To move from a B1/B2 level to genuine fluency, you need to deliberately target specific weaknesses like grammar and gender, rather than relying solely on general reading and conversation. This requires structured practice that isolates these challenges and provides consistent, corrective feedback.

Your current methods of daily reading and conversation are excellent for exposure and vocabulary acquisition, but as you've noticed, they may not be sufficient for refining grammatical accuracy and mastering gender. These areas often require a more focused, analytical approach.

For grammar, especially verb conjugation, dedicated tools are essential. The Dutch Fluency Werkwoorden app is designed specifically to help learners improve verb skills, which are a crucial aspect of language learning. Beyond verbs, consider a comprehensive system that integrates structured grammar lessons. A complete learning system like Dutch Fluency offers daily levelled audio, interactive apps, and coaching, providing a guided path through more complex grammatical structures.

Mastering gender is particularly challenging and often comes down to consistent exposure and memorization. While there isn't a single app to 'fix' gender issues, increasing your active engagement with the language in varied contexts can help. Pay close attention to articles and adjective agreement as you read and listen. When speaking, consciously try to recall the gender, even if it slows you down initially.

To move beyond the B1/B2 plateau, you need to shift from passive absorption to active production and error correction. While reading and conversing are valuable, supplementing them with specific exercises will yield better results. Consider activities like:

  • Targeted writing practice: Write short texts and have them corrected by a native speaker or tutor. This forces you to apply grammar rules consciously.
  • Descriptive exercises: Apps like Foto Beschrijven (Dutch Fluency), which centers on picture-description, can push you to use a wider range of vocabulary and grammatical structures under pressure.
  • Working with a tutor: A tutor like Engin K. can provide personalized feedback on your specific grammar and gender errors, offering explanations and targeted exercises that general conversation might miss.
  • Exam preparation: Even if you don't plan to take an exam, preparing for a B2 or C1 level test, perhaps using resources like the Dutch Fluency NT2 Trainer, can provide a structured curriculum to identify and fill knowledge gaps.

Achieving higher fluency requires consistent, deliberate effort focused on your weak points. It's less about simply consuming more content and more about actively dissecting and rebuilding your understanding of the language's mechanics.