Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an!

"itte #ristensen
Norwegian guide: How to learn Norwegian!
The Only Guide You Need For Learning Norwegian!
1 Welcome
2 The Language
!"e#ul $e"ource"
% Norwegian art& #ilm"& and mu"ic
' Hint" #or learning a language #a"t and ea"y
( General )n#ormation& article" etc*
About the authors:
Nicola: $ was 1% &ears ol! when $ wrote the gui!e 'or the 'irst time, now $(m almost 20.
$ !eci!e! to ma)e a big u*!ate with a lot o' new in'ormations, so it will be o) 'or an
another &ear $ guess.
+he structure is the same, $(ve ,ust e!ite! the cha*ters a!!ing an! removing things.
$ also re*lace! non wor)ing lin)s
$ come 'rom -ome, $tal&. $ love Norwegian lac) .etal music (an! /can!inavian music in
general) an! rea!ing boo)s.
$ li)e to learn about new cultures an! languages.
$ can s*ea) $talian an! 0nglish, an! $ un!erstan! /*anish an! Norwegian *rett& much.
$(m currentl& stu!&ing in -ome.
1
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
"itte: $ am a *ro'essional teacher, in 0nglish, Norwegian an! +heolog&. $ have also stu!ie!
*e!agog&, *e!agogical entre*reneurshi* an! motivational *s&cholog&. $ have man& &ears o'
e1*erience in teaching )i!s, teens an! a!ult immigrants. $ )now the s&stem an! the tests
&ou nee! to *ass in or!er to be 2uali'ie! 'or e!ucation or wor) in Norwa&. $ have been a
teacher an! a!ministrator 'or a course aime! at immigrants in Norwa&3 teaching motiva4
tion, Norwegian language, social stu!ies, wor) li'e in Norwa&, cultural !i''erences an! com4
munication. $ also hel* stu!ents as a career coach, hel*ing them ma)e a *lan an! giving a!4
vise with )nowle!ge o' the Norwegian e!ucational s&stem an! wor) s&stem.
$ o''er in'ormation about learning Norwegian language an! how to start a li'e in Norwa&
through e!ucation or wor).
1 + Welcome
5ei alle sammen6
$' &ou(re rea!ing this, it *robabl& means that &ou(re intereste! in Norwegian language an! Norwegian
culture.
$n this !ocument, &ou(ll 'in! some use'ul things such as multime!ia 'iles, in'ormations about norwa&, hints
an! so on.
0n,o&6
2 + The Language
Norwegian is a North "ermanic language s*o)en *rimaril& in Norwa&, where it7s the o''icial language.
+ogether with /we!ish an! Danish, Norwegian 'orms a continuum o' more or less mutuall& intelligible local
an! regional variants.
+hese /can!inavian languages together with the 8aroese language an! $celan!ic language, as well as some
e1tinct languages, constitute the North "ermanic languages (also calle! /can!inavian languages). 8aroese
an! $celan!ic are har!l& mutuall& intelligible with Norwegian in their s*o)en 'orm, because continental
/can!inavian has !iverge! 'rom them.
As establishe! b& law an! governmental *olic&, there are two o''icial 'orms o' written Norwegian 9 o)m:l
(literall& ;boo) tongue;) an! N&nors) (literall& ;new Norwegian;).
2
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
+here is no o''iciall& sanctione! stan!ar! o' s*o)en Norwegian, an! most Norwegians s*ea) their own
!ialect in all circumstances.
Norwegians are e!ucate! in both o)m:l an! N&nors). A 200< *oll in!icates that %=.3> use *rimaril&
o)m:l as their !ail& written language, <.<> use both o)m:l an! N&nors), an! ?.<> use *rimaril&
N&nors).
8ull language histor&: htt*:@@en.wi)i*e!ia.org@wi)i@NorwegianAlanguage
$n'ormation about the !i''erent levels an! their content in language learning:
htt*:@@www.*earsonlongman.com@ae@ce'@ce'gui!e.*!'
About Norwa&(s national !a&:
htt*:@@www.visitnorwa&.com@u)@About4Norwa&@5istor&@Norwa&s4national4!a&@
+ra!itional Bostumes:
htt*:@@www.norwa&4hei.com@norwegian4national4costumes.html
2*1 + The ,l-ha.et
$n the Norwegian al*habet there are 3 !anish letters: ; C, D an! E ;.
$ call them ; the 3 weir! letters;.
some Norwegian *eo*le are so imaginative an! some gu&s !eci!e! to ma)e a song about these letters, so
'oreign *eo*le can learn them easl&.
+his is the lin) to the song: htt*:@@www.&outube.com@watchFvG'H%%uIAJgmw
+here are other resources 'or learn them, but we(ll tal) about that in the cha*ter ;-esources;6
3
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
2*2 + The /ialect"
/o gu&s, li)e in ever& countr& in the worl! there are !ialects in Norwa& too.
+his vi!eo e1*lains the !ialects: htt*s:@@www.&outube.com@watchFvGs5mKo3bDLBKM'eatureGrelate!
$t sa&s about bo)m:l, n&nors) an! it shows &ou some e1am*les about how *eo*le sa&s wor!s in the north
or in the south.
8or instance, in the west the& sa& ;0g; instea! o' ;Ieg; an! in the north the& use ;Cg;.
$n this website: htt*:@@www.ling.h'.ntnu.no@nos@Flist &ou(ll 'in! multime!ia 'iles an! &ou can hear about
their accent while the& tal).
+here are sections, so i' &ou want to hear someone 'rom bergen tal)ing, clic) on ergen an! then on the
s*ea)er icon, i' &ou want to ear someone 'rom +romsN, !o the same with it.
+ $e"ource"
$n this cha*ter $(ll tr& to show &ou man& wa&s about how to learn the language 'aster with the hel* o' &our
com*uter an! some *c4*rograms li)e An)i.
$' &ou(ll combine these elements together, &ou(ll learn a lot in a short time6
*1 + $e"ource" #or your "mart-hone
/o, there are man& a**s &ou can 'in! use'ul.
$ have <0 languages an! it(s 2uite goo!.
