Look first
Use the title and picture to predict the topic.
DUTCH COURSE · LEARN & PRACTISE
Lesson 49 · Reading skills
Read for meaning, one short text at a time
You do not need to understand every word immediately. Start by finding out who the text is about and what happens. In this lesson, you will read a short story and find information in a simple notice.
Read once
Read to the end. Try to understand the main idea before looking up words.
Listen and reread
Follow the text while listening. Look up a few words that block your understanding.
Check and repeat
Answer the questions. Read aloud, then write one short sentence about the text.
A Saturday morning
Look at the picture. Where is Nora, and what is she buying? Then read the Dutch text.
Een zaterdagochtend
Het is zaterdag. Nora gaat naar de markt. De markt is dicht bij haar huis. Ze gaat te voet.
Nora koopt een brood en drie appels. Daarna gaat ze naar huis. Thuis maakt ze koffie.
Om twaalf uur komt haar vriendin Sara. Ze eten samen brood en praten over het weekend.
Listen slowly
Listen at a natural pace
Need help? Four useful expressions
dicht bij
near / close to
te voet
on foot
daarna
after that
samen
together
Read the meaning
It is Saturday. Nora goes to the market. The market is near her house. She goes on foot.
Nora buys a loaf of bread and three apples. After that, she goes home. At home she makes coffee.
At twelve o’clock her friend Sara comes. They eat bread together and talk about the weekend.
Check the story
Answer first, then open the answer. Look back at the text and find the sentence that supports your answer.
1. Where does Nora go?
Nora gaat naar de markt.
Nora goes to the market.
2. Does she go by car?
Nee, ze gaat te voet.
No, she goes on foot.
3. What does she buy?
Ze koopt een brood en drie appels.
She buys a loaf of bread and three apples.
4. What time does Sara arrive?
Om twaalf uur.
At twelve o’clock.
5. What do they do together?
Ze eten brood en praten over het weekend.
They eat bread and talk about the weekend.
Your turn
Write one short Dutch sentence about your own Saturday. For example: Op zaterdag ga ik naar de markt.
Find the information you need
You also read to do everyday things. Look at this practice notice from a library. You do not need to translate every word to find a day or time.
BIBLIOTHEEK
Openingstijden
- Maandag t/m vrijdag
- 09.00–17.00
- Zaterdag
- 10.00–14.00
- Zondag
- Gesloten
Practice example. t/m means “up to and including”; gesloten means “closed”.
What time does the library open on Saturday?
Om tien uur.
At ten o’clock.
Can you visit on Tuesday at 11.00?
Ja, de bibliotheek is dan open.
Yes, the library is open then.
Is the library open on Sunday?
Nee, op zondag is de bibliotheek gesloten.
No, the library is closed on Sunday.
Make reading a small daily habit
- Choose a short text that you can mostly understand.
- Practise for five to ten minutes. Reread the same text before choosing a new one.
- Write down a few useful words with their meaning and an example sentence.
- Combine reading with listening, speaking and writing.
The next lesson contains more short reading texts. Use the recordings when you need help, then try reading independently.