1. Dare to make mistakes
This first tip is perhaps one of the things you as a language learner have to struggle with the most. Accepting that it’s okay, and even necessary, to say and write wrong is key to even daring to start expressing yourself in the new language. So just throw yourself out there and ignore what people might think! Most people will probably just be impressed that you’re learning a new language, and if they’re not, it’s almost certainly because they’ve never dared to learn a new language themselves. And remember that it is when you say or write wrong that you can discover that this is the case, and correct it.
2, Technology is your friend
Today, we have access to an abundance of various technical aids. Websites that help with vocabulary learning, podcasts where vocabulary and pronunciation are discussed and apps that can teach us whole languages from scratch. In addition, many of these services are completely free. Google or visit your local library and research which tools you prefer.
3. Listen, read and watch in easy-to-read Swedish
Absorb as much Swedish as you can! To begin with, a tip is to listen to specially adapted easy Swedish. For example, you can listen to or read easy-to-understand news on the radio, on television or in the newspaper. Another tip, which may sound laughable, is to watch Swedish children’s programs. “Five ants are more than four elephants” is an old but beloved one, even among adults. If you get tired of it, you can try to switch and watch TV shows aimed at adults instead, like a drama series or a detective movie, as long as it’s a genre that interests you. Then you will appreciate it, even if you may not understand exactly everything that is said. In addition, you can turn on subtitles in Swedish, even when watching a movie or series with Swedish speech, to really understand and also learn how words are spelt.
4. Have fun with Swedish
The goal of learning a new language is basically that you speak the language with another person, they understand, they listen and then respond back in the same language. So if you have achieved this, you have actually reached your goal! But to become really good, you need to make sure that you have fun with Swedish. Do you like playing basketball? Join a Swedish team. Do you love to write poems? Grab the pen and write a few lines in Swedish. Is your great passion radio theater? You understand. Do something fun with your Swedish, and it won’t feel like you’re sitting in the school desk for days on end.
5. Consistency is key
This is perhaps where the time-consuming part of language learning emerges most clearly. The more often and the more regularly you use the new language, the more and the faster you will learn it. You simply need to integrate Swedish into your everyday life. Therefore, it is very best to stay in a completely monolingual environment, where you have no choice and are simply forced to speak and write only the new language. One way to ensure that this happens is to work in an environment where there is a lot of conversation, preferably only Swedish.