Oou choose the language &ou want to learn, an! then the language &ou s*ea).
+here are a lot o' lessons, an! it translates new wor!s &ou !on(t )now in &our
language.
"oo! things: eas& to use, it(s base! on 'lashcar!s so it(s easier to remember things
a! things: there(re onl& 30@100 'ree lessons, 'or the entire a** &ou have to *a& 3
!ollars.
+here is An)i 'or &our smart*hone too, but $(ll tell &ou about it wor)s later 6 $t(s m& 'avorite a**, it(s
o*ensource, so it(s 'ree6 an! &ou can s&nchroniPe it with &our *c.
H
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
*2 + $e"ource" #or your -c
5ere we are 6
+his cha*ter is about resources 'or learn norwegian at home with &our *c6
Qe have man& *ower'ul instruments an! we have the net.
$t(s eas& to sta& in touch with the others, an! there are websites that will hel* &ou on &our *ath.
$ thin) that the most im*ortant thing is to have a !ictionar&.
+hat(s the 'irst thing &ou(! bu& in a 'oreign lan!6
Qe can use it in man& wa&s: 'or un!erstan! a wor!, or 'or )now the gen!er o' the wor!.
8or e1am*le, &ou hear the wor! ;/lott;. $t(s a castle, but &ou !on(t )now i' it(s ;0t /lott; or ;0n /lott;.
+he !ictionar& will hel* &ou in that too.
+hat(s a goo! one: htt*:@@www.nob4or!bo).uio.no@*erl@or!bo).cgiFRSSMbo)maalGT
4 List o' the other !ictionaries:
htt*:@@www.nors)engels)or!bo).com@en@!ictionar&4norwegian4english
htt*:@@www.tritrans.net@in!e1no.html (0nglish, Norwegian, /*anish)
htt*:@@www.or!bo).com@nors)4engels).html
htt*:@@translate.google.no@
htt*:@@www.'ree!ict.com@onl!ict@nor.html
htt*:@@or!bo)2H.nu@nors)4engels)4or!bo).html
<
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
Rn the site o' the N+NK (+he Norwegian Kniversit& R' +ron!heim), there(s a webcourse with au!io 'iles,
grammar lessons, some 2uiP about what &ou(ve learne! an! so on.
Oou(ll 'in! it a great resource6
htt*:@@www.ntnu.e!u@now
$ )now that an another *roblem is: ;5m, !i! $ write it rightFU an!U $s this wrongF an! UDo *eo*le thin) $(m
stu*i!F;
+hat(s not a real *roblem. Oou(ll learn with the time, an! Norwegian *eo*le will un!erstan! 'or sure 6
+r& to thin) at someone that is learning &our language, i' he@she ma)es mista)es &ou(ll be ha**& an&wa&
cause he@she tr& to !o it 6
/ometimes &ou can as) to a native i' &our *hrase is right, but when there(s no one &ou can use a grammar
chec)er.
htt*:@@reg!ili.i!i.ntnu.no:%0%0@stu!entAce@*arse
$t will tell &ou i' the grammar structure o' &our *hrase is right.
$' &ou(re 'ocusing on the *ronunciation, &ou can !ownloa! au!io 'iles o' s*o)en Norwegian language here:
htt*:@@www.goethe4verlag.com@boo)2@NR@in!e1.htm
Oou can choose 'iles 'rom Norwegian language, to &our native language (it sa&s the wor!s or the *hrases in
Norwegian, an! then in &our language or the language that &ou selecte!).
Sress 2 'or !ownloa! the au!io 'iles at normal s*ee!, *ress 1 'or !ownloa! the au!io 'iles at re!uce!
s*ee!.
Qhat are other things that hel*s &ou to learn 'asterF
$ thin) e1ercise is a goo! thing. $(ve learne! so much tal)ing with *eo*le. Oou can tal) while &ou(re stu!&ing,
!on(t wait until &ou(ll be reall& goo!. Oou(ll never be goo! i' &ou !on(t s*ea) with *eo*le in their language,
but we will tal) about these things later in the cha*ter ;5ints 'or learning a language 'ast an! eas&;
+rust me6 3)
$ !i!n(t tell &ou that without a reason an&wa&, cause $ wante! to intro!uce some goo! websites in which
&ou can meet Norwegian *eo*le (an! *eo*le 'rom all aroun! the worl! 'or sure, but this gui!e is 'or
learning Norwegian) an! &ou can tal) with them.
*2*1 0 )nter-al"
$ 'oun! $nter*als a goo! one. .& brother tol! me about it.
$t(s li)e a social networ), but it(s base! on the 'act that &ou can meet *eo*le 'rom
another nations an! tal) to them about culture, languages an! so on.
Oou can !o researches 'or countries, languages an! so on.
+here are a lot o' *eo*le there, an! there(s a *ublic chat as well.
htt*:@@www.inter*als.net@
=
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
*2*2 0 Li1emocha
Livemocha it(s goo! 'or starting with the language cause there are langauge courses.
Kn'ortunatel& the& remove! Norwegian courses.
ut it was u*!ate! ,ust a 'ew months ago, Norwegian courses will come bac) *robabl&
An another goo! resource is a *ersonal blog.
Oou can !o e1ercise there, an! &ou can as) to native Norwegians to chec) i' &ou wrote goo!.
R*en a blog a'ter a 'ew months &ou starte! to learn the language, so &ou can write something that has a
meaning eheh
$ have a Norwegian blog with wor!*ress (which is the best in m& o*inion), but there are another 'ree
services 'or that li)e blogger or blogg.no
*2* + ,n2i
An)i will be &our biggest 'rien!, but what is An)iF
An)i is a 'lashcar! s&stem.
Oou can install it on &our SB, tablet an! smart*hone an! setu* an An)iweb account an! s&ncroniPe &our
'lashcar!s between !evices.
Also, there are *ublic 'lashcar!s ma!e available that &ou can !ownloa! an! &es, there are Norwegian ones6
/ome even inclu!e Au!io trac)s6
ut how !oes it wor)sF An! wh& woul! it be so use'ulF
An)i is base! on the s*ace! memor& s&stem.
