Swedish for Beginners: Tips for Teaching Yourself Swedish

I never had a reason for learning Swedish until I met my boyfriend 3 years ago. During my childhood in Jamaica, I was taught Spanish from as young as 6 all the way up to high school for 5 years as it was compulsory at the schools I attended. I always found Spanish challenging though. It was so hard for me to follow during classes, presentations etc. Luckily, at the end of high school I managed to pass the final exams that are held throughout the Caribbean (yay!) 

 Fast forward to when I came to Sweden.. Oh man, such a lovely and beautiful place! Not only am I not hearing just my boyfriend speak the language, I was also hearing it all around me! Just so beautiful how the words chorused from their mouths. Swedish sounds as if you are singing some would say and I have to agree! 

 After being in Sweden for a while visiting my boyfriend last year, it was then it hit me that I have to learn Swedish if I really want to start a life with my boyfriend and integrate within the Swedish society. Hence, I started doing my research on ways I could learn this language on MY OWN (and a little of his help) since I had no rights to study in Sweden during a visit unless I payed a tutor. 

This is my second year teaching myself self Swedish and I will share the tips with you that I have found and is using at the moment to further my knowledge. 

*(I took these steps in this actual order)

STEPS TO TEACHING YOURSELF SWEDISH:

1.      Having My Boyfriend Write Down the Swedish Alphabet 

 This was the very first step I took. One day my boyfriend wrote down the letters of the alphabet and a few other words on a small piece of paper and offered to do a recording of him saying the letters so I could listen every now and then. I even took that paper back home to Jamaica when I left. My advice to you is to start with the alphabet if you are at the very first stages of learning swedish. Focus on the letters Ä, Å and Ö. These letters can be tricky but becomes easier the more you practice to say them.

2.      Learning Swedish

 

 

 I found this website called Learning Swedish. A Swedish Course developed and provided by The Swedish Institute. I must say this opened up the way for me a little more as a beginner. It taught me how to say the basic things that I would come across in everyday life. It also gave me more insight on the alphabet and how to count in Swedish. After every course, you are given a small quiz to test on how much you have learned. The best part is, it's all FREE!

3.      Duolingo 

 

 

 My brother-in-law recommended Duolingo to me during a period when he was teaching himself an Asian language. I downloaded the app and went straight to learning Swedish! Duolingo is a fun and interactive app for learning a new language. It teaches you mostly vocabulary and comes with a voice that help you to pronounce the words correctly. There are also clubs that you can join with other people who are learning the same language as you to share insights and advice. Duolingo is definitely a go for beginners in swedish if you want to make learning a bit more fun.

4.      SVT (Sveriges Television/ Sweden’s Television)

 

 I was having a hard time to really get the flow of words from the Swedes so I started watching SVT, the local tv station in Sweden to adjust to how the language sounds on a continuous pattern. Having subtitles is a good way to follow-up and to connect the swedish words to what they translate to in english. 

Note: SVT is not accessible to those who live outside of Sweden.

    5.      Music

 I started listening to Swedish music, genres that I liked. I have a few favourites like Molly Sanden, Sabina Ddumba and Tommy Nilsson that I listen. I google the swedish lyrics and the translated version to get an understanding of what they sing about. The fun part is, when you remember the words and start to sing along you realise how well you start to pronounce the words as the swedes do.

     6.      A Concise Swedish Grammar

 I started to realise that even though I was building my vocabulary, I didn’t know how to formulate a proper sentence and the rules to formulating a sentence. So I felt I needed something more since I don’t have a real teacher. Then I thought, a book perhaps! I came across a book called A Concise Swedish Grammar that's written in english (other languages also like French, Somalian, German etc) and thought to myself, why not give this book a try? I am now somewhat at intermediate level in Swedish and I don't think it would've been possible without this book. It.. is.. worth.. your time of learning swedish. This books teaches you the full-on rules of almost everything in swedish. How to make sentences, when to use certain words, etc. Since my boyfriend is currently a university student, I took the advantage of following him to school and borrow the book in their library to read while I’m there. I would sometimes take the book home when I can to read and learn at my comfort. While reading this book I also combined Duolingo to learn more words as I learned the rules to speaking swedish.

How Is My Swedish Today? You may ask..

 Well, I am still working on my swedish of course if I want to get closer to being fluent. I am trying to go further by actually trying to read a novel called ”Expert På Rodna by Katarina Von Bredow” that i bought at a second hand store in Södermalm. It is not easy but I do realise that I am building my vocabulary even more and understanding the way Swedes talk.If you are at the beginner/intermediate stage and would like to try reading a book, I suggest you start out with a kid’s/teenager’s level book. If you want to test your brain even more, try reading a pocket-book in a genre that you like. Don’t forget your pencil to underline phrases and jot down new words while you read. The People's Dictionary and Google Translate are awesome for translation of words and phrases while you read.

Fears While Learning the Swedish Language

 I would say my biggest fear with the langauge is to actually speak the language to people other than my boyfriend. I have this fear of messing up as I want to give full respect to the locals when I attempt to speak their language. I am working on it though.😊
  I also advice you to put what your learn into practice. Talk more and try to start or join a conversation with the little that you know. It will be for the better at the end of the day

Good Luck With Your Swedish!

Lycka Till Med Din Svenska!


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