Episode Details

“I feel dumber in Dutch.” - If that hits home, this episode is for you.

So many of my clients feel like a different person when they speak Dutch. Less witty. Less confident. Less themselves.

But:

It’s not your fault. You’re not bad at languages. And you're definitely not less smart. But you are stuck between two versions of yourself - and that “gap” can be incredibly frustrating.

In this episode, I’ll show you:
✔️ Why high-achievers struggle more with learning Dutch
✔️ How to stop trying to be your “English self” in Dutch
✔️ A simple mindset shift that creates more freedom, less pressure - and way more progress.

Listen if you’re done avoiding conversations, switching to English too quickly, or hiding behind “I’m still learning.”

x Mariska

PS. Would you like to speak more Dutch?

Join my community; ⁠⁠⁠The Dutch Speaking Circle⁠⁠

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This podcast is for internationals living in the Netherlands who understand Dutch but struggle to speak it confidently. We talk about language confidence, fear of making mistakes, perfectionism, and how to start speaking Dutch more often in daily life.