Will someone help me to learn norwegian?

[enola117]

Hallo.

I come in Norway (Oslo) couple of weeks ago and I'll be staying here for at least 10 months. Why 10 months? I come with my girlfriend as she received a scholarship at BI University and I will stay with her for the entire time. Meanwhile I am trying to do some researches for a book I am writing, and to learn Norwegian in order to find a job. I’m from Eastern Europe (to be more exactly, Romania) and I apologize in advance if my English will stink. For the moment I try to learn Norwegian from a book my girlfriend borrowed from university, but this is going quite slow and I can’t really get the accent from a book.

Just little bit about me: I’m 24 years old (today), I graduated university and I have a diploma in geography and just two months ago I’ve also finished my master studies in urban geography. I like to read , although I can’t find to have patience for that in last years. My favorite authors are: W. Faulkner, J.P. Sartre, Turgheniev, Dostoyevsky, Lermontov, Gorky, Marquez, Malraux, Zola, Eschil etc, and my favorite books are: Cien anos de soledad, Anti-Memoirs, Light in August etc . My favorite movies are: Memento, The English Patient, The Fountain etc. I like music (metal music: gothic, doom, symphonic; bands like: Tristania, The Sins of Thy Beloved, Myriads, Lacrimosa, My Dying Bride, Elnordia, Nota Profana etc), traveling, taking pictures, discussing about almost everything, testing my limits, etc. What I don’t like are: parties, stupidity and unmotivated proud.

If there’s anyone who will like to help me, here is my yahoo messenger address: [email protected] (if you dislike me or this message then please just ignore it)

[Jøtul]

hi

 

norwegian is a very hard language to learn, people talk different all over the country, but in oslo, most people talk almost like the written language, so you are lucky with that. To learn norwegian, i must suggest you go to a language class, or have a norwegian to practice with. check this website to get the basics: http://www.101languages.net/norwegian/

[Bandidos-Pelle]

The guy above is wrong. Norwegian is a very easy language to learn in comparison to many other languages. It is in fact a lot harder to learn English than Norwegian if you were starting from scratch. For example; verbs don't change like they do in English: "I eat, you eat, he/she/it eats" - in Norwegian every word would just be "eat". I suggest you go to Norwegian classes, you won't be able to learn the language well enough by studying on your own. Good luck.

[Deadringer]

The guy above is wrong. Norwegian is a very easy language to learn in comparison to many other languages.

This is bullshit. Its widely known that Norwegian is hard to master. We dont speak in the same "rythem" that most other languages do and there are so many different dialects and ways to write stuff, which makes it difficult for people whos not from around here.

[enola117]

It doesn't mather if is or is not hard to learn it, and anyway is not the easiest or the hardest language on Earth, that's for sure. I don't wanna be a master in Norwegian, i just wanna know it for every day use.

 

Thank you very mush @Gridset for your advices and for the link you shared. I already went throught the basics of Norwegian and I think I know couple of hundreds of words. The classes are quite expensive for me, something like 5000kroner. What I try to find is a friend to talk with, I don't ask for him to lecture or to give lessons. Registrating and reading this forum already helps me a bit. To meet someone to whom you can have a conversation is preaty hard in this country, you're not so communicative (and I hope that no one will take this as an offence, because it isn't). The only people that are talkative are the drunkers near Jerbanetorghet and the gypsy beggers from Romania (whitch I may say, they're doing a realy good job advertising my country).

 

Banditos-Pelle, that's why I've made this threat; to find someone to talk with 'cuz I know a book can't possibly teach me all.

 

Nyhus, I know that, but, as i said, I just wanna learn it at a conversational level.

[Bandidos-Pelle]

You obviously don't know what you are talking about, Nyhus. (http://www.pagef30.com/2008/08/why-norwegian-is-easiest-language-for.html)

 

Norwegian as a written and oral language is a LOT easier than MOST languages out there. Who said he had to learn dialects? By understanding the principles of bokmål he will be understood by 100 % of Norwegians. In addition, Norwegian is the best language in terms of understanding other Nordic languages as well, so I suggest people to understand the principles of European and Germanic languages, they are by FAR easier to learn than most languages.

 

What I am trying to say is; take classes so you learn how to pronounce and write words at the same time. I know people who have come from Australia who have learned Norwegian in 6 months, so it's all up to you.

Endret 4. september 2009 av Bandidos-Pelle

[AvidGamer]

Already you are witnessing the norwegian way right here. Norwegians love to dis each other and try to make others look like fools, at the same time attempting to highlight that what they say is the correct answer in any situation...lol

 

 

As an English born/spoken person whom moved to Norway, I can with experience state that Norwegian is hard, but is very easy to learn to speak compared to written. At least that is how I stand today, even after over 10 years living here I still have problems with grammar and spelling.

 

I had a family member move here for 1 school year, and she still knows Norwegian even after 6 years, despite not using it since.

 

And thanks to her learning Norwegian, she has found learning other languages such as German, and even Italian the progress was far easier than for her other friends.

 

Naturally your ability to learn is an individual trait, and having others saying "it's easy" will not really do much good to say if it will indeed be easy for you. You just have to try.

 

In Oslo there are MANY Norwegian classes for foreigners, you shouldn't have much difficulty getting in one. And I have even seen jobs advertised at NAV that offer Norwegian lessons.

 

Anyways, good luck, and enjoy your time in Norway. Too bad it's in Oslo.....hehe.

