Tag Archives: tutor

App question card game for practicing Swedish

App question card game for practicing Swedish

I give my students lots of questions. Sometimes the questions are easy to answer, sometimes they are not. I like to challenge my students. They like to be challenged! That’s how they improve and develop their Swedish language knowledge! I vary between letting my customers know the questions in advance or … just surprise them! When I send questions beforehand I expect longer answers and perhaps a discussion or an argument. When the questions are a surprise it usually reveals what needs to be worked on – spontaneous talking, vocabulary for a special topic, grammar or just expressing in Swedish that you do not know, or have never ever thought about that question before! It doesn’t so much matter what my students say as long as they say it in Swedish.

I have various tools for generating questions – first of all my creativity, then some board game cards and other topic cards.

Here is an app you can use for generating random questions. Try to answer a question on a daily basis.

The card game won the Intercultural Innovation Award in 2014. You can read more about the project and the card game here.

 

On ITunes App-store

Spel att öva svenska
More than one story

 

Reading in Swedish / Läsa på svenska

Read in Swedish / Läsa på svenska

Reading is learning. Reading is traveling. I would say that to read is to rest and activate the brain at the same time – depending on what you are reading and what the purpose of it is. / Här är en post som tipsar om att läsa på svenska.

I read books on a tablet. I listen to books. I read books the way I always have – a copy I can hold. I prefer to hold a book, flip through the crispy pages, smell the paper and insert post-its where I find something memorable. I also love a nice cover. I usually read in Swedish or English, but try to read at least a couple of books in German every year too. I think it is a good way to keep up the language and also to learn new words; especially the new, trendier words.

Read in Swedish – samples

Despite my love for the physical book I don’t mind reading texts on a screen. There’s a webpage I use where you can read extracts from books published in Sweden. This is useful and inspiring when you look for something to read in Swedish.

The website is www.provlas.se

Here are a few tips on what to read if you are learning Swedish – children or adults, beginners or advanced, first language or second!

The Typical Swede: Learn about “Swedishness”, in Swedish. Pictures give hints if you are not yet familiar with the Swedish language. http://www.provlas.se/typiskt-svenskt/

Bridget Jones baby bridget jones baby

Lättläst/Easy read: Zlatan – now as easy read. http://www.provlas.se/jag-ar-zlatan-ibrahimovic/
Lättläst/Easy read: August Strindberg – Röda rummet http://www.provlas.se/roda-rummet/
For children: Our beloved “Fem myror är fler än fyra elefanter” teaches about colors and shapes http://www.provlas.se/farg-och-formbok/
Advanced level: Learn about metaphors in the Swedish language http://www.provlas.se/polletten-som-trillade-ner/
Any good reads lately? Some of my students are reading “En man som heter Ove”.

Svenska julord / Swedish Christmas vocabulary

Swedish Christmas – svensk jul

Some of you have heard of skumtomtar and julmust.

Some of you have tried it.

And some of you love it!

Some of you have followed the #decemberverb challenge and have learnt verbs related to Swedish Christmas.

Some of you have expanded your Swedish vocabulary with the words from the Swedish Christmas mini print.

Here is yet another resource with some holiday season related words. ordlista julord

Swedish Dictionary App – svensk ordlista

If you are learning Swedish a Swedish dictionary app comes in handy.  I  suggest downloading the app  SAOL (svenska akademiens ordlista) to your device. The app is far more lighter to carry around in your pocket than the heavy IRL book. Promise.

SAOL will not always give you synonyms or explanations but spelling, inflection and declension, and the ever so important EN or ETT!

The good news – the app is a  free one. Gratis! (means “free”) Grattis! (means “congratulations”). Links at bottom of post.

If you know Swedish already you need SAOL too :). We can always learn more!

Svenska Akademiens Ordlista iTunes
Svenska Akademiens Ordlista Google Play

There is also the SO app (svenska akademiens ordbok). This is a thesaurus, providing meaning of a word, pronunciation by listening etc. Read more about it here.

 

Make sentences in Swedish – game

Let’s build some sentences in Swedish today! Use this game – Bella Bävers ordlek – to make sentences; silly ones or perfectly normal ones – you decide! Click “spela upp meningen” to hear the result. It’s a children’s game and kids most definitely have a lot of fun playing this. I am sure it can amuse an adult or two too, and you will most likely pick up some new vocabulary while reinforcing how to make simple sentences in Swedish. 🙂

The word game can be found on the Swedish Radio’s website.

Hej! Learning Swedish?

Interested in learning Swedish? I am Charlotta. Welcome on board!Swedish tutor

“I had got as far as I could using text books and CDs etc. and really needed a way to practise thinking and speaking Swedish ‘on the fly’. The lessons with Charlotta have been exactly what I needed. It has been amazing how in quite a short time, I am now able to express my thoughts and opinions in Swedish on the many topics we cover during the sessions.” David, UK

No matter if you are learning Swedish as a foreign language, as a second or as a first language/mother tongue you are most likely looking for a smart and convenient way to learn.  I am offering tutoring via Skype to ensure that you can fit lessons around your busy life; enjoying the freedom of being anywhere in the world – for business or for pleasure – and still allow yourself time to invest in your Swedish language proficiency.

“This sounds interesting; take me directly to Lessons to learn more.”

The blog contains tips and tricks for learning Swedish (sometimes applicable to any language). You will also find posts on Swedish culture and traditions to improve your sense of belonging to Sweden and the language; whether you live here or not, whether you travel here in real life or in your armchair.

Alright; let’s begin!

Låt oss börja!

Charlotta

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