Category: Learning Swedish

So, you’ve been accepted to study in Sweden – congratulations! You’ve sorted the practicalities: applied for housing, figured our whether you need a visa or residence permit, and started learning the basics of the wonderful Swedish language on Duolingo. So, what now? Is there some other way you can prepare for your new Swedish life? […]

Are you trying to fit in while speaking English in Sweden? Trying to figure out what little speech patterns give away Swedes? Here are some tips to to help you know a bit about Swenglish!

Time flies. Time sure does fly, not only while you’re having fun, but also while you’re toiling away against challenges and deadlines. That pretty much summed up the first semester of my master program in Sweden. As a newcomer to both the country and postgraduate education, my life was like a roller coaster. I had […]

If you’re coming to study in Sweden, do you really need to learn Swedish? The answer is nej!…. which means ‘no!’ Congratulations – you’ve just learned your first Swedish word! It’s true, you definitely don’t need to learn Swedish to study here because so many people speak English really well, but my personal feeling is […]

When you move to a different country or city and don’t know anyone, volunteering can be a fantastic way to make friends and learn new skills, as well as giving something back to your adoptive community. Oh, and volunteers generally get free food and a cool t-shirt! I’ve volunteered in a few places since moving […]

This week in “I have lived in Sweden for one year and still have not done this super-Swedish thing*”, I’m going to guide you through what a Spex is! The student nation I’m a part of (Östgöta Nation, Uppsala) have their annual Spex showcasing this week. But what is a Spex? Why should you go […]

Let’s face it, learning a new language is hard. So why not also learn in a way that’s a bit more exciting than memorising vocabulary and the rules of grammar – through music! I’ve made a list of Swedish language songs that could help you learn – or even just to jam out to!

Let’s face it, giving up is easy especially when you are learning something new or when things get hard.  That’s why people give up on going to the gym or learning a new skill after the initial enthusiasm. I am no different, in this blog, I will discuss how I am trying to not give […]

Beyond attending formal Swedish classes and telling the cashier “nej” (no) to a “kvitto” (receipt), sometimes it can be hard to see on a daily basis where you can practice your Swedish language skills. With Swedes being the best non-native speakers of English in the world, and with many international students communicating in English on […]