Endret 4. september 2009 av AvidGamer

[Deadringer]

Norwegian as a written and oral language is a LOT easier than MOST languages out there. Who said he had to learn dialects? By understanding the principles of bokmål he will be understood by 100 % of Norwegians.

But he wont understand a guy from Hallingdal, will he? Its not enought that he understands people in Oslo, they would have to understand him to.

Norwegian among the 'most difficult languages to learn to speak. Being able to read Norwegian, is not the same as knowing Norwegian. Its a lot more to it then that.

[Bear^]

While some other bicker amongst themselves I'll try to be a little more constructive since you didn't ask whether the language was hard to learn or not.

 

To learn a language the simplest way is to use it as often as possible. I learned English from just reading books, watching movies and playing games. Over time my English has evolved into what it is today.

 

So what you can do is actually get some children's book and start with the, along with some books about how the grammar work. The last one isn't that important, over time you'll understand the connections and what's wrong and not simply by reading the books. But it's good to get at least the general understanding.

 

The key component is keep trying. If you falter at some words, ask what they mean and try again. Practice makes perfect. Also you could over time borrow some sound books and watch some pure Norwegian movies like Max Manus just to hear the spoken language. It's amazing how much you can learn by just listening to a language and even though you might not understand the things then and there remember then that the brain is like a sponge that sucks up information and stores it for later, even without you knowing it.

 

Last but not least; never give up. Every language is hard and cruel in the start but soon you'll master the technique and can manage to make conversation in Norwegian.

[enola117]

Thank you Bear for your replay and for your advices.

I must admit I haven’t fought at books for kids, but all the other options did crossed my mind. I watched Død snø and Pathfinder and I also watch some programs in Norwegian, but I don’t have a TV yet and I can only see 3-4 channels on my pc. I also tried to listen to some priest was saying in English and another one translated in Norwegian on Vision TV Channel, but I gave up soon, his stupidity was killing me. From time to time I listen the radio to on my mp4 and I grab some words, but is quite hard to understand it all. I also pay attention while on buss or metro at what that voice says about next station and closing the door and all of that.

[Jøtul]

watching norwegian movies with english subtitles is a good idea! if you get a norwegian to talk with too, i think you can learn norwegian pretty well

[Moraelyn]

If you can't afford the classes, at least try to get the books. Walk into a local bookstore and ask them to order you these books from Cappelen:

Cappelen - På Vei - Tekstbok /med CD

Cappelen - På Vei - Ordliste

Cappelen - På Vei - Arbeidsbok

Cappelen - Stein på Stein - Tekstbok /med CD

Cappelen - Stein på Stein - Ordliste

Cappelen - Stein på Stein - Arbeidsbok

 

And lastly: "Kirkeby Forlag - Ordbok Videregående - norsk/engelsk, engelsk norsk". A rather large translation dictionary which includes excellent notations on common usages, norsk-specific phrases, etc.

 

I will be honest though, books in Norway are outrageously expensive. All books. These books probably contribute to half the cost of the course. I don't know if the "ordboker" are available in romanian, but they are definitely available in english.

 

Websites at which you can try some of the quizzes:

http://pavei.cappelendamm.no/

http://steinpastein.cappelendamm.no/

 

På Vei is more or less the Year One course. Very basic stuff.

Stein på Stein is the Year Two course. Moderate stuff.

Unless you plan on getting into norwegian journalism, that's as far as you need to pursue it. You'll pick up the rest as you go.

Endret 7. september 2009 av Moraelyn

[V5R1X]

Try Livemocha.

Endret 7. september 2009 av J-Core

[enola117]

Thank you very much to all three of you, that information you gave me were very helpful. At the moment I am trying to learn Norwegian from a book called “Learn Norwegian” by Sverre Klouman and from another one called “Norwegian Grammar Dictionary” by Cathrine Rysst and Daren Sylvester. I also look upon on an online Norwegian-English dictionary and I have a Romanian-Norwegian dictionary taken from my home. To help me get into the pronunciation I watch TV and I am using an online program called “Byki” which is quite good, but I’ve noticed that even the pronunciation differs (I had no idea that Nynorsk is so different then Bokmål). I learn just a bit every day and I really hope I’ll be able to speak it in 2-3 months. Thank you again!

[Thend]

As an English born/spoken person whom moved to Norway, I can with experience state that Norwegian is hard, but is very easy to learn to speak compared to written. At least that is how I stand today, even after over 10 years living here I still have problems with grammar and spelling.

 

Got some troubles with the English grammar as well, huh?

 

(Sorry, this was totally irrelevant and unnecessary, I just couldn't help myself.)

[Getingar]

Norwegian is easy to understand.

Just talk to alot of Norwegians and you'll get the hang of it.

[DaddyYankee]

Dude lets make a deal! I suck at english! You can teach me english and I can teach you Norwegian.. !! =)

Endret 11. september 2009 av Fight4Lov3

[enola117]

Dude lets make a deal! I suck at english! You can teach me english and I can teach you Norwegian.. !! =)

 

Sure mate, add me on messenger or msn or whatever: [email protected] (but remember, English is not my 1st language so I may stink as well, but my girlfriend is quite good at it, she took the Cambridge exam)

[DaddyYankee]

Dude lets make a deal! I suck at english! You can teach me english and I can teach you Norwegian.. !! =)

 

Sure mate, add me on messenger or msn or whatever: [email protected] (but remember, English is not my 1st language so I may stink as well, but my girlfriend is quite good at it, she took the Cambridge exam)

 

You are not online, are you??

[enola117]

Yes, i am.