It’s time to learn how to say a little more than dank u wel. It’s time to meet Gerard.
Gerard is a genial retired gentleman who teaches free Dutch language classes in a tiny community space in Rotterdam Zuid. There’s coffee and tea, a dry erase board, a table with six chairs and that’s about it. Along with our fellow students Wilma (Brazil) and Yoshi (Japan), Gerard puts us through the paces: a little small talk (Uit welk land kom jij? Ik kom uit Canada.), a couple of verbs (wonen, komen hebben), numbers nul to een honderd, and fun facts (add “je” to the end of a noun to instantly make it cuter and friendlier). Two hours flies by. Tot de volgende keer!
Isn’t it great that you inherited my wonderful aptitude for learning foreign languages?
Heh, heh, Buena suerte Senorita!
Dad