Introduction to Frisian

This course is extremely important not only for the sake of people who speak Frisian and their relatives, but also to anyone who cares about preserving a language that is the closest cousin to English, which of course is spoken so widely. The intertwined linguistic history deserves to have a light shining on it all the time. My classmates ranged from high stakeholders who have spent or will spend a good chunk of time in Friesland to someone like me--an intellectually curious person with a small stake in mastering the language. It was basic, as it was described, but challenging enough. Learning experiences covered all the pedagogical bases--visual, auditory, written, opportunities for practice, cultural. And there are links provided for further exposure and study.
It was a comfortable, low-pressure experience. Not easy in every way, but in some ways--easy enough.
I don't NEED this past three weeks' learning, but I am certainly richer for having learned some of a new and significant language (significant because I'm an English speaker) and for being exposed to the land and culture.

The course "Introduction to Frisian" is a course I would not have missed for the world! Not only is it a course that has never been seen before in the wide, wonderful world of MOOCs, but it has a special appeal for me because during my genealogical research, I found that one of my Dutch ancestors was actually Fries - that is another reason that impelled me to take the course.

The course was a little more difficult than I had anticipated (although I understand that, pre-William the Conqueror, Old Fries and Old English were virtually mutually intelligible.) However, I was able to pick out parts of sentences that were still comprehensible to an English speaker, so all-in-all, it was a very enjoyable excursion into a new language.

One suggestion, though; it might help the student if the university provided a more comprehensive vocabulary in the form of a mini-dictionary, and also made available for sale an optional grammar of Basic Frisian. Other than that, I can't think of a more enjoyable three weeks than the past three, in which I learned the rudiments of Frisian, as well as information about that portion of Holland called Friesland. (I plan to continue learning Frisian, bolstering my knowledge by purchasing the aforementioned grammar, and adding a EuroTalk course to hone and perfect my speaking skills; that's how much the "Introduction to Frisian" course has influenced me!)

I loved it! I wish there were a follow-up I could sign up for. But ... I bookmarked all the resources this course has provided me with and this way, hopefully, I'll be able to continue to learn the Frisian language and about Frisian culture and history. I am taken by the historical symbiosis between Frisian and English, something this course has helped me seeing more concretely. For instance, I am looking now at all kinds of English words and wonder what "Frisian" word was replaced by a Latin word. How about the fact that now, thanks to this course, I can track down more easily connections with Platt and other Germanic languages! All of this is FASCINATING for me and all of it has been triggered by simply taking this introductory course! I can now re-read European history quite differently. I am impressed with how comfortable I feel now about the Frisian language, something I couldn't have dreamed of just a few weeks ago. My wife and all my friends can now place Fryslan on the map! I hope we can make it there some day. I rehearse Frisian words and expressions mentally before I fall asleep every night imagining I am actually conversing with someone in Fryslan ... Thank you!

Francesco

I've finished the course today and would like to thank the team and the university producing such a good course for online learning.

Frisian once seemed to be new and 'exotic' to me, but now I gained more confidence in keep learning it by myself. I like that there are a few pieces of converstion and authentic sample audios in Frisian. That helps a lot with listening and to see how Frisian is like in real life. And, of course, the Quizlet is very useful.

What I'd like to see more is the interaction between the learners and the educator in the discussion section at the end of each lesson. I fill that the educator somehow have few responses with certain learners and I feel somehow excluded. This's just the only point I want to suggest for this course. Overall I'm satisfied with the course.
Thank you!