$n theor&, it hel*s &ou learn hun!re!s o' wor!s ever& wee), but howF
+he s*ace! memor& s&stem was !iscovere! b& a "erman scientist.
$t(s base! on the 'act that i' &ou stu!& 30 *ages, &ou(ll 'orget them a'ter a !a&, but i' &ou stu!& them again
a'ter a !a&, &ou(ll remember them 'or 3 !a&s, an! i' &ou !o it again 'or 10 !a&s, an! so on.
?
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
+he com'ortable thing is that there are alrea!& Norwegian !ec)s, so the onl& thing &ou have to !o, is to
stu!& < minutes ever& !a&, an! &ou(ll learn 1<0 wor!s ever& wee), without 'orgetting them a'ter a short
time.
+here are a 'ew secrets too while &ou(re stu!&ing, but we(ll tal) about them in the 'i'th cha*ter.
Qell, a'ter &ou o*ene! it &ou(ll have a !ec) with a lot o' wor!s an! verbs to learn.
Oou can choose how much wor!s &ou want to learn ever&!a&. 20 is o) ($t(s the !e'ault choice).
Oour 'irst wor! will a**ear, 'or e1am*le ;5i;.
Oou have to )now how to sa& ;5i; in Norwegian.
Do &ou )now itF $ guess &ou !on(t )now it cause it(s the 'irst time &ou see it, so choose ;/how answer;.
+he answer is ;5ei;, but &ou !i!n(t )now it, so select ;$ !on(t )now it, show me again in a 'ew minutes;.
+here are H choices: ;as) me again in a 'ew minutes;, ;as) me tomorrow;, ;as) me in H !a&s;, ;as) me in ?
!a&s;.
A'ter a 'ew minutes &ou(ll *robabl& remember how to sa& ;hi; in Norwegian, but i' &ou(re not sure cause it7s
a !i''icult wor! &ou can tell him:
;As) me tomorrow;.
An! the !a& a'ter : VAs) me in a wee)U, VAs) me in a monthU an! so on.
-emember to stu!& ever& !a&, it7s im*ortant6
Oou can stu!& in the bus too on &our smart*hone an! then s&nchroniPe the !ec)s6
htt*:@@an)isrs.net@
+he most use'ul !ec) &ou7ll 'in! is calle! V Nors))urs V, an! there7s an another !ec) with a lot o' verbs.
+he&7re all im*ortant an&wa&, an! &ou7ll learn a lot in a 'ew time.
$' &ou want to watch something on &outube, there7s an user that *osts a lot o' use'ul vi!eos:
htt*s:@@www.&outube.com@user@Briene1P&
*2*% 0 3oo2"
Oou7ll *robabl& nee! a boo) to stu!& the grammar 6
Oou can7t learn so much about it without stu!&ing all the rules.
+he most use'ul in m& o*inion is: -outle!ge Norwegian 9 An 0ssential "rammar. ($ can7t give &ou an&
!ownloa! lin)s cause it7s *rotecte! b& co*&right, but i' &ou7re a *irate &ou7ll *robabl& 'in! it b& &oursel' on
the net 3) )
+here are other boo)s !ivi!e! in lessons li)e UN& i norgeU, U+each &oursel' NorwegianU , US: veiU an! so on,
but the&7re useless i' &ou learn the wor!s in other wa&s.
%
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
+he boo) $ mentione! be'ore has not sections where it tells &ou names o' the animals li)e other boo)s, but
&ou can learn them 'aster with other wa&s than stu!&ing a 'rom boo).
$' &ou want to rea! be'ore the basics than a com*lete boo), rea! this 'ile.
htt*:@@www.sen!s*ace.com@'ile@w3guh=
+here7s a 'ile calle! UlearnnorwegianAenU that &ou have to rea! i' &ou7re starting now.
$t tells &ou the most basic rules about grammar, an! there are some e1ercises.
N: $' &ou(re not constantl& using An)i, &ou shoul! consi!er using Vn& i norgeU or V*: veiU.
.ost *eo*le in the grou* use V*: veiU tough.
+he websites o' the two most im*ortant *ublishers are:
htt*:@@www.'agog)ultur.no@ (;N& i Norge, ;NN)ler til Norge;, ;Liv og levnet;)
htt*:@@www.ca**elen.no@ (;S: vei;, ;/tein *: stein;, ;5er *: berget;)
*2*' 0 ,rtige
$n the last two &ears $ saw a lot o' memes surroun!ing the net.
+here7s a website, $ thin) it was create! in 2012 but $7m not sure, that inclu!es memes an! 'unn& *hotos.
.ost o' them are in Norwegian, so &ou can translate them an! got 'unn&.
Oou won7t un!erstan! a 'ew o' them, but it will be o).
Oou can as) in the grou* i' &ou want to un!erstan! a *articular ,o)e.
$t7s calle! artige.no
L
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
% + Norwegian art& #ilm"& and mu"ic
%*1 + 4u"ic
Norwa& is a 'amous countr& 'or its e1treme music.
lac) metal is a Norwegian )in! o' music.
8amous artists are: urPum, .a&hem, Dar)throne, $mmortal, 0m*eror, an! Klver.
/ome became 'amous worl!wi!e than)s to the television an! the news*a*ers.
Aroun! the L0s, Norwegian re*ortes tal)e! a lot about their acts li)e burning o' churces, suici!es,
homici!es etc.
& the wa&, here(s a lin) to the Norwegian ra!io:
htt*:@@tunein.com@ra!io@Norwa&4r1003L2@
%*2 0 Film" and t1
+here aren7t a lot o' Norwegian movies, but the&7re goo!6
$ watche! them with subtitles ( htt*:@@www.subtitlesee)er.com )
$ saw UDN! /nNU a 'ew !a&s ago.
$t was ma!e in the north o' Norwa&, but &ou shoul!n(t watch it i' &ou7re scare! b& Pombies an! guts.
$ li)e! U/o'ies Wer!enU as well, but it coul! be a little boring i' &ou7re not intereste! in *hiloso*h&.
