trui wrote:I still think that many people underestimate the CEFR levels, and that's okay. Then again, it's hard not to considering some of the tests based on the CEFR. I can't judge your French so I don't know if you are, but I wouldn't stress about it.
Studying Dutch in Leiden, I've taken 5 courses taught in Dutch this semester and I'll be taking 6 courses next semester. IIRC, the courses I'm taking at the moment specifically about improving one's Dutch intend to take your active skills to a B1/B2 level, and they're no joke! On the intake tests, I just barely passed the listening test and didn't score that high on the reading test. I think that means I'm B1/B2 when it comes to my passive skills, and I certainly need it for the lectures! That's why you have to pass said intake tests before being able to follow the second year courses.
Anyways, whether or not I'm B1 or B2 or whatever, my point is that you should be concerned more about your abilities than labels (though of course tests are useful for employment...) And if you are B2, then you can be certain that it's a super solid B2 That's how I view my level. I'm working on further solidifying my level. Any progress I make solidifies it even more. And I don't know about you, but I kind of like the idea of becoming a rock solid B2 than a rather shakey C1.
Dutch is nice, but getting your French to be rock solid would be even nicer, non? That's what I'm trying to do with my Dutch. But only you can decide what's best for you.
Thanks trui, or should I say pull-over (or even 'pull')?
Anyway, jokes aside, I agree with everything you have to say. I've come to the realisation, my French definitely isn't where I want it to be (yet). I thought I was okay with that, but it seems I'm not.
However, given that I'll be in Saudi for one to two years (estimates, of course), and I'll be a stay-at-home dad, reading stories and communicating with my children, I wanted to take the opportunity to at least read to them in Dutch as well as French. Since after Saudi, we might go to belgium and there are more work opportunities it seems in the Flanders. It would be great if I could get the children up to some kind of a basic working level of the language, or basic understanding of it via reading, which I have done with French. In French, of course I speak to them in French as well, so it's a little different.
Anyway, were I to go full steam ahead with my French, the opportunity for introducing Dutch to the children is gone from the perspective of me being around them much more than usual. As I side note, I also lose the opportunity to learn Arabic.
Therefore, the situation requires a little more consideration as Dutch = introducing it to the children, increased chance of employment in Belgium.
Arabic = more connection with Saudi environment, but not necessarily anything substantial (who knows) as there is a lot of English spoken there.
French improvement = perhaps it could also increase my work opportunities as well, but to a smaller degree than opening up Flanders, since I'm already B2+ in French. It means my level potentially increases, it means my comfort with the language increases, it means my interactions with the children will become more complex, potentially as they grow (not that I'm only speaking to them like babies, no that's not the case). However, where does it end? What if in one year, I don't feel that much better in French? It probably won't be the case, but there's plenty to consider here.
Thanks again trui! Your adventure in NL sounds awesome! (i'm kinda envious, but happy for you!).