An Alien in Sweden

A blog about my move from England and my new life in Sweden.
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Archive for the ‘language’ Category

My swedish teacher

Thursday, May 16th, 2013

A lot of people ask me how I have been learning Swedish since I moved to Sweden.

I started out using Rosetta Stone, though this is quite an expensive way to learn it does go far beyond the basics of just ”tourist Swedish”. The comfort is also that you can do it at your own pace and time. When I finally got my personal number sorted I applied for SFI, which is the government run language school for immigrants.

But in all honesty the best way I can advise people to learn Swedish before they move, or after if they can financially do this, is over Skype.

I found a website called Verbal Planet and there they have a good range of teachers that can offer lessons over Skype. Usually the first one is free so you can get an idea of how it operates and also get a good indication of if the teacher is right for you or not.

I had a few lessons but in the end settled for a teacher called Jessie. Jessie is from Linköping and now resides in Scotland. Jessie worked as a teacher here in Sweden and she is nothing short of excellent. Her methods of teaching make each lesson something to look forward to.

Jessie is calm, patient and has a great way of helping you with how you want to learn Swedish. Her rate is around 19 pounds per hour. Which may seem like a lot but trust me, I was paying double that rate in London.

My advice for anyone moving to Sweden in the future, wanting to learn or who have already moved is to give Jessie a try.

I will put a permanent link on my blog page.

I thoroughly recommend Jessie as a great teacher.

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17 days to go – Fear of the word “Hej”

Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

If there is one thing that I am more worried about it’s food shopping. Not the actual shopping itself but getting to the checkout. Currently I feel like a seven year old child when being accompanied by his mother when I visit a store. I stand there listening to a conversation I cannot understand and nod politely in agreement.

I don’t want to rely on my girlfriend to do a shop. There will be times where I will want to leave the flat and go grab a sandwich or something to eat. But for some reason I tend to freeze when the shop assistant says the word “Hej”. Part of me wants to shout out “HEY!” just as the fonze did in Happy Days and hold two thumbs in the air, but I know that they will probably section me for being crazy.

But it is these simple things that are the most important to overcome. Going to a bar I feel is different, they will have more Swedish/English speaking people than a store would and I am certainly not going to say “I’m British” when I am in a store. I must learn how to say the simplest of things and converse (by the way anybody know a good private Swedish tutor in Norrkoping? ;)

For now the fear of the word “Hej” is a large one. Just like the child accompanying their mother to a store I want to join in the conversation but I don’t want to appear to be a fool. So maybe the Fonzie approach is the best until then. Just smile politely and point those thumbs. All together now.

HEY!

Fonz

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Go Swedish!

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Like me are you still in the process of learning Swedish? Since I began I’ve tried nearly all types of methods. These include CD’s, DVD’s private lessons, hanging around the Swedish pub in London, translation apps on Iphone, Podcasts and videos.

One of the best I have found is on YouTube called “Go Swedish”

The lessons are easily structured, fun to follow and best of all free! They certainly won’t convert you into a fluent speaking Swede but if your after a good starting point then click on the link above and watch.

Njut!

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ursäkta me?

Monday, May 10th, 2010

Firstly I would like to say how much I have enjoyed reading Swedetalkers blog and it’s a shame that it has come to a sudden end but hopefully he will be back. Secondly I apologise for not posting more, just been very busy with writing and I know I have a lot of blogs to read on here.

Things are going well regarding the move; it is possible that I maybe moving towards the end of this year rather than early next but it’s not yet guaranteed. The lessons start again in a few weeks time so it will be good to get back into the swing of things with speaking. I’ve downloaded a lot of podcasts and lessons on the Iphone but in all honesty I only have one done by a real Swede, the rest just seem to speak in Swedish yet with a very heavy American Accent.

There was one thing that has puzzled me of late and that is the use of the word ursäkta. Now this word for me means “Excuse Me”, in order to get attention. But now I also find out that it means “Excuse Me” to get past and now “Pardon” when you don’t understand a question. AARGGH!

Here is me thinking that the English language is strange with a word often meaning two things but now Swedish seems to have three or four. Maybe I should just stick to numbers first ;)

No I am just kidding. I am looking forward to speaking Swedish again very soon and I have found a wonderful teacher here in London! Hope you have all been well and I promise I will begin to blog more.

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Learning the language

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Moving to a new country is not an easy task. Especially when it is a country that requires a new language.

Dozens of my friends have moved over here from places like Australia, America, New Zealand and Canada but the main difference is that moving do London did not require them to learn a new language. The last language that I learnt was German and that was some 20 years ago in school! But I was good and left with an ‘A’ grade.

Living in London and doing what I do it is difficult to find the time to attend language schools. So over the past two years I have been learning how to read and write Swedish and will say that I am more than fluent. I can now pick up a newspaper and read it with no problems at all and also writing is fairly much up to speed.

The problem though lies with speaking. Some days I am able to understand all that I hear on TV, other days it seems that aliens have sucked any Swedish intelligence from my very head. Of course I would love a pet Babel Fish (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy) but alas we are still several thousands of years away from such technology…or are we?

I read with interest today that Google are going to begin trialling a new system on the Iphone/Android phones were someone who is a non English speaker will soon be able to have a telephone conversation with an English speaker with no problems at all. The aim is that someone will speak in say Swedish and then Google voice translation will translate this into English and speak it the other end.

Now whilst this is a wonderful way to overcome a very simple problem it clearly is not the answer. When I made the decision to move to Sweden learning all about the country and the language was my ultimate achievement. If you do not speak the language then basically you are going to be put in a very difficult situation, regardless of how many Swedes speak English.

I still have a year until I move so I will have more opportunities to learn. So far I’m hanging around the Harcourt Arms pub (great way to not only get drunk but also watch Swedish TV and hear Swedes talk), watching SVT highlights on my Iphone (though I don’t think that watching Dolph Lundgren clips is really helping that much).

No this summer I must master the language like my life depended on it. Because after all, it just may one day.

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