$ 'oun! it a little similar to VAmelieU (the 'rench 'ilm).
$ love! U0llingU, $ 'oun! it ver& hilarious.
5ere(s a list with all the movies: htt*:@@en.wi)i*e!ia.org@wi)i@ListAo'ANorwegianA'ilms
$' &ou want to watch their tv shows this is the lin): htt*:@@tv.nr).no@*rogrammer@utlan!
there(s also a channel calle! nr) su*er ma!e 'or chil!ren, &ou shoul! un!erstan! better:
htt*:@@tv.nr)su*er.no@utlan!
Oou shoul! watch U$ )vel! me! OlvisU, &ou(ll s*en! a goo! time.
+he&(re a comic !uo. Oou can 'in! some es*iso!es on &outube.
1
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
%* 0 Norwegian ,rt
Norwa& alwa&s ha! goo! *ainters6
0!var! .unch is Norwegian an! U+he /creamU is *robabl& his most 'amous *aint.
$ love +heo!or #ittelsen too an! his *aintings about m&tholog& are awesome.
1
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
' + Hint" #or learning a language #a"t and ea"y!
'*1 0 4oti1ation
Qh& are &ou learning this languageF
Loo) at the reasons, each one o' these reasons are vague, an! with no s*eci'ic (or a ver& !istant) time limit.
A goo! hint $ can give to &ou, is to aim 'or little goals.
A 'ew !a&s ago $ wrote on m& blog about m& last summer hol&!a&s.
$7ve learne! how to sa& UbeachU,U seaU an! so much other wor!s.
Ne1t time $ thin) $7! write about music, so $7ll learn another wor!s, an! ste* b& ste* $ will un!erstan! i' $7m
getting better.
Qithout these goals &ou won7t un!erstan! what are &ou !oing, an! &ou7ll lose &our time.
.ini4goals are one o' the most im*ortant things6
-emeber that there aren7t eas& or !i''icult languages, ever& language has it7s own characteristics li)e the
gen!ers o' the names. Oou have to thin) that &ou7re not learning a !i''icult language, because it woul! be
an e1cuse 'or &our 'ailure.
UQhether &ou thin) &ou can or &ou thin) &ou can7t, &ou7re right 4 5enr& 8or!U
8ocus on the *ositive6
-emember that there are a some *eo*le who learne! a lot o' languages at home, an! the&7re not genius,
the&7re smart6 3)
'*2 + )mage a""ociation
+here are two 'un techni2ues $ li)e to a**l& when $ come across new wor!s or *hrases. oth o'
them hel* in *ro!ucing the wor!s 9 which is wa& more im*ortant than sim*l& recognising the
wor!s. $t(s un'ortunate, but *eo*le who learn vocabular& uni!irectionall& will ten! to be 2uite
!isa**ointe! when the& nee! to s*ea) an! can(t remember how to sa& what the& woul! in!ee!
recognise.
+hese techni2ues are more en,o&able, an! a'ter &ou get use! to them the& onl& ta)e a cou*le o'
secon!s (or even less) *er term to learn. Luc)il&, an& recall techni2ue, even boring re*etition
learning, can hel* the wor! be burne! into memor& i' &ou actuall& use it a cou*le o' times, in the
right conte1t, in a natural conversation. +he 'irst 'ew times &ou will *ause a moment (!on(t 'orget
to ma)e the *ause more interesting than Vum...U6) to remember the association, but then the wor!
comes naturall& to &ou an! &ou can aban!on the association entirel&. Oou sim*l& )now the wor!.
/o these strategies are actuall& tem*orar& means to bring &ou to this instant recall 2uic)er.
+he 'irst one is image association. Oou have to ta)e the wor! &ou nee! to remember an! ma)e an
imaginative association with its translation in &our min!. +his shoul! alwa&s be as imaginative, colour'ul,
'unn& an! ri!iculous as *ossible. /im*l& imagining the two ob,ects basicall& interacting is not enough
because that(s eas& to 'orget. +he stranger the stor&, the better.
$(ll give &ou one o' m& 'avourite e1am*les, a**lie! to the 8rench UgareU mentione! above. 5ere(s
the stor& $ ma!e u*:
+here is no wor! in 0nglish (at least that $ )now o') that soun!s almost the same as UgarU (with an
UahU, not Ua&U soun!) so thin)ing 'or a moment, the closest $ coul! come u* with was "ar'iel!, a
*o*ular comic stri* (an! cartoon an! even movie) o' a 'at, laP&, an! sarcastic orange cat (that
tal)s, o' course). $ also thought o' a ver& s*eci'ic train station that $ use! in m& cit& a cou*le o' times.
1
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
$t is im*ortant 'rom the ver& beginning to ma)e ever&thing colour'ul an! 'ull o' !etails an!
movement. $ imagine! the *eo*le rushing through the station, un!er where the timetable can be
'oun!, the *lat'orm $ usuall& went to, an! the machine $ woul! bu& the tic)ets 'rom. /u!!enl&,
there is a big 'at orange cat, in ver& cartoon& colours3 not &our t&*ical tabb& cat, but "ar'iel!
himsel' with his tra!emar) snea)& grin.
ut he isn7t ,ust sitting in the train station (that woul! be ver& eas& to 'orget). 5e is about to miss
an im*ortant train !irectl& to .ilan 'or a Lasagna4eating com*etition6 5e has his suitcases an!
sunglasses with him, since he is going on holi!a&, o' course, an! he is *u''ing 'ranticall& as he
runs aroun! tr&ing to 'igure out which *lat'orm his train is going to leave 'rom.
$t7s 2uite 'unn& that this 'at cat has to actuall& run 'or the 'irst time in his li'e. +he train is *ulling out o' the
*lat'orm but he !ashes a'ter it, throws his suitcase on the bac) com*artment, *ounces onX an!
ma)es it ,ust in time6
Qith this image, whenever $ *icture a train station $ will alwa&s see this ri!iculous stor& o' "ar'iel!
running through it an! that will hel* me remember to sa& UgareU.
