Is learning Norwegian language difficult?
In Norway, Norwegians are very polite. Sometimes too polite that it makes it harder for me to perfect my Norwegian. They do not want to make you feel bad by correcting your mistakes, they do not interrupt you when you are speaking and they are careful not to make you feel uncomfortable. So they just let you speak your way and I ended up speaking “not so bad and not so good, but good enough to get by” Norwegian!
After living here in Bergen for 4 years, I’d been to 4 different schools to learn Norwegian. Other than attending language courses at schools, i listen to Norwegian music, watch the news, tv series and movies, and go to språkkafe (it is a language cafe where you meet new people who wish to learn and speak Norwegian. This is usually held at the library once in a week). I practice writing and speaking Norwegian by sending text messages in Norwegian instead of English with some of my foreign friends, communicate with my husband’s family and friends in Norwegian and try to speak as much as possible.
Before I moved to Norway, I do not even know a single word of Norwegian. I picked up a few simple words and phrases such as hello, thank you and i love you from my boyfriend a.k.a my husband now. I was keen on learning the language in the beginning and found it interesting and fun! So I’ve enrolled in folkeuniversitetet, a university of continued adult education to learn from basic. After a few months, I was able to put together a few short sentences. But i was still not confident enough to speak it at the grocery or retail stores yet.
Then I got a job offer and stopped learning Norwegian for almost a year. When my contract ended, I went back to learning Norwegian again at Nygård skole, a school for adult learners. I was entitled to free tuition in Norwegian and social studies because i was married to a Norwegian. I was required to complete 550 hours of Norwegian language and 50 hours social studies in order to be granted the permanent residence permit. A number of hours a person needs depend on when you were granted your first residence permit. The rules and regulations change all the time. So it is important to follow up closely and stay updated by checking UDI’s website frequently. I spent a year learning Norwegian at Nygård skole until they closed my class due to the capacity size. Initially, we were more than 12 - 15 students. Eventually, some left for all sort of reasons and we were too few. It was a pity because I really enjoyed the class and the teaching skills of my teacher. My teacher was good in explaining in the easiest way for us to understand and he made the learning process much more enjoyable in an effective and efficient manner. This was when i felt like i learned much more and expanded my vocabulary that allows me to express myself, even more, I was able to have a decent communication with Norwegian with a little help from the husband.
While job hunting, i have lots of free time to spare. So learning to be fluent in Norwegian is my main goal. I enrolled myself and got a place at Bergen Katedral skole, a school for adult learners and it was a 2-year programme. I accepted the offer. I’ve also applied to study a higher level Norwegian at the University of Bergen. Took an entry test and got a place there too. In the end, i gave up my place at Bergen Katedral skole and took the offer at the university instead. It was a 19 weeks course, much shorter compared to the 2-year programme.
Unfortunately, i did not manage to pass the entire exam. I passed the oral examination with B but failed the written examination. I did not have very high expectations but i thought i would probably pass the entire exam at least. I was quite disappointed when i received the news about my failure.
I failed, stumbled, and got up again. Nobody promises a safe path. At least i know i have taken the chance to pursue something i care about.
To me, the most important thing is that i have learned something from the course. Grades do not mean that i am not capable of speaking the language or i am not good at it.
“Take chances, make mistakes. That’s how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.”
There’s no such thing as failure, only feedback.
I have taken a break from going to schools to learn Norwegian. It doesn’t mean that i have given up but now i put the theoretical knowledge that i have learned to practical use.
There is actually no deadline to learning Norwegian. It is just a goal that i have set to achieve. Why? It would open doors to career, travel, education, to be able to help my children, be respected, be more independent, have more self-worth etc.
If you are struggling with learning a new language like me, don’t worry, breath, you’re not alone! It is tough because it challenges both your mind and time. But don’t fret! Be happy to make mistakes and realize you will feel silly at times. It will take some time before you can express yourself as easily in a second language as in the first. It’s the passion that will keep you going in a way that will keep you focused and positive.
Just find the strength that will keep you focused and positive in learning the language. Some people feel the strong urge, maybe nothing really or in between. Just take some time to think about the importance of learning. No matter what methods you choose, it is better that than wasting time not trying at all.
Learning a foreign language is no easy thing, but it does get easier over time!
