Written by William Mansell
Learning a language can be a hard process, but it can also be a rewarding one. Swedish is no exception whatever your aims. Whether you are learning for fun, work or planning to move to Sweden, learning Swedish can be fun!
Now we know that the Swedes are a very proficient bunch of people and their high level of English can make practicing with a Swede that bit trickier! Outside Sweden the chances of finding/knowing a Swede are slim, so here are some methods I regularly use to learn Swedish.
Online Language Apps:
In the age of technology, with 101 different resources available to us at our fingertips. The easiest & fastest way is to use an app such as Duolingo for as little as 5 minutes a day. Broken into manageable sections, Duolingo supplies you with lots of vocabulary & some grammar. I personally like that I can practice all elements from writing & listening to speaking.
TV / Film / Music:
A favourite way of learning for me is to simply watch to programs or films in Swedish. Subtitles can be set in English, Swedish or another language. With many great ‘Scandi-noir’ series and much more accessible on Netflix & Svt-Play it couldn’t be easier.
This style of unconscious learning allows you to get familiar with hearing Swedish & seeing it in written form. Soon you start to pick up words and phrases that you understand. (Please note: Fika or snacks always help! Especially Lördagsgodis!)
The same technique can be applied to music. Sweden is home to a booming music industry and there is no shortage of songs in Swedish. Watch the annual Melodifestivalen show in February, Allsång på Skansen in the summer or listen to the familiar songs of ABBA in their native Swedish. ABBA 100% makes Swedish fun!
Not only it helps to improve your knowledge of the language but also gives you an insight into Swedish culture at the same time.
Some recommendations: Storst av Allt (Quicksand) Bonusfamiljen (Bonus Family) Kärlek och Anarki (Love & Anarchy) Snabba Cash (Fast Money) Melodifestivalen (Sweden’s Eurovision selection) Allsång på Skansen (Sing a long concerts) Julkalendern (Christmas Tv advent calendar)
Check out www.svtplay.se for more!
Books & News:
For me books come at a later stage of learning as you need a certain level of vocabulary & grammar understanding. Having said that, children’s books are a great place to start. For example picture & word books with simple sentences. As your Swedish improves you can advance to teenage & young adult texts until you feel comfortable reading at a native level.
One of my favourites, ‘Short stories in Swedish’ by Olly Richards, breaks up the reading process into sections:
- Look at the story title and illustration
- Read a chapter of the story
- Read a short summary at the end to see if you’ve understood the chapter
- Review a vocabulary list of any unfamiliar words
- Answer key questions to test your knowledge of the chapter
- Re-read as many times until you feel you’ve comfortably understood the story.
8 Sidor is a news website with short articles in everyday Swedish. It covers local and international news that you may have heard in your native language. There is also the option of listening to the articles, making this a quick and easy tool to add to your everyday routine.
How do you make learning Swedish fun? Will you be adding any of these into a new learning routine? Let us know in the comments.
About the Author
I’m a wannabie Swede, currently living in the UK, hoping to soon call Sweden home! A designer, creator and all-round Swedish fan, I am highly interested in the culture, music, design, nature & of course Fika! When I’m not travelling, I also love to watch Scandi noirs, listen to Swedish music & I watch Melodifestivalen every year! These have all helped me to develop my Swedish language skills!
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