Four reasons to learn Dutch

Today, as I ordered my latte macchiato in Dutch for the first time ever, I felt Dutcher than yesterday. My stomach was attempting cartwheels and my head was overheating with embarrassment the entire time I was standing in line, waiting for my turn. But, when it was time for me to speak, everything went smoothly. Surprisingly, I did not end up switching to English. Even more surprising, the woman at the cafeteria did not switch to English either! I cannot find the right words to properly describe the pride I felt at that moment. The first reason why I think an international student should at least try to learn Dutch is to feel as proud to be understood as I did. It allows you to feel part of this new society. Less of an outsider, and more like a polyglot traveller ready to conquer the world. 

Another reason to learn Dutch is to make Dutch friends. This might seem stupid to the ones of you who are not interested in new relationships but, for a person like me, who needs a certain amount of social contact, learning Dutch was the lifesaver. Dutchies grow to like you more if they realise you are trying to learn their language and, if you manage to reach a good conversational level, you will be fighting against the stereotypes that locals typically associate with international students. You would be part of the 40 percent of non-Dutch people who speak a bit of Dutch.
 
I also think that it is nice to expand your linguistic knowledge by learning new languages, especially if you are already living in a country where you can practice the language daily or almost daily. I feel very happy with myself when I tell people that I can complain about my life in four and a half languages and I love the surprise in people's eyes when they find out I speak their mother tongue. Moreover, almost nobody speaks Dutch outside of Dutch-speaking countries, so speaking Dutch gives you a secret language to make fun of people!

Last but not least, learning the language of the country you are studying in is a sign of cultural appreciation and respect. By learning some Dutch, you will be able to experience Dutch culture in an entirely different way, participating in the funniest events such as gift swapping for Sinterklaas, singing “Lang zal ze/hij leven” at your Dutch friends’ birthdays or swearing in Dutch when something mildly infuriating happens to you. I cannot reveal to you which word I usually use when I am mad because some people might get offended, but if you want to express your anger politely, feel free to scream “Jammer!” or “Wat vervelend!”. I promise that nobody will complain about that. If you feel brave enough to challenge the elders around you, just google the Dutch translation of your favourite swear word.