Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts

Saturday, 27 October 2018

Swedish for Beginners: Tips for Teaching Yourself Swedish

October 27, 2018 0 Comments



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 
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
learn swedish with swedish 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.
learn swedish with A concise swedish grammar





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.
expert på rodna

tips to learn swedish





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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A beginners guide: teach yourself Swedish







Sunday, 10 June 2018

15 Ways To Know That A Girl Likes You

June 10, 2018 2 Comments
 Hello Hello to my fellow readers! Yes I know, it's been a while! Damn, it  actually feels forever now when I am writing this post! 

  I have however updated on my Instagram snap story about 2 weeks ago that I would have done a post in June. I took a break in May mainly due to technical issues that I was having with my blog also, I was learning more about the blogging world while I waited to get these issues resolved. You guys have been patient and I appreciate that sooo much! *kisses*

 Now lets get into business shall we? Yep! 

 On my last post I wrote about 15 Ways To Know That A Guy Likes You and I promised my fellow male readers that I would also do 15 Ways to know that a girl is into them. Aaand, I kept my promise! *CHEERS* 
 The thing is, when I actually gave this topic a thought I realised that "the ways" didn't differ much between men and women, they related quite more than I had expected. Now, gentle men, here are your 15 ways!






  1. She blink her eyes... alot!- This you would notice if you are still in the flirting stage. Females are most likely to do this as a sign that she like what she sees and is really digging you.
  2. She twirls/plays with her hair.- A typical romantic flirty movie gesture but let me tell you that we as female actually do this in real life! Haha girls can be weird ;)
  3. She tries to do her best with her dressing and attire when you both plan a meet/date.
  4. She smiles and shows her pearly whites to light up the room and your heart.
  5. Shy! She suddenly becomes that shy girl when she's in your company. Nothing is wrong with that, as long as you make her feel more comfortable as time goes she will loosen up eventually.
  6. She texts you first! It is more common that girls wait for the guy to text them first but not realizing that the guys also can appreciate the girl putting forward the same gesture.
  7. She remains fully attentive and find interest in the topics which you speak on. 
  8. She ask you a ton of questions! Man, if she's inquisitive she's interested!
  9. If she is always interested to know how your day went, if you have eaten etc, then she could be a win win!
  10. She wants to meet your friends and family. That's alright as it shows a big sign of interest in you and the people who are a part of your life.  I know males can be a bit keen on the timing of which he let a girl meet his friends and relatives especially.
  11. She encourages you to meet her friends and family also.
  12. The random calls are also an eye opener. 😉
  13. She plans/asks about the next date or next time seeing you!
  14. She blushes when you compliment her.
  15. A girl who is interested in a guy tries to remember all the little details you tell her, whether it's important and not. If she remembers all the little things she definitely likes you.
 So guys I hope my pointers actually gave you some pespective. If  it did, leave a comment and if it didn't, still leave a comment. Thanks so much for reading and I'll see you on my next post!

Bye!🎔


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Monday, 9 April 2018

Pay Less Attention To Your Phone And More To Your Relationship.

April 09, 2018 1 Comments

(Put Down Your Phone For A Second | I Have Something To Say)


Day after day we realize how attached we are to a small but handy electronic device we call a mobile phone. But let's admit it, it can be very addictive. Have we ever thought that probably it is too addicting? 

Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, to name a few, gets the most of our time. As soon as a notification beeps in it's almost like we could go through any life threatening situation just to check what the notification is about or who/what source it came from.


Question of today's blog:  How many of us actually listen to when our partner or anyone around us beeps for our attention while we are busy on our phone?


 If you are mature enough to admit to yourself that you're actually addicted or close to being addicted, then that's good. Most of all, you're not alone. I myself also struggle with being on my phone a tad bit too much. Like why is the World Wide Web and social media constantly seemingly so interesting?🤦🏾‍♀ 
 We, however, at some point have to discipline ourselves to the amount of media we indulge in daily.

