Topic outline

  • General

    • This course is an intensive language course and you will learn Swedish by actually using it. Swedish is one of the Scandinavian languages. The course aims to introduce the fundamentals of the grammar and a basic working vocabulary of Swedish, and to give extensive practice in reading, writing, listening and speaking, so that by the end of the course you will be able to communicate at European language level A1. You will learn to interact in both dialogues and written language, and will also get some cultural insight.

      By learning Swedish you acquire a new language, but maybe also a new way of thinking, and an interesting twist to your CV.

      The course ME33SW joins the course SN1003 Swedish 1 in week 7 (note 2020 will be week 5), when the medical students will be welcomed and integrated in the course. Since the other students will have already worked with the course in the first 6 weeks, it is important that the medical students, who join in later, are prepared to catch up. Help to do so will be given. Please contact the course coordinator well before the course starts in order to discuss this.

      Course Coordinator: Anna Bokedal a.bokedal@abdn.ac.uk

  • What skills does the course develop?

      • The ability to understand the gist of authentic spoken and written Swedish
      • The ability to speak and write about familiar topics with a degree of accuracy and fluency
      • The ability to manipulate common Swedish verbs appropriately in some of the major spoken tenses.
      • The ability to formulate and manipulate basic sentences
      • The ability to cope fluently and accurately in Swedish in a variety of simulated situations
      • The ability to analyse and reflect on language, acquire the habits of autonomous learning; make appropriate use of language learning technology; acquire and apply language learning strategies

  • What will the timetable be like?

    • The timetable will consist of a mixture of large or small group classes. Pre-Covid, there were four classes each week. Apart from the time-tables classes, you will need to set time aside for individual study.  

      Teaching in this course is interactive and you will learn to communicate in a friendly environment by practising to listen, speak, read and write (and why not sing?) and also get some cultural insight.  

      All time-tabled classes are compulsory.

  • How will I be assessed?

    • Group presentation, in English (15%)

      Regular quizzes (25%)

      Two homework papers (2x30%)

       

  • What did previous students think of the course?

    • "The teaching was very clear and well taught. The level of the course is very appropriate for first time learners and at any time if we needed help; it was given."

      “I liked how interactive it was.” 

      “Teaching was superb.” 

      “I've always loved languages and it was nice to learn something completely new and different.” 

      “Lots of extra resources. Course lecturer was very engaging and helpful with any questions.” 

      “The assessments were all really fair and well laid out” 

      Student view 20-21


  • Are there any prerequisites?

    • This course is designed for beginners to Swedish and is not available to native speakers.

      Previous language learning ability will be required. Please contact the course-coordinator well before the start of the course (mandatory).

      What books will I need?

      Paula Levy Scherrer and Karl Lindemalm: Rivstart A1+A2 Textbok, 2nd edition, Natur & Kultur

      Optional: The "övningsbok" (exercise book) in the same series.

      The course material is available for purchase in Blackwells as well as in online bookstores. There are also a number of copies in the SDR Library.


  • Useful links