Bonversel&, seeing UgareU an! imme!iatel& recognising the similarit& with "ar'iel! that $ assigne! it, means
that $ will see "ar'iel! in a train station. +he recall *rocess ta)es less than a secon! an! barel& slows !own a
nicel& 'lowing conversation.
0ver& association $ ma)e li)e this has *lent& o' ran!om bac)groun! in'ormation to ma)e the stor&
even more !ramatic an! ver& !i''icult to 'orget. $' &ou !i!n(t )now it alrea!&, $ bet i' $ as)e! &ou in
a 'ew wee)s time &ou coul! tell me what the 8rench 'or train station was i' &ou genuinel&
visualise! this stor& &oursel'6 An! o' course i' &ou saw or hear! gare &ou coul! tell me what this
means too 9 the crucial !i''erence is that this is bi!irectional6 +his im*ortant as*ect hel*s a lot in
a conversation, since &ou(ll be able to both un!erstan! the other *erson (as with rote learning
an! lots o' e1*osure in the right conte1t) an! actuall& sa& the wor!s &oursel'.
At the beginning it will ta)e a 'ew time, but in a short time it will become the easiest an! most *ower'ul
thing in the worl!6
'* 0 5hange the world
+urn &our little worl! into Norwegian.
Bhange &our R/ language i' &ou have Kbuntu li)e me, b& the setting
menu@language,
Rr i' &ou have Qin!ows, then change the language o' &our browser, o' &our
'aceboo), o' &our s)&*e etc.
Oou7ll learn a lot in a 'ew !a&s, an! &ou7ll be sur*rise!6 $ e1*erience! it
m&sel'6

An another use'ul ti* is to be care'ul while &ou s*ea) in a 'oreign language.
+r& to re!uce &our accent6 Seo*le will un!erstan! better. Oou have onl& to
)ee* calm an! s*ea).
8or e1am*le, when $ tal) on s)&*e with *eo*le 'rom $celan! or 8inlan!, the&
sa& VbecoshU instea! o' VbecauseU, cause the& have a reall& strong VsU in their
language.
$t coul! be !i''icult to un!erstan! them i' &ou(re not use! to that accent.
1
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
'*% 0 4o"t u"ed word" in all language" !
Qhile &ou s*ea) about !ail& to*ics, &ou use onl& about =.000 wor!s, so i' &ou stu!& the most use! wor!s in
a language, &ou7ll un!erstan! the meaning o' what a *erson is telling &ou, without )nowing so much wor!s.
'*%*1 + The hundred mo"t common word"
1. A,an 23. "oo!4b&e
2. A'ter 2H. 5a**&
3. Again 2<. ($) have
H. All 2=. 5e
<. Almost 2?. 5ello
=. Also 2%. 5ere
?. Alwa&s 2L. 5ow
%. An! 30. 5i
L. ecause 31. ($) Am
10. e'ore 32.$'
11. ig 33. $n
12. ut 3H. ($) #now
13. ($) can 3<. Last
1H. ($) come 3=. ($) Li)e
1<. 0ither@or 3?. Little
1=. ($) 'in! 3%. ($) Love
1?. 8irst 3L. ($) .a)e
1%. 8or H0. .an&
1L. 8rien!
20. 8rom
21. ($) go
22. "oo!
H1. Rne H2. .ore H3. .ost HH. .uch H<. .&
H=. New H?. No H%. Not HL. Now <0. R'
<1. R'ten <2. Rn <3. Rne <H. Rnl& <<. Rr
<=. Rther <?. Rur <%. Rut <L. Rver =0. Seo*le
=1. Slace =2. Slease =3. /ame =H. ($) see =<. /he
==. /o =?. /ome =%. /ometimes =L. /till ?0. /uch
?1. ($) tell ?2. +han) &ou ?3. +hat ?H. +he ?<. +heir
?=. +hem ??. +hen ?%. +here is ?L. +he& %0. +hing
%1. ($) thin) %2. +his %3. +ime %H. +o %<. Kn!er
%=. K* %?. Ks %%. ($) use %L. Wer& L0. Qe
L1. Qhat L2. Qhen L3. Qhere LH. Qhich L<. Qho
L=. Qh& L?. Qith L%. Oes LL. Oou 100. Oour
1
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
( 0 $andom )n#ormation"& ,rticle" etc*
8or *eo*le who wants to )now more about the Norwegian immigration rules an! how to a**l& 'or
resi!ence: htt*:@@www.u!i.no@Norwegian4Directorate4o'4$mmigration@
Documentar& about /*anish immigrants loo)ing 'or wor) in Norwa&.
htt*:@@tv.nr).no@serie@brenn*un)t@m!u*11001012@0241042012
Qhat7s Qeir! About Norwa&: A touch&4'eel& gu&7s view o' a touchless, 'eel4less nation:
htt*s:@@me!ium.com@estimate!4time4o'4arrival@b1a<1c?La3!0
2H Qa&s Qe /houl! All e .ore Li)e /can!inavians:
htt*:@@www.buPP'ee!.com@tabathaleggett@lessons4the4u)4shoul!4learn4'rom4scan!inavia
$' &ou(re &oung &ou coul! li)e to ,oin an au *air e1change *rogram, this is one o' the most 'amous websites
'or that: htt*:@@www.au*air4worl!.co.u)
Oou(ll wor) in a Norwegian 'amil&, an! &ou can learn the language while &ou !o that.
