I am originally from the Netherlands but moved to the States when I was 1 1/2 (23 now). I am moving to Utrecht for school (Masters at TiasNimbas) and am a little worried. I can speak Dutch, it's a little rusty but normally takes about 2-3 days till I feel confident and my American accent is gone. I sometimes still use the wrong word or my sentence formation is a little off, my family helps me with all of this so I'm getting better. My biggest problem is since I learned Dutch by listening to my family and picked it all up in the States I can't......write. Has anyone had this problem? I can read a little and understand but large paragraphs scare me a bit as they are overwhelming. I can do a few brief sentences in Dutch but nothing in length.

Can anyone guide me into the write direction where I can learn? I don't want to get a language software as it will take me back to the beginning and I don't think I need that. Any advice would be MUCH appreciated!

That's an interesting situation, as usually it's the other way around!

However, I can't see it being insurmountable. I'm quite sure I've seen Dutch courses that focus on writing and reading at the Volksuniversiteit. An even better option is to find a private tutor who can work one to one with you and personalize a program to your particular needs. Perhaps the university could help you find one (or offer tutoring themselves).

In the meantime, I wouldn't write off computer learning. The disadvantage of computer software for me was that I ONLY learnt the basics of reading and writing, and couldn't speak worth a hoot.

Fortunately, reading and writing are generally solitary activities, while speaking requires an audience of at least one, so software or a good website may help you get a grounding in the basics and help you gain some confidence before you arrive.

Okay I'll try that. Thanks for the advice!