I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions, often finding them fleeting and easily forgotten. However, this year felt different. Inspired by the fresh start of January, I decided to embark on a new challenge: teaching myself a new language. While others were tackling Veganuary or Dry January, I set my sights on learning Swedish, armed only with free online resources. This wasn’t just a whim; it was a deliberate experiment to see if fluency could be kickstarted without spending a dime.
Why Choose to Learn Swedish?
As a linguist at Sandberg, translating from three languages into English is part of my daily routine. My formal language education began with French and Spanish in secondary school, followed by German at university. Beyond these, I’ve explored Icelandic, Sanskrit, and a few others, often with the help of apps like Duolingo and a collection of barely touched language books. Yet, Swedish had always remained unexplored territory – until now.
Hopefully, my experience can inspire you to take the first step – after all, starting is often the hardest part!
Several factors drew me to Swedish. Firstly, the abundance of free learning materials available online was encouraging. From interactive apps to comprehensive grammar websites and pronunciation guides on YouTube, the resources seemed plentiful. Secondly, my workplace at Sandberg is filled with colleagues who are native Swedish speakers, have studied the language, or possess a strong understanding of it. This offered a valuable support network and readily available assistance should I need it. Finally, and perhaps most compellingly, I’ve always wanted to understand ABBA songs in their original Swedish lyrics.
In this article, I will detail the free resources I utilized, discuss the challenges I encountered, and share my insights on the most effective strategies for beginning to learn a new language. Embarking on a language journey from scratch demands dedication, but I hope my experience can provide a helpful starting point. Hopefully, my experience can inspire you to take the first step – after all, starting is often the hardest part!
Setting the Stage for Learning Swedish
Before diving into my Swedish language adventure, I established a few ground rules to ensure structure and maintain focus:
- Dedicated Daily Practice: I committed to 45 minutes of Swedish practice each day. This timeframe mirrored my typical daily commute before the pandemic. I chose this duration because consistent, short daily sessions are more effective for language acquisition than infrequent, longer study periods. Daily practice allows for better information retention and prevents cognitive overload.
- Exclusively Free Resources: To prove that language learning can be accessible to everyone, I resolved to use only free resources. This meant no textbooks, paid apps, or premium subscriptions. My aim was to demonstrate that a solid foundation in a new language can be built without financial investment.
- Measurable Progress with CEFR Level A1: To track progress and maintain motivation, I set a tangible goal: reaching Level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) by the end of the month. Having a clear objective is crucial for effective language learning, providing direction and a sense of accomplishment.
Week 1: Getting Started with Swedish Basics
In the initial days, my approach was somewhat exploratory. I began with familiar language learning apps: Duolingo and Drops. These apps are known for their gamified approach, making vocabulary acquisition and basic phrase learning engaging and accessible. While effective for building vocabulary, they often lack in-depth grammar explanations.
Recognizing my goal of reaching A1 level within a month, I quickly realized the necessity of incorporating resources that provided both grammar instruction and essential vocabulary. This led me to discover Say it in Swedish. For anyone starting a new language, I recommend exploring various resources to find what best suits your learning style.
Throughout the month, Say it in Swedish became my primary learning tool. I found its concise explanations of grammatical concepts and practical vocabulary topics – such as family, colors, directions, and body parts – exceptionally beneficial for a beginner. These fundamental topics are essential for building a basic understanding of any language.
When I needed deeper insights into specific areas, I supplemented my learning by searching online and consulting my Swedish-speaking colleagues. This collaborative approach proved invaluable and smoothly transitioned into week two.
Week 2: Delving Deeper into Swedish Grammar
Week two was dedicated to exploring Swedish grammar, particularly verb tenses. I wanted to understand the grammatical structure of the language and lay a stronger foundation. However, I soon encountered a grammatical concept unfamiliar from my previous language learning experiences: the supine form.
Online resources provided limited clarity on the usage and purpose of the supine form. Fortunately, my professional environment at a Nordic translation company became an invaluable asset.
