(edit title) Folkuniversitetet? - learning Swedish from scratch Is it a viable way to learn for a beginner Options

[lilsocks]

Unfortunately for me I cannot take the SFI course (I live in Helsingborg but work during the week in Stockholm) so my employer is looking to pay for a number of courses from Folkuniversitetet (A1 through to B2). Has anyone taken these courses before and would they be suitable for me?

I am a native English speaker and was dreadful at school trying to learn French (failed miserably), my wife is Swedish and has been trying to teach me basic sayings and I can count to 20 (not exactly impressive I know). The biggest challenge for me so far is that my wife speaks with a Skåne accent, my coworkers with the Stockholm twang and my closest friends are from Hallstavik so it is a real mix of pronunciations.

Any advice is welcome

[Kitale]

Get a wife who has a '08' accent?

[Solith]

I did A2 and B1 there and it's probably absolutely fine. A2 was a bit of a disappointment, I think a few of us really wanted more than just a re-cap of A1!

I've been told SFI do a distance course in some areas for people who can't study full time.

I would say do a basic course, really immerse yourself in it (TV, radio, easy read newspapers, dictionary by your side, young adults books, hang out with Swedes, try to speak it at every opportunity, write emails in it etc etc.) and then take the assessment tests available online at FU to see if you can skip a level.

But if your choice is FU or nothing then definitely FU!

[sushipeas]

Hi there!

I have attended the A1 and B2 classes at Folkuniversitetet in Gothenburg and have found them to be excellent courses. The teachers were very skilled, the pace was fast but manageable and I found myself going from only knowing a few phrases to being able to speak on a basic level very quickly. The courses are well worth the money in my opinion and if you can get them for free then go for it!

Best of luck

[Ankinette]

Bonjour
Im doing the intensive A2 class at the moment, i just started, and i find it very good! We are a small group of 15 people and the teacher is very good, i guess it depends a lot of the teacher aye. Its a very good way also, as a beginner, to get the confidence to actually talk out loud and practice without the fear of sounding silly, as we all have the same level. I found that when u learn a language there is a moment when it kind of clicks and u dare talking, and the Folkuni course definitely gave me that.

[lilsocks]

Get a wife who has a '08' accent?

I don't like the idea of downgrading but thanks for the comment.

Thank you all for the more serious responses I guess I won't be too out of my depth on the A1 course then I'll update this post for future readers to explain my experiences from doing the 4 courses.

[Ankinette]

The teacher i really like is called Paula, she does A1 courses too. You are going to do the 2 eve a week course?

[roch]

The key phrase in your post was " my employer is going to pay..."

Do it. These courses are expensive and if you are having someone else pay for them, it's the bargain of the year.

[Puffin]

Yes if the employer is going to pay go for it - for most people it is finding the 2000kr every 4-6 weeks which is a problem

Most people are happy with the beginners classes which are given in a number of different ways

[gplusa]

Totally agree. Take the money and say Thank You Very Much. You're unlikely to get a better deal than that. Added into the mix you've got a full time language study buddy in your own home. Free of charge. Can't lose.

My advice: if you're really serious about this, ditch English at home. From today. I was absolute bollocks at languages, and that was the only way to really force it into me. Love finds a way.

[aino]

I took a 2 week intensive course with them (A1-A2, I think) many years ago, and found it very useful. It didn't cost that much, as these things go, and the great thing was that since the course was paid, everyone was making an effort. I liked the teacher. I can recommend the intensive course if you can take time off work or do it during vacation. It worked much better for me than spread out classes.

[ElijahBenjamin]

There is a useful book called A concise guide to Swedish grammar in English. Get that and study hard, then get your Swedish friends to practice with you. Practice in the centrum as well. Once you understand the grammar, get a dictionary.

[lilsocks]

The teacher i really like is called Paula, she does A1 courses too. You are going to do the 2 eve a week course?

Yes indeed, going to do the 2 nights a week version.

[lilsocks]

There is a useful book called A concise guide to Swedish grammar in English. Get that and study hard, then get your Swedish friends to practice with you. Practice in the centr ... (show full quote)

There is a useful book called A concise guide to Swedish grammar in English. Get that and study hard, then get your Swedish friends to practice with you. Practice in the centrum as well. Once you understand the grammar, get a dictionary. ... (hide full quote)

Thanks for the tip! I'll see if I can get a copy from Amazon or something.