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Introduction to Norwegian

Learn to speak, write and understand basic Norwegian, with this free, four-week, introductory foreign language course.

107,547 enrolled on this course

  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    5 hours

Are you planning on going to Norway to study, travel or work? Are you interested in Norwegian culture? Are you looking for the key to the Scandinavian Model? Or a troll to marry?

This free online course will give you the basic language skills needed to make new friends and cope with everyday situations, as well as being a stepping stone for a further exploration into Norwegian language, society and culture.

Get an introduction to Norwegian language

This four week course will give you an introduction to Norwegian, a language spoken by about 5 million people. You will learn basic language and grammar through active learning. After completing this course, you will be able to participate in everyday conversations.

Explore Norwegian culture and society

You will also discover more about the culture of Norway - what daily life looks like, what food is enjoyed there, what are the cultural and social norms in this fascinating country.

Learn from experts in Norwegian

The University of Oslo is well practiced at teaching and inspiring a love of Norwegian language and culture. There has even been created an interactive chatbot for you to have conversations with - so you can practice your Norwegian easily.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 5 seconds Welcome to the University of Oslo and our course, Introduction to Norwegian. Hi. How nice to meet you here. How are you? Thanks, but not as well as you do. Just fine, thanks. We offer you four exciting weeks of active learning. You already speak Norwegian very well. Thanks, but not as well as you do. You speak totally perfect. Where you will get to know a group of international students. How do we get tickets for the concert? How do we get tickets for the concert? We buy them at the door. Thats no problem. And participate in their everyday life. See you at the University on Monday? Yes, we have to do that. Ill write on Facebook when Ill be there. Great! Bye!

Skip to 0 minutes and 42 seconds And, of course, learn basic Norwegian language. Then we need something red. Paprika is fine. That sounds like a good idea. Is there room for a film crew too? Well make room. A film crew gives us extra status.

Skip to 1 minute and 0 seconds Maybe we should remove the tables and chairs? I’m sure someone would like to dance. I can help you with the tables and chairs.

Skip to 1 minute and 14 seconds We hope to see you soon.

What topics will you cover?

  • Norwegian phonetics
  • Basic Norwegian grammar
  • How to greet and present oneself
  • Shopping
  • Leisure time
  • Expressing needs, feelings and assessments.

When would you like to start?

  • Date to be announced

Add to Wishlist to be emailed when new dates are announced

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Engage in basic conversations about study situations, work, holidays and leisure
  • Describe everyday activities like buying food, going to concerts, meeting friends, going to the gym and using public transport
  • Apply basic rules of Norwegian grammar and pronunciation covered in the course

Who is the course for?

There are no special requirements for this course. However you need to enable the Norwegian characters Æ, Ø and Å on your computer or mobile phone.

Who will you learn with?

I am a lecturer of Norwegian language and literature for international students at The University of Oslo. To me, language and literature are keys to understanding ourselves and the world we live in.

Teaching Norwegian is fun! As a lecturer of Norwegian for international students at UiO, I really enjoy helping my students discover their passion for both the Norwegian language and culture.

Roger has taught Norwegian for international students at the University of Oslo since 1987 and is a knowledgeable and experienced teacher with ambitious ideas for the subject and this MOOC!

Who developed the course?

University of Oslo

Founded in 1811, the University of Oslo (UiO) is the highest ranked institution of education and research in Norway.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

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