Even if it’s not Norwegian you’re learning, many language learners could relate to this writer’s experience of “faking it till you make it,” which is actually a very effective language acquisition strategy! This includes useful tips such as repeating certain listening phrases to keep the conversation going and chatting with elderly people in your community who have lots of time and stories to share. Perhaps this is a good example too of how language learning is truly a relational journey, best experienced in the context of community.
© Alice Baguet
Illustration by http://www.alicebaguet.com
Becoming fluent in Norwegian is a long and bumpy path, full of “YEAAAHHHH I am so good at this” and “Oh my God I will never make it” moments. In the down moments, when you burst out laughing thinking THAT was a joke (sorry it wasn’t, say the eyes of your mystified colleagues), you will need some little things to keep you going. Small expressions or words that will automatically make you feel more fluent than you really are. Who doesn’t like to hear “Du er SÅ flink i norsk!” (you are so good in Norwegian!) when you perfectly know you aren’t?
This blogpost is inspired by a short article in The Oslo Eye. I made my own list of things that make me feel like I am more fluent in Norwegian. Hopefully it will be of some help for other immigrants like…
View original post 977 more words
Language for Peace Forum 
Discussion
No comments yet.