speak swedish fluently

I was sitting in a bar with some chums, and one said to me, “So, are you fluent in Swedish, then?” and I swiftly and confidently replied… in the negative. Then my Swedish friend piped up and said “Eh? come on, yes you are. Lets have a conversation and prove it”. I reluctantly complied, and lo and behold! I comprehended and understood everything, and everything I said was understood too. The first friend was duly impressed. The person most impressed was me!

I’ve arranged to have weekly lessons with my Swedish friend, it’s cool cos her boyfriend is also learnin but he’s behind me, so I get to help her teach him, as well as learn more myself! Going over the basics never hurts, either. I recommend you guys who are learning too to try and meet some Swedes in your area, or get a Swedish pen-pal or something – perhaps join myspace or something and make swedish friends!

I’m already fairly good at it, especially when it comes to grammar. I just need to increase my vocabulary, really, and familiarise myself with formal and colloquial forms of speech. It seems the courses I’ve been on haven’t always taught the relevant information, and in some cases I’ve even been taught the wrong thing!

But I do love this language passionately, and am even thinking of investigating old norse and its influences on the english language… its fascinating! Lycka till, svenska lärarer! xx