 Have you ever thought that your phone could be a reason as to why your relationship with your partner or friends/family remains so off? When  you are the one who is constantly focused on your screen you have no time to realize this unless someone mentions it to you. There's a time and place for everything, that applies to our phones as well. 
 The person you're in a relationship with deserves just as much or even more attention that your phone receives. Think about how disrespectful it would be if you're speaking to someone on an important topic and that person is busy fingering his phone. Wouldn't you feel like you could just talk to a wall instead? Yes? Then it's the same feeling that another person could get if you treat them in like manner. 


 It's also quite interesting when a person didn't even see a breakup coming due to how inattentive one is to the real world 😂 
You spend all your time on Instagram to lurk on other people's relationship, to see who dumped who and not seeing that your own relationship is falling into a pit! 

Put down your phone when someone has something to say. Don't miss the important details. Don't make yourself look stupid when he/she asks you a question about what was said earlier and you can't relate or remember because at that time you were “busy” posting a Facebook status. 

 Don't be the one (probably the only one) who is texting and smiling at joke on your phone screen when sitting at the dinner table with friends/family while everyone is laughing at the jokes being thrown at dinner. 
 Remember every minute matters with the people who care about you. Show some respect in order to receive respect. Listen to those around you when they try to speak about something that really matters. 

 On ending, my boyfriend can say to me at times when he thinks I'm giving my phone too much attention "You know the owner of Apple only allowed his kids to use their phones only 4 hours a day?" And still I say to him I'm not one of his kids 😂





Anyhow, I hope you got the real meaning behind this post and I hope to see you again on my next. 

     Hej då! 👋🏾

Related article: Working Too Much Can Affect Your Relationship 


Sunday, 18 March 2018

KNOW YOUR WORTH! (How Do You Know Your Worth?)

March 18, 2018 1 Comments

Upon talking with a friend recently, I could not help but make this topic my next blog post. 

It's so surreal that there are actually women out there who are lost, unsure of what their worth really is. The fact that she is a friend and I value my friends, I felt that it was only respectful and the right thing to do to listen, evaluate, be non-judgmental and give her my best honest advice.

How Do you Know Your Worth



While she voiced her story to me, I said to her "Know your worth." Lost and saddened she was, she hit me back with the question "How do I know my worth?" 
I smiled after receiving her question. A smile of sympathy, a smile of empathy. I told her to ask herself; How do I see myself as a person? and How do I expect a man or someone else to see me as that said person? 

The thing is, she is not the only one who is struggling with knowing her worth. Both men and women is very likely to come across this phase in life where they are left to question their own values. However, I believe this is more common among us women. 

"We cannot think of being acceptable to others until we have first proven acceptable to ourselves."

Struggling to find your worth can be based on a few things like:

•Past experiences you've had with someone you dated or possible a friend/family member.
•Your outlook on yourself as a person •CONFIDENCE. 

If you can relate to any of those pointers (especially your confidence level) then it's no surprise you are having difficulties with knowing and accepting your worth. Look at yourself in the mirror, take a moment to pause, breathe calmly and think.  
“As long as you look for someone else to validate who you are by seeking their approval, you are setting yourself up for disaster. You have to be whole and complete in yourself. No one can give you that. You have to know who you are - what others say is irrelevant.”

Try to find all the qualities in yourself, accept them and embrace them. Learn to love yourself. Self love is sufficient. If you don't love yourself, no one else will. If you don't accept yourself for who you are inside and out, no one else will. 

So, do you know your worth?

In a nutshell, my advice to you is; if you are struggling with this it’s best to start by doing some self evaluation. Find all the good things in you; quality over quantity. Love yourself. Keep your chin up. Smile. 

And if you are in a relationship, once you embrace all these pointers, your worth will become so clear to your partner. He/she will respect you and know where you stand as a person. 