Seeking clarification, I reached out to colleagues with Swedish expertise. In a brief conversation, they demystified the supine form, transforming it from a confusing grammatical puzzle into a comprehensible concept. This experience underscored the immense value of having access to native speakers or experienced learners for navigating grammatical complexities that online resources may not fully address. Online language learning communities, social media groups, and YouTube channels can also provide similar support.
By the end of week two, my vocabulary had expanded, and my understanding of sentence structure improved, even if my sentences were still basic, like “jag har en svart katt och hon heter Tulip” (I have a black cat and she is called Tulip) and “det är ett stort hus” (that is a big house). These were small steps, but crucial for building momentum.
Tulip, my cat, seemed quite impressed with my sophisticated memorization techniques.
Week 3: Maintaining Motivation and Exploring Authentic Swedish Content
By week three, the initial enthusiasm began to wane. Learning a language, especially self-teaching from scratch using only free resources, is undeniably challenging. Motivation dipped, and the temptation to quit arose. However, the commitment to writing this article served as a powerful motivator. Giving up halfway through, before even learning basic directions in Swedish, felt too embarrassing.
To reignite my interest and make learning more engaging, I incorporated lätt Svenska (“easy Swedish”) news articles into my routine. This proved to be a turning point. Engaging with current events in simplified Swedish introduced new vocabulary within a topical context and demonstrated the practical application of grammatical concepts I had been learning.
Reading news articles also fostered a more intuitive learning process. I could often infer the meaning of unfamiliar words from context, enhancing vocabulary acquisition and reading comprehension. Varying learning resources and methods is crucial not only for combating demotivation but also for training the brain to process diverse linguistic inputs, mirroring natural language acquisition.
Week 4: Refining Techniques and Assessing Progress in Swedish
Entering the final week, I had established a sustainable learning schedule. After work and a tea break, it was Swedish study time. I continued to utilize a mix of apps, websites, and news articles, while also incorporating revision posters around my workspace and experimenting with more effective vocabulary memorization techniques.
My preferred method for vocabulary learning turned out to be surprisingly simple: repetitive writing. For me, the act of physically writing words multiple times proved more effective than relying solely on digital flashcards or gamified apps. Sometimes, traditional pen-and-paper methods are the most effective, even in the digital age.
January 31st arrived, marking the end of my month-long experiment. It was time to assess my progress and determine if I had reached A1 level in Swedish. I found two online Swedish proficiency tests, linked at the end of this article.
The first test focused on grammar and vocabulary, without a listening component. My score of 26 out of 40 indicated an A2 level for written comprehension and grammar, exceeding my initial A1 goal. This test primarily evaluated my written Swedish skills.
The second test provided a more comprehensive assessment, including vocabulary, grammar, reading, listening, and self-assessment of writing and speaking. This test also placed my average level at A2, with listening skills assessed at A1.
Overall, I was genuinely pleased with the results of this experiment. While my long-term commitment to learning Swedish remains undecided, the process has been incredibly insightful. The key takeaway is the power of consistency. Just 45 minutes of daily practice for a month enabled me to reach A1/A2 level in Swedish comprehension. This achievement has instilled a sense of accomplishment and established a language learning habit I hope to maintain in the future.
For anyone considering learning a new language, whether it’s Swedish or any other, I wholeheartedly recommend embracing daily, consistent practice and discovering the learning methods and resources that resonate best with you. A wealth of free and effective resources are available, waiting to be explored. You don’t always need expensive tools to begin your language learning journey.
? Eloise’s Toolkit for Learning Swedish
Apps
- Duolingo: https://www.duolingo.com/
- Drops: https://languagedrops.com/
(Both are available for various languages and offer free and paid features.)
Websites
- Say it in Swedish: https://www.sayitinswedish.com/
Listening practice/news
- 8 Sidor (Easy Swedish News): https://8sidor.se/
CEFR tests
- First online test (grammar and vocabulary): (Please replace with the actual link from the original article if available)
- Second online test (comprehensive): (Please replace with the actual link from the original article if available)
Inspiration, Swedish language
