How to learn Norwegian fast?

In this article, we give you our best tips to learn Norwegian fast. Read the details below this infographic.

Learning any language takes effort, and Norwegian is no exception. If you are dedicated to learning Norwegian fast, you will have to work hard and put intensive effort. It is possible to learn Norwegian fast if you make a proper plan and stick to it. In this article, we have gathered 15 tips for learning Norwegian fast. Follow these strategies, practice every day, be consistent and you will see results.

1. Learn the most used Norwegian words

If you want to learn Norwegian fast, start building your Norwegian vocabulary. Words are the foundation of any language, and there is no way you can speak Norwegian if you don’t have a reasonable vocabulary. Usually, people build a sizeable vocabulary by taking lessons, memorizing and then using those words in their daily life. You can speed up this process by learning the most frequently used words in a language. 

To help you build your Norwegian vocabulary, The Norwegian Academy has made an eBook with the most used Norwegian words. This book has a list of 300 most frequently used words in the Norwegian language, with their meanings in English and some explanation on how to use them.

Click here to get the ebook.

2. Read Norwegian as much as you can

Reading books in Norwegian can be challenging, but it is an effective way of familiarizing yourself with the language. You can start with the children’s books. In Norway, there are public libraries everywhere, and you can borrow up to 30 items (books, ebooks, music, games, etc) at a time and keep the books for 30 days. If you need more time with your favorite books, you can just renew them for another 28 days.

For information about public libraries in Oslo, go to https://www.deichman.no/in-english

When you start reading your first Norwegian children’s books, there will be some words you wouldn’t understand. Write down those words and look them up in an online dictionary. By the time you finish your first set of 3 books, your vocabulary will have increased a lot.

If you are more interested in News, or you feel like you have graduated from the kids’ books, read the online newspaper Klartale. As the name suggests, the newspaper uses a simpler language and is easy to read. They usually avoid long sentences and complex language structures. By reading this newspaper, you will not only learn the Norwegian language but also learn a lot about what’s happening in Norway and the Norwegian society in general.

3. Watch some awesome Norwegian movies

What else can be better than learning Norwegian and having fun at the same time? To start with, watch the Norwegian film with subtitles. Although you will be paying more attention to the subtitles than listening to the Norwegian dialogues, your brain will be indirectly registering the sounds and connecting them with the text.

Here are a few movies we recommend:

• Hodejegerne  (Crime, Drama, Thriller)
• Max Manus  (Action, Biography, Drama)
• Fritt vilt  (Horror, Thriller)
• Kon-Tiki  (Adventure, History)
• Bølgen (Drama, Thriller)
• Flåklypa Grand Prix (Animation, Comedy)
• Den brysomme mannen (Comey, Drama, Fantasy)

4. Find a language partner

If you really want to boost your Norwegian skills, find someone to learn together with. Having a companion who has the same goals can significantly enhance your Norwegian learning experience. You can help each other with learning difficult words, explaining complex grammatical concepts and motivating each other. You will keep each other accountable and on the track. There are possibilities to find language partners online, for example Italki has a database where you can find a language partner.

5. Write in Norwegian for 5 minutes every day

Set aside five minutes every evening for writing in Norwegian. You can write about the things that have happened that day or what you have done,  goals you have achieved and if there is anything you could do better. Write something about your plan for the next day or anything else you would like. Journaling is beneficial for your personal development, and you can use it to learn Norwegian as well.
You can either buy a nice notebook if you like to write with pen and paper or use Evernote if you want the journal to be accessible on your mobile phone and computer.

This habit will have a massive impact on your Norwegian learning progress. Consistency is crucial here – try to write in your journal every day. If you have difficulties with some words, look them up or write them in English and later you can look up their Norwegian equivalents in a dictionary. Writing your journal in Norwegian will force you to think in Norwegian, and your vocabulary will increase rapidly. Make it a daily routine. Make it a part of your ritual.

6. Watch the news or listen to the Norwegian radio

When you have already built a decent size of vocabulary, watching or listening news and current affairs programs will boost your Norwegian language skills rapidly. At the same time, you will get to know what’s happening in Norway. You will be able to participate in break time discussions at your workplace instead of just nodding your head and pretending like you understand everything when your Norwegian colleagues talk about Carl I. Hagen ’s place in the Nobel Committee or Hareide’s flirting with the left.

