to this is LingoHut.

Finally I’ll be checking out the Learn Dutch course and Dutch Pod 101

If you want to follow my progress…

Like my Facebook page and follow me on Twitter.

Please leave me your comments below, as I’m very keen to hear from you about this project and any resource recommendations!

The Mindful Language LearnerLeave a comment

Introducing the Language Marathon from Parleremo…

Register for the Challenge Today!

Language Learners Journal is excited to announce that we have teamed up with the Parleremo Language Community to create a brand new and exciting language learning challenge!

Parleremo, meaning ‘we’ll talk‘ in Italian is a FREE language learning platform with resources for over 35 languages. Originally created in 2008 it will be reopening on Sunday, August 25th, 2019. With some BIG changes, including the brand new (paid) challenge program to boost your language learning!

Online language challenges are becoming very popular for independent learners as they encourage motivation and community support.

Recently prices have soared for online challenges with the average cost now reaching triple numbers for a 30-90 day challenge!

These challenges do have excellent methods to combine accountability and motivation to greatly improve language skills using social media.

However, The Paleremo Language Challenge is slightly different as it is hosted on our very own secure platform with access to many resources and tools to help keep you on track at an affordable price.

Motivation is important, but discipline is required in language learning to make real progress. It’s discipline that drives you forward even through those difficult moments, in turn this fuels motivation and the reward pathways in the brain.

Trisha Dunbar, Language Learners Journal Founder and Co-Founder of the Paleremo Language Marathon.

The Way it Works…

Choose between two options:

Parleremo Language Marathon
The Parleremo Language Challenge
  • The Mega Marathon: Commit to a minimum of 15 minutes per day language training for the next 100 days within a supportive online community.
  • The Mini-Marathon: Commit to a minimum of 15 minutes per day language training for 26 consecutive days within a supportive online community. (Recommended if you are new to language challenges).

“The Parleremo Language Marathon is going to be awesome. It is based on the successful Parleremo language platform. All the resources you need to kick start language learning with the aim to ‘level’ up your target language!”

Erik Zidowecki, Director of Scrivermo Publishing , Founder of Parleremo and Co-Founder of The Parleremo Language Marathon.

Benefits of the Parleremo Language Marathon


✅ Choose a language OR have one randomly chosen for you when you create a profile!

✅ Keep track of your language learning progress over 26 days (mini-marathon) or 100 days (mega marathon).

✅ Take part in mini-challenges and earn virtual badges.

✅ Go head-to-head with other participants.

✅ Visit the video vault of languages.

✅ Check out our library of resources.

✅ Chat with other language learners via the forum or video.

✅ Certificate of Completion.

✅ PLUS lots, lots more…

The first race marathon starts in September!

Interested? Register here for more information on how to join the challenge…

Register for the Challenge Here!

The Mindful Language LearnerLeave a comment

Request for Writers

Have you heard of Parrot time Magazine?

Seeing as this is the International Year of Indigenous Languages, we will producing a special edition of the Parrot Time Magazine, which will be devoted to this cause.

If you are interested or know someone who is in writing an article about indigenous languages, please get in contact with us.

If you run a language business especially in relation to indigenous languages and interested in placing an advert please get in touch and I’ll pass your details to the editor of the Parrot Time Magazine.

Deadline for drafts is the end of March.

Parrot Time Magazine language learning languages

The Mindful Language LearnerLeave a comment