Could optimism lead you quickly to failure? When it comes to speaking Dutch, then unfortunately the answer is yes š Ā Ā Certainly if you are too optimistic, then it could cause you too fail, sooner than you ever imagined. On the other hand, optimism by itself is not a bad thingā¦ You just need to know how and when to use itā¦
Letās just start with pure pessimismā¦. Ā When the beginning is awful then things can only get better, right? So letās start with some awful things, so that later on we can move to positive things, including some optimism š
There are 3 forms of misplaced optimism!Ā
So letās start with a pessimistic view firstā¦. Ā Many people that come to the Netherlands do play with the thought that somehow life could be nicer if you Ā speak the Dutch language. Many people sign up for a language course, butā¦ when it comes to speaking Dutch, the vast majority of all people will miserably fail. So what could be the main reason? The answer is, unfortunately in many cases, a misplaced overdose of optimism š
First of all, most people underestimate what language really is, and what you really need to master. Many people say things like: I Ā just want to talk about simple things, say hello, go to shops and that kind of things. Although it looks reasonable, there is one great problem hereā¦ Ā Paradoxically enough the simplicity of your subject does not say anything about the simplicity of a new language and your skills to express the things that you wantā¦ Even Ā simple situations require your ability to put sentences together, choose the right word and understand things when people talk back to youā¦. Ā Feeling at ease is another thingā¦ Certainly this last thing will take some practiceā¦
Many people believe that if you just memorize some sentences, then this will do the trick. Hallo in Dutch is hello and goede morgen is good morning, so there is every reason to believe that the rest will automatically follow, right? Unfortunately, this is not the caseā¦
Simple conversations are not always that easy
Even for simple conversations, you need to do certain things that require learning and understanding. First of all, you have to learn new words. Then the order in the sentence is different from English and this thing alone can really confuse you. To make it even worse, even if you recognize words that sound or look familiar to you, chances are high that the meaning is slightly different. Now you understand how easy it is not to understand anything at all in simple conversations! On top of that you may have to train your mouth and your throat as well to give everything that you say the right pronunciationā¦.
Letās make it even worse nowā¦ not do people only underestimate what language actually is, on top of it they also tend to overestimate the time or effort that it will take them to master a new language. Many people that sign up for a language course genuinely believe that dedicating two hours per week after work will do the trickā¦ Ā What would you think? Is this pure Ā optimism or plain stupid?
Do you really think you are that smart?
Letās have a look at babies or little children. They seem to learn new languages almost in an effortless way. Butā¦ just be honest nowā¦. how much time do they have to be exposed to a new language? More than once a week, right? Here is another questionā¦ how well did you master your own language when you were letās say 10 years old? Sureā¦. you spoke your language as a native speaker, butā¦ Ā at that age you were not able to function at all levelsā¦.
Can you see how easy it is to have unrealistic expectations when you start with underestimating the complexity of language and then when you give yourself 2 hours per week to master it? Butā¦ unfortunately, there is still a third form of optimism that is far more insidious andā¦ often it is invisibleā¦ Ā It often happens when you feel that you are already speaking lots and lots of Dutch, so therefore this is a very mean oneā¦ ItĀ is just one thing that could make you stumbleā¦.
This forn of optimism can stop you even moreā¦
The third form of misplaced optimism is that most people think that they know much more then they actually doā¦ The reason is simple. If you think that you understood everything in Dutch, then youāll have a sense of accomplishment and youāll feel good about yourself. Butā¦ here is the bad thingā¦ even if you think that you what you understood, it does not have to be the case. On top of this, also many things that you say in Dutch, may sound logical and great to you, but chances are high that you make more mistakes than you could ever imaginedā¦. Just for your informationā¦ it happens to many Dutch peopleā¦ they often like to think they already know everything about this languageā¦
Here is another tragic thingā¦ When people start with too much optimism, this is what often happens. Very soon they discover that speaking Dutch is not that simple at all and then you can already guess what happensā¦. They immediately flop to the other extreme side of deep optimism and despair. Now they believe that they will never ever be able to learn itā¦ Ā It is a mechanism that has killed many Dutch language dreamsā¦
Butā¦ letās get a bit more optimistic nowā¦ Too much doom and gloom about speaking Dutch, donāt you think? Ā Luckily there is also lots of positive newsā¦. Ā Andā¦ we need to be honest and objective nowā¦. if you know how to use it, optimism can also be your greatest friend when it comes to speaking Dutch!
Optimism can be a great friend, if you know how to use it wisely!Ā
So how can you embrace optimism and still learn and speak Dutch like crazy? Actually it is quite simpleā¦. Be honest. Be objective. Just look at Dutch and see how it really is. Then look at yourself and know yourselfā¦ give yourself time and most importantā¦ always be kind to yourself! Be your own best friend if you want to learn something newā¦
So, if somehow you felt disappointed with your results then simply asked if you had some misplaced optimism or unrealistic high expectations. If so, change it, butā¦ use all the optimism that you can find, while remaining realisticā¦
Letās put it like thisā¦ Imagine that you like to climb a mountain. First of all you just acknowledge how high the mountain actually is. Donāt pretend that it is only 20 meters high when the altitude is 2000 meters. Then decide whether or not you like to climb the mountain. You may like to reach the top for so many different reasons. Maybe you like the view, or maybe you Ā like that sense of accomplishment. And then it is actually very simpleā¦ Just see objectively what you need to do to climb that high and then go for it! Start climbing and donāt stop. Also, if you like to enjoy your time while climbing make sure that you use the right tools andā¦ donāt complain too muchā¦. just think of that beautiful top you like to reach!
Butā¦ here comes the great thingā¦ if you truly enjoy your adventure of climbing the mountain then you may have a great time already even if you have not reached the top yetā¦ On the way, there are so many things that you could enjoy alreadyā¦ Maybe it is nature or the spectacular viewsā¦
The same thing is true when you want to speak Dutch. Within a couple of days you can reach certain levels already that will definitively put you in a great mood. Once you know how to learn and to speak Dutch, the most important thing is that you just continue the good work. Keep walking and donāt stop!
Here is another tipā¦ always allow yourself to make many mistakes. Actually, every Ā mistake that you make is a stepping stone to more success. Therefore, if you said something wrong in a conversation, feel good about it! Now you learned something new! If you are open to making mistakes youāll soon realize that learning is a lifelong thing and that you get better at things as long as you practice š
Another important aspect is time. Give yourself plenty of time, certainly in the beginning. If you focus on Dutch for a couple of days in a row, youāll learn far more than if you try to do it 2 hours per weeks for 10 months. Also, if you would really like to use Dutch on a high professional level, then make sure that you start as quickly as you canā¦.
Letās end with even more optimismā¦ Just know that great things are possible. You can learnĀ more Dutch than you ever imagined, as long as you are honest and objective. Donāt underestimate Dutch and donāt overestimate yourselfā¦ Ā See what it really takes and then go for it! Take your time and embrace a new adventure!Ā It might be a good idea to be less optimistic than the average person in the beginning and then use patience and daily practice and playing. And thenā¦ strangely enough one day youāll realize that you achieved much more than you Ā could ever imagineā¦ So at the end, things can really work out for youā¦. and that is a comforting and optimistic thought, donāt you think?