Bhec) the website, there are more !etails there
1< things &ou shoul! )now be'ore moving to Norwa&: htt*:@@sna))ernors).blogs*ot.com.br@2013@11@1<4
things4&ou4shoul!4)now4be'ore4moving.html
/ocial stu!ies (man!ator&) 'or immigrants in Norwa&9 <0 hours, with en!ing e1am
htt*:@@www.sam'unns)unns)a*.no@FlangGno (in !i''erent languages)
htt*:@@www.sam'unns)unns)a*.no@F*ageAi!G1%1MlangGno>204>20Lessons (e1ercises)
All the websites 'or learning Norwegian Rnline:
Learn Norwegian online: Le1el ,1 0 ,2 0 31:
A1 9 A2:
htt*:@@nors)123.ca**elen!amm.no@
htt*:@@www.ntnu.e!u@now
htt*:@@www.'reenorwegianlessons.com@
htt*:@@www.goethe4verlag.com@boo)2@NR@in!e1.htm
htt*:@@www.internet*ol&glot.com@lessons4no4en
htt*:@@www.sur'acelanguages.com@language@Norwegian
htt*:@@www.linguanaut.com@learnAnorwegian.htm
htt*:@@abc.ca**elen!amm.no@
htt*:@@nors)na.*ort'olio.no@
htt*:@@'si4language4courses.org@Bontent.*h*F*ageGNorwegian
A1 9 1: $nteractive language learning
htt*:@@www.ling2.com@
htt*:@@eurotal).com@en@resources@learn@norwegian
1
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
htt*:@@www.norwegianclass101.com@norwegian4*hrases@
htt*:@@m&languages.org@learnAnorwegian.*h*
htt*:@@l*.babbel.com@!@0N"Ain!e1.htmlFl2GNR-
8lash car!s: htt*:@@an)isrs.net@
As $ tol! &ou be'ore $ *re'er to combine An)i, with a grammar boo), with htt*:@@www.ntnu.e!u@now (that
in m& o*inion is the best website 'or stu!&ing Norwegian online).
Oou can chec) the others an&wa&6
Language hi"tory& -honetic"& -ronunciation:
Language 2uestions answere!: htt*:@@www.s*ra)ra!.no@nb4no@/*ra)h,el*@-aa!@/*oersmaalAogAsvar@
htt*:@@www.me!iawor)s4online.com@n'uAenglish.htm 4 Language training so'tware.
htt*:@@www.ethnologue.com@home.as* 4 worl! languages, so'tware, *ublications, etc. Loo) u* Norwegian.
htt*:@@librar&.thin)2uest.org@1%%02@langhist.htm 4rie' histor& o' the Norwegian language (in 0nglish).
htt*:@@www.a'ten*osten.no@e)s*ertene@s*raa)@ 4 Ser 5egge(s !ail& column on language 4 -ea! the
2uestion o' the !a&.
Nor!ic Language council *ro,ect 4 /can!inavian languages
htt*:@@www.nor!is)4s*ra)ra!.no@nsrAinternor!is).htm,
Shonetic *ers*ective s) M ),:
htt*:@@s*ra)ra!.no@nb4
no@+o**men&@Subli)as,oner@/*raa)n&tt@Ar)ivet@200=@/*raa)n&ttA1A200=@8onetis)A*ers*e)tiv@
An intro!uction to the basics o' Norwegian: Sronunciation, *hrases an! vocabular&:
htt*:@@www.101languages.net@norwegian@basics.html
RN0 .inute Languages:
htt*:@@co''eebrea)s*anish.t&*e*a!.com@oneminutelanguages@oneAminuteAnorwegian@in!e1.html 4
/croll !own 'or ten vi!eo Norwegian lessons.
htt*:@@www.*o!bean.com@*o!cast4!etailF*i!G3301< 4 Sla& au!io 'or Norwegian .a!e 0as&
htt*:@@www.m&sen.vgs.no@elevomr@engels)@engs*r.htm (0ng)4 lin)s 'or learning 0nglish
htt*:@@www.!agbla!et.no@)ultur@1LLL@02@1?@1<%130.html 4 ),4 og s,F '.e)s. ),N))en@)ios)@)&lling mot
s,u@s)&te@s)eivF
Article about the *resent !a& 'alling together o' these two soun!s
htt*:@@www.ling.h'.ntnu.no@i*a@no@in!e1.html 4 Norwegian soun!s. Blic) on vowels or consonants in the
chart to hear their soun!s.
htt*:@@www.ling.h'.ntnu.no@i*a@no@i*achartAnoAvowels.html 4 Norwegian soun!s. Descri*tion o' vowels
an! !i*hthongs.
htt*:@@*article.*h&sics.uc!avis.e!u@laura@nors).html 9 (0ng) /hort *age on *ronunciation o' vowels.
Nors) 'oneti)) 'or utlen!inger 4 (oo)), b& /tran!s)ogen, Yse4erit3 3 (Norwegian Shonetics 'or 8oreigners)
1
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
/ources:
htt*:@@www.amaPon.com@g*@*ro!uct@0%%H321H%?@0024=?20?004?L3L20<FvGglanceMnG2%31<<
htt*:@@www.norli.no@ t&*e in (nors) 'oneti))( 4 see o''erings with boo)s, c!s, cassettes.
Norwegian *honetics, *lus boo)s, wor)boo)s, BDs.
htt*:@@www.g&l!en!al.no@new@!e'ault.as*F
$DASublisherG1M$DABollectionG23H2BLD3%LLLHLADB12<=A0002DH=0H
8ol)es*r:) 4 a (new( language, combining all "ermanic languages: htt*:@@www.Langma)er.com
htt*:@@grou*s.&ahoo.com@grou*@'ol)s*raa)@
Nors) school on the Nett: Learn grammar, rea!ing com*rehension, literature, learning resources, writing
rules, an! more: htt*:@@www.nors)si!ene.no@
Language communit&, worl!wi!e 'or *eo*le intereste! in language: htt*:@@www.unilang.org
htt*:@@www.*hrasebase.com@archive@norwegian@in!e1.html 4 8orum with !iscussions about Norwegian,
inclu!ing *hrases, 2uestions an! answers.
htt*:@@www.omniglot.com@writing@norwegian.htm 4 About Norwegian (0ng)
Nordic Language":
htt*:@@www.'ors)ning.no@Arti)ler@200H@,anuar@10?3%L====.?? (/can!inavian semicommunication; an!
more recentl& D&vin! .auru! (1L?=).
5is gra*hics re*resenting how well users o' each language un!erstan! each other are 2uite goo! 44 *age
1244 even i' one can(t rea! the whole re*ort.
Oou can !ownloa! it here: htt*:@@www.nor!is)4s*ra)ra!.no@D0+4R.$/.SD8(+he re*ort is in /we!ish.)