7. Think in Norwegian for one minute every day

To think in the Norwegian language is probably your ultimate goal. Until you become so accustomed to using Norwegian, try to intentionally think in Norwegian for at least a minute every day. You can make it a morning routine while you are planning your day or do it every evening and re-imagine the events of your day in Norwegian.

8. Find a hobby and join the locals

Join a photography group or a Salsa dance club. Meeting Norwegians with common interests will provide you with unlimited opportunities to speak Norwegian with locals. Check out Meetup.com to find a local group with your hobbies. Are you living abroad? Then you may join online communities on Facebook, participate in forums or webinars in Norwegian. This way you will connect with native speakers and learn something new at the same time!

9. Join a language exchange or start your own

Language cafes are events where people meet to help each other with different languages. In Oslo, there are several language cafes with different concepts. Some events are only for people who are learning Norwegian so that they can speak with each other and practice. You will also find language exchange events where people practice several languages.
A quick search for “Norwegian language cafe” or “Language exchange” will point you in the right direction. If you don’t find any language café in your city, why not start your own? Create an event on Facebook or Meetup and share it in the groups of Norwegian learners.

Here are a few language exchange events in Oslo:

• Language Café at cafe Asylet
• Mundo Lingo Oslo
• Language café in a library

10. Re-read your favorite book in Norwegian

Do you have a favorite book? Either you love reading novels or enjoy reading non-fiction books, chances are that you will find a translation in Norwegian. If you have already read a book in English or in your native language, reading it in Norwegian will not be that difficult. It will be challenging to understand everything but because you are already familiar with the concept of the book, focusing on the vocabulary and sentence structure wouldn’t be that hard.

11. Mimic the people around you

This may sound silly but just try it, and you will see how fun it can be. Are you taking a tram, walking in the street, or just enjoying your coffee in a busy Espresso House, try to listen to what Norwegians are talking about. Repeat interesting words and expressions in your mind, if not aloud, or note them down. It will help you to learn the spoken language.

12. Record yourself

While practicing Norwegian pronunciation, take your mobile phone and record yourself. Listen and match your sound with the original Norwegian sounds and repeat until you nail it.

13. Speak Norwegian even if you think you can’t

One of the biggest mistakes language learners do is to strive for perfection. Learning a language is a gradual process. Start speaking Norwegian even if you think you know very little. If you know the basic vocabulary and can make simple sentences, you are ready. Start using the Norwegian language as much as you can when you talk to someone or write something.
Do not switch to English each time when you struggle to understand someone. Next time you need help finding something in a grocery shop, stick to speaking Norwegian. Speak Norwegian with your hairdresser, your neighbor, and your colleagues. Using language is the only way to learn it fast.

14. Take an online Norwegian course

If you want to learn Norwegian fast, consider taking an online course. It is not impossible to learn Norwegian without taking any classes, but it will be a slow process. An online Norwegian course gives you a structured learning environment and a clearly defined progression path.
Online Norwegian courses are much more flexible and affordable than traditional classroom Norwegian courses. The most significant advantage is flexibility. You can choose when do you want to attend the Norwegian lessons and how much time do you want to spend. You can take Norwegian lessons from home or use your commuting time for practicing vocabulary or taking quizzes. The lessons are available no matter where you are. Check out our online Norwegian courses here.

15. Make Norwegian a part of your routine. Make it a lifestyle.

If you are working hard to learn Norwegian fast, it can, at times, feel like a chore. There will be days when you will want to log off of your online Norwegian course, put your books away, and instead binge-watch your favorite sitcom on Netflix.
Learning Norwegian intensively takes a lot of effort and can be tiring. So, try to think about learning Norwegian as something that is a part of your daily life rather than something you have to find time for. Make it a part of your routine.

Here is how you can make Norwegian a part of your routine:

• You probably watch a little TV every day. Do it in Norwegian instead. Change your channel to NRK.
• Hang out with Norwegians. Talk Norwegian even if you think you can’t.
• Attend non-language classes delivered in Norwegian. Learn yoga, swimming, drawing, dancing, or whatever you like, in the Norwegian language.
• Go to language cafes, language exchange clubs. Help others learn your language and let them help you with Norwegian.
• Listen to Norwegian audiobooks and radio channels.

This might sound like a lot of work, but the trick is to switch the activities you do anyway, with their equivalents in Norwegian. If you do it for a couple of months, you will get used to it, and it will start feeling like your normal routine. The extra exposure to the Norwegian language will add up and help you get used to using Norwegian all the time.

Would you add any other tips to this list? Share them with us in the comments below.