“I started learning Swedish at Radboud in'to Languages in 2021. This was during the pandemic and, like most people, I was bored to tears. A language course seemed like a fun way to keep busy. Besides, it allowed me to meet new people, if only online.
Swedish was a fairly arbitrary choice, to be honest. I didn't have much connection with Sweden and I hadn't been there since 2012. However, my father and sister had taken courses in Swedish in the past, and they found it a beautiful language, so I decided to learn it too. The choice for Radboud in'to Languages, on the other hand, was quite deliberate. I'd previously completed English and German courses there, and I'd really enjoyed them.”
Surprising pronunciation
“I started at the lowest level (Halfway to A1) and soon found out that Swedish was a great language to learn for me as a Dutchman. The grammar is relatively simple and many words are similar to their German, Dutch, or English counterparts. The pronunciation did take some getting used to. In one of the first classes, I discovered that the word ‘sjuksköterska’ (nurse) was pronounced completely differently than you would think.
As the classes progressed, we talked more and more in Swedish, and I started to feel less awkward. The group also changed with each course, as previous participants dropped out (e.g. because they moved to Sweden) and new people joined in. The only constant factor was our kind and patient teacher Els, who was willing to repeat 'sjuksköterska' to us 27 times if needed.”
From online to in-person classes
“After the COVID-19 measures were lifted, we could once again attend in-person classes on the Nijmegen campus. It was great to see our classmates in real life after over a year of online classes. Later courses involved a combination of three in-person classes and five online meetings, which I really liked. It made it easier to combine classes with a busy job.
I just kept signing up for a new course because I really wanted to master the language. I’m now at C1 level, with C2 being the highest. Although speaking is still my weak point (also in other languages), I hardly ever have to say anything in Dutch during class. My classmates and I read Swedish books, watch Swedish films, and we have given presentations in Swedish several times now.
Meanwhile, Sweden itself is also in my heart, although I still haven't been back there. So if anyone knows a nice destination...”