+he Nor!ic Language Bouncil htt*:@@www.nor!is)4s*ra)ra!.no@has issue! a number o' hel*'ul *ublications
(an! an online !ictionar&) about Nor!is) s*r:)'orst:else, 'or e1am*le ;Att 'orst: varan!ra i Nor!en; 44
available 'ree at: htt*:@@www.nor!is)4s*ra)ra!.no@'ol!erAattA'orstaa@'ol!erAin!e1.htm
Oou can also com*are te1ts in the Nor!ic Languages an! com*are *ronunciations at:
htt*:@@www.nor!is)4s*ra)ra!.no@nsrAligheter.htm
Bhart o' Rl! Norse Language: htt*:@@in!oeuro.biPlan!.com@tree@germ@norse.html
-unenews: htt*:@@www.)hm.uio.no@'ors)ning@*ubli)as,oner@runenews@norA2003@
-ules 'or comma uses: htt*:@@www.)orre)turav!elingen.no@#H)omma-egler.htm
Rn the use o' *re*ositions: htt*:@@s*ra)ra!.no@nb4
no@/*ra)h,el*@-etts)rivingARr!boe)er@/)rivereglerAogAgrammati))@Sre*osis,onsbru)Abm@
Sre*osition e1ercise: htt*:@@www.!amms)olen.no@grunns)ole@utvalgteAo**gaver@*re*osis,oner
1
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
/oun!s o' vowels an! consonants at Nors))lassen(s *age: htt*:@@nors))lassen.ce4service.biP@soun!s4g.htm
htt*:@@tomnichol.in'o@languages@norwegian.html Language resources.
htt*:@@!iale)tor.mohive.com@in!e12.html 4 $nteractive tool 'or learning to recogniPe !ialects3 o)m:l or
N&nors).
htt*:@@www.nors)e!iale)ter.no@ 4 Norwegian !ialects
htt*:@@www.'&s.uio.no@Zharal!s@tron!er!iale)t.html[l&!ar 4 +rNn!ers) !iale)t.
htt*:@@www.answers.com@to*ic@nor!4norge +he Northern Norwegian !ialects share a common musical
intonation, !i''erent 'rom the southern !ialects o' Norwa&.
(in 0nglish) Norwegian !ialects: htt*:@@www.nationmaster.com@enc&clo*e!ia@Norwegian4!ialects
Determining where a *erson is 'rom b& his@her !ialect.
5ere is one site that e1*lains how to !etermine where one is 'rom:
htt*:@@home.no.net@,ohawelt@websi!e@nors)@!iale)tar.htm
htt*:@@en.wi)i*e!ia.org@wi)i@NorwegianA!ialects
/omething interesting to *la& with, ,ust 'loat &our mouse over the wor! (!on(t clic) it) M it *ronounces the
wor! in the /tavanger !ialect:
htt*:@@www.soun!com*arisons.com@0ng@Direct@0nglishes@/glLgNorw/tavanger.htm
Norwegian soun!s b& watching &our mouth in the mirror, an! 'ollow the suggestions at:
htt*:@@www.h'.ntnu.no@anv@h,emmesi!eri'as@Rla'sto''@Art*os@art*osvo).htm
+he use o' De an! !u is 'oun! at
htt*:@@www.a'ten*osten.no@e)s*ertene@s*raa)@FactionG2uestionMi!G1LL3 44 b& Ser 0gil 5egge
htt*:@@www.norwegianlanguage.in'o@ 4 (0ng) Norwor!. Downloa! *revious lessons.
0urotal) has +al) Now, +al) .ore, +al) the tal), Qorl! +al), +al) usiness: BD(s 'rom beginners to a!vance!:
htt*:@@eurotal).com@us@*ro!ucts@tal)now@norwegian
htt*:@@www.stola'.e!u@!e*ts@norwegian@grammar@grammar.html 4 (0ng) Nor+ana (Norwegian +eachers
Assn). -ules o' grammar.
Word order& noun"& 1er."& ten"e& etc*
"rammar: Blic) on *art o' s*eech4 substantiv, verb, a!verb, etc.
htt*:@@www.ri)smals'orbun!et.no@grammati))@
htt*:@@www.verbi1.com@languages@norwegian.shtml +&*e in a verb an! see it con,ugate!
"rammar game 'or stu!ents *: $nternett 4 bo)m:l og n&nors)
htt*:@@www.te)stlab.uio.no@grei@
1
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
htt*:@@www.2uia.com@*ages@rea!ingnorwegian.html 4 "ames with nouns, verbs, Wi)ing wor!s, a!,ectives
an! a!verbs, games with use'ul *hrases, time e1*ressions, an! more.
htt*:@@www.)orre)turav!elingen.no@ 4 Borrect use o' accents, *unctuation, common mista)es, etc.
Nors)si!er 9 "rammar an! literature 9 level 1 9 B1:
htt*:@@www.ressurssi!ene.no@view.cgiFMlin)Ai!G0.103H.10HHMsessionAi!G<=33L1==1Ms*raa)Gnn
"rammar: htt*:@@reg!ili.i!i.ntnu.no:%0%0@stu!entAce@*arse
htt*:@@nors))lassen.ce4service.biP@ 4 (0ng M Nor) Nors))lassen. Oahoo email grou*3 ver& in'ormative ai! to
learning nors). Ioin 'or 'ree an! clic) on 'iles to see some Norwegian grammar an! use'ul vocabular&.
