Learn Hardcore Dutch: Wij spreken kort met de docent. - We talk briefly with the teacher.

Yes. we is the normal, unstressed form in speech and writing. wij is the stressed form and adds emphasis or contrast (as in “we, not someone else”). Both are correct: We spreken kort... is the most natural.

How is the verb spreken conjugated?

Present:

ik spreek
jij/u spreekt
hij/zij/het spreekt
wij/jullie/zij spreken

Past: ik/hij sprak, wij/jullie/zij spraken
Past participle: gesproken (with hebben): We hebben ... gesproken.
It’s a strong verb (vowel change: spreek–sprak–gesproken).

Could I use praten instead of spreken?

Yes. praten is more informal; spreken is a bit more formal and is standard with languages (e.g., Nederlands spreken). Here both We praten kort... and We spreken kort... work; the latter sounds slightly more formal.

Do I need the preposition met? Can I say We spreken de docent?

Both are possible:

iemand spreken (transitive) = speak to/meet with someone.
met iemand spreken = speak with someone (emphasizes a two‑way conversation).

So We spreken de docent and We spreken met de docent are both fine. Using met is very common and clear.

Why met and not a preposition like English to?

English uses to; Dutch does not. Use:

met for a conversation with someone.
tegen for speaking to (often one‑way or admonishing): tegen de docent spreken.
tot is formal, “to address”: tot het publiek spreken.
Never use aan here.

Is kort an adjective or an adverb here? Do I need korte?

Here kort is an adverb modifying the verb (spreken), so it stays kort. The -e ending (korte) is for adjectives before a noun: een korte les. As an adverb: We spreken kort.

Is the word order correct? Where should kort go?

Yes. In main clauses, the finite verb is second, and adverbs like kort typically come after it. A common order is Time–Manner–Place after the verb:

We spreken morgen kort met de docent. If you front an element, the verb inverts:
Morgen spreken we kort met de docent.

Is this phrasing idiomatic, or would even sound better than kort?

Native speakers very often use even to mean “briefly/promptly”:
We spreken even (kort) met de docent.
even is friendly and idiomatic. kort is fine (neutral, slightly formal). even kort is a common combination.

How do I negate this? Where does niet go?

To negate the whole action: We spreken niet met de docent.
To negate duration, it’s more natural to say: We spreken niet lang met de docent rather than niet kort.

Why de docent and not het docent? What about plural and indefinite?

docent is common gender, so de docent (not het).
Indefinite: een docent.
Plural: de docenten.

What’s the difference between docent and leraar?

docent: commonly for secondary school and higher education instructors; neutral/standard in many contexts.
leraar: often (but not only) for primary/secondary school teacher; a bit more traditional.
Feminine forms exist (docente, lerares), but many use docent for any gender.

How would I turn this into a question?

Yes/no: Spreken we kort met de docent?
Wh-: Met wie spreken we kort? / Hoe lang spreken we met de docent?
Remember verb–subject inversion in main-clause questions.

How do I say it in the past or present perfect?

Simple past: We spraken kort met de docent.
Present perfect: We hebben kort met de docent gesproken.

Any quick pronunciation tips for these words?

spreken: long ee (like English ay in say), final -en often reduces (sounds like -uh or a very light n).
wij/we: we sounds like unstressed “wuh”; wij like English “why” but with a lighter initial sound.
docent: stress on the second syllable: do‑CÉNT (doe‑SENT).
kort: short vowel; the final t is clearly pronounced.

How does this look inside a subordinate clause?

The other verbs go to the end:

... dat we kort met de docent spreken.
Perfect: ... dat we kort met de docent hebben gesproken.