-Dedicated to a friend ❤️


Tuesday, 27 February 2018

AWKWARD THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN A HAPPY RELATIONSHIP

February 27, 2018 0 Comments

If you ask someone at random to list the things they’d love to do around their partner you’d probably hear a few “uhmmm”s and “wellll..”s before they could even begin to answer. Ask those same people about some things they feel they’d never want to do and you’ll find a million answers flying out of nowhere. It’s weird how we can think about all the awkward things we wouldn’t do in a relationship. But the more you think about these ”awkward” things the more you realize that at some point or another they are bound to happen. Thankfully for me, most of these things were a breeze! I hardly ever felt any stiffness when I wanted to just be myself around my partner.

But “awkward things”, what am I even talking about?


  • Passing Gas
I think this might head the list of things people might be apprehensive about in a relationship, especially if it is new. But let me tell you, once you have settled in your partner’s company you probably won’t even notice the first time you farted. Passing gas, is only natural. Don’t see it as an embarrassment, you’re body is just doing it’s job. In fact, your partner might become concerned about your health if you were never able to relieve yourself in this way.

  • Taking A Pee… Outside!
I don’t think it will be that hard taking a pee in the bathroom infront of your boyfriend and I’ll tell you why I said boyfriend instead of “partner”. As it regards to peeing outside of a bathroom, it has always been natural for a guy to just stand and pee anywhere outside. Imagine you’re on a night out with your boyfriend and while strolling with him outside there comes a strong urge too pee and the options are:
       a) stoop next to a shrub and empty your bladder or
       b) wait until it becomes unbearable and wet yourself.
I don’t think too many of you would choose option b. Peeing outside can be really embarrassing for some girls. It’s not always easy to do especially if you’re just getting to know him. There are ways of handling this if you aren’t yet comfortable. He doesn’t necessarily have to be standing over you while you pee. He can be a couple metres away while you handle your female business. When you do reach that point of comfort in your relationship you could possibly be taking pees outside… together!

  • Number 2
Ayiyyiy! Why is it that most times it’s us  women who can have insecurites about doing the natural stuff when our boyfriend/husband is around? Men, on the other hand, can easily do the number 2  even on the first date but for us women, our partner could possibly never even know of us having the urge to poop, even more so seeing us go! Women generally like to give off a classy aura especially when it comes on to being around their partner. I  didn’t even expect myself to do a number 2 even infront of Alex but when two people are in the same household these things are only natural and expected. We try to make it funny sometimes, especially when one person is going at it for two long. We either ask if the other person needs help or jokingly bring a pair of scissors just in case they ran into any difficulty.

  • Snoring
If you’re a snorer it’s okay! I didn’t even know I was able to snore until Alex recorded me one day when we were in Jamaica. It was kind of an embarrassing but funny experience. But remember we have no control over these things while we are asleep. If you are afraid of snoring and feel like it may  be a problem for a long term relationship you can always do your research on how to fix it or possibly seek medical advice. As for those who may only be occasional snorers, my advice is to embrace it and laugh about it.

  • Burping
This is also a very touchy subject. You  may want to be a little respectful towards your partner and exercise some restraint depending on the setting. For example, at a restaurant; you wouldn’t want to be burping too loudly in his company as this is not proper etiquette.  If it’s an easy going day at home there is no need to feel afraid to pass a little trapped air from the stomach. Just always remember to at least say excuse me or show a little grace no matter the setting.

  • Morning Breath
To finish off strong, one awkward thing is – drumroll please – morning breath! Your own morning breath can even attempt to take you out like a sniper. So imagine waking up next to your partner and being paralyzed by the fear of killing him or her as soon as they wake. Good oral hygiene is sufficient. As long as you take care of your mouth, morning breath won’t be too aggressive. Morning breath will still exist even when you have excellent oral hygiene but the degree of the smell will be less. There is no sure way of getting rid of morning breath completely so why not try to embrace this as well? In the long run neither you nor your partner will pay attention to this and you’ll even be having stinky face to face conversations in the mornings!

For a happy relationship to happen we need to include all the cool, uncool, gross and natural things that exist. This includes (but is not limited to) all these things I’ve mentioned. Keep an open mind and remember no human being is perfect!


See You On My Next Post!