Bontribute emails to the class.
htt*:@@www.s*ra)ra!.no@/*ra)h,el*@-etts)rivingARr!boe)er@/)rivereglerAogAgrammati))@ 4
Nors) /*r:)r:!et@Norwegian Language Bouncil: /)riveregler og grammati))@-ules o' Qriting an! "rammar.
htt*:@@www.s*ra)ra!.no@/*ra)h,el*@-etts)rivingARr!boe)er@"eogra'is)eAnamn@
4 "eogra*hical names in Norwegian.
htt*:@@www.&our!ictionar&.com@languages@germanic.html[norwa& 4 (0ng) Lin)s to !ictionaries, grammar,
$nternet terms.
htt*:@@www.2uia.com@*ages@rea!ingnorwegian.html 4 (0ng) 8lashcar!s, wor! match, concentration, games
an! e1ercises.
htt*:@@www.'lashcar!e1change.com@'lashcar!s@view@2H%<=2 8lashcar! *ractice
htt*:@@www.'lashcar!e1change.com@tag@Norwegian 4 /elect a categor& an! *ractice.
htt*:@@www.so'n.com@norwegianculture@languagelessons@ 4/elect a lesson4Kse'ul *hrases when meeting or
leaving, counting, the weather, s*orts, insi!e the house, etc. with *ronunciation gui!e (no soun!)
htt*:@@www.so'n.com@norwegianculture@languagelessons@in!e1.html (Norwegian in 'ive minutes a !a&)
Net school3 grammar, litterature, etc.
htt*:@@www.ressurssi!ene.no@view.cgiFMlin)Ai!G0.103H.10HHMsessionAi!G0Ms*raa)Gbm
Nor!is) $nstitutt: Nor!is) s*r:) og Litteratur htt*:@@www.h'.uib.no@i@Nor!is)@n&ma**e@
htt*:@@so'trat.home.min!s*ring.com@germanic.html a tree o' "ermanic languages.
$nterle1 is a 'ree Qin!ows a**lication that hel*s &ou learn vocabular& in a 'oreign language 2uic)l& an!
easil&. 8irst &ou com*ile a list o' wor!s an! *hrases, then &ou test &oursel' until &ou have learne! them.
htt*:@@www.vocab.co.u)@in!e1.htm
A collection o' 0nglish@Norwegian i!ioms, 'ree to !ownloa! an! use6
htt*:@@www.nettver)ste!.no@R4ringen@$!iomaten.htm
K/0 o' ;SE; AND ;$;:
1
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
*:: htt*:@@www.le1in.no@le1in.htmlF!ictGnbo4eng4ma1iMui4langG0N"Mchec)e!4languagesG0Mchec)e!4
languagesGNMchec)e!4languagesGMsearchG*>B3>A<
i: htt*:@@www.le1in.no@le1in.htmlF!ictGnbo4eng4ma1iMui4langG0N"Mchec)e!4languagesG0Mchec)e!4
languagesGNMchec)e!4languagesGMsearchGi
List o' abbreviations 4 /*r:)r:!et:
htt*:@@www.s*ra)ra!.no@-aa!@/)rivereglerAogAgrammati))@8or)ortinger@
Qor!s in Bonte1t: +&*e in a wor! an! see it in conte1t3 see how it is use!, with wor!s be'ore an! wor!s
a'ter it. .an& languages, inclu!ing Norwegian.
htt*:@@www.nie!erlan!isti).'u4berlin.!e@cgi4bin@web4conc.cgiFs*racheGenMartGgoogle
htt*:@@!ecentius.hit.uib.no@le1in.htmlFui4langGnboM!ictGnboMchec)e!4languagesGN 4 Qor!s in categories,
matching wor!s to *ictures3
8amilie og sle)t, Kl&))er og s&)!om, .atvarer og ),N))enutst&r, etc.
htt*:@@!ecentius.hit.uib.no@le1in@image4grou*F!ictGnboMgrou*G1MactiveG0Mchec)e!4
languagesG0Mchec)e!4languagesGNMui4langGnbo
4 Bhart showing the 'amil& tree
with terms 'or relatives. ie. aunt, uncle, cousin,etc.
htt*:@@www.oasalumni.org@vocab.htm 4 Wocabular& !rills, gives nors) wor!4 then &ou t&*e in meaning.
#e&e! to 1LL? e!ition o' .argaretha Danbolt /imons( +each Ooursel' Norwegian.
htt*:@@www.nettnors).no@ 4 Downloa! e1ercises 'or learning nors).
htt*:@@www.aschehoug.no@sare*ta@bo)mal@lettles@lettles.htm 4 01ercises: use o' comma, !ouble letters,
e1*ressions, common miss*elle! wor!s,etc. Blic) on Qor)boo) to tr& the e1ercises. Qrite in answers clic)
on (-ett( to see results.
htt*:@@www.itesl,.org@v@ 4short vocabular& test
htt*:@@itesl,.org@cw@ 4 crosswor! *uPPles, start with 0as&
Norwegian online interactive !rills, tests3 using multi*le choice
htt*:@@www.statvo)s.no@)onse*t@nors)2@ 4 tr& nettgrammati)).
htt*:@@www.carla.umn.e!u@lctl@materials@norwegian@norwegian4verbs.html 4 Louis Ianus( list o' common
Norwegian verbs.
htt*:@@www.weblan!.no@/itater@ 4 A A # K /: Sroverbs, 2uotations, e1*ressions.
Blic) on a letter 'or a *erson@source ()il!ene) or a categor& ()ategoriene).
htt*:@@www.ca*le1.no@ 4 =H,000 articles in Norwegian, !ail& 2uotation, crosswor! hel*.
htt*:@@home.c2i.net@'hoseth@ 4 .ini crosswor!s4Norwegian clues@0nglish answers:
htt*:@@creative*roverbs.com@no01.htm 4 (0ng) Sroverbs 'rom Norwa&, but not in Norwegian.
2
Learn Norwegian, version 2 (December 2013). Authors: Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
We are at the end o# thi" guide !
)61e tried to "hare my 2nowledge& and ) ho-e it will hel- -eo-le o# our #ace.oo2 grou- : Learn Norwegian
0 L7re Nor"2& and all -eo-le who will read it*
For "-eci#ic 8ue"tion"& you can a"2 in the grou-!
Than2" to Gitte who added -art"& "ent me ton" o# re"ource" #or the new u-date& e"-ecially #or the (th
"ection and edited the document*
8or all the $talian *eo*le in the grou*:
Siete dei pazzi scatenati ragazzi, non mollate mai!
"oo! luc) with learning Norwegian6
Oour sincerel&,
Nicola iolcati an! "itte #ristensen
2