Day 5 thankfully was pretty much a recap of the week and a chance to iron out some of my mistakes. Its easier to write without mistakes then speak especially when you are talking about something close to your heart.
A lot of speaking practice as well as the written exam. I am happy to say that I passed Level 3 Berlitz with flying colours.
The question is asked was it worth the 50,000 SEK.
The answer without a doubt is yes. OK I am not fluent of course, no one week course is going to give you that but I am a lot more confident in Swedish now than ever before. I have rebuked several people for SMSing me in English, jag mäste förtsätta pa svenksa!
Already I am seeing an improvement. I forgot Bajen were playing on Thursday night, away to Häcken. Lets not talk about the game but I met the Bajare boys and spoke in Swedish all night. They made a point of telling me how impressed they all were. I was impressed that I was able to hold the conversation all night in Swedish. I was even cracking jokes at one point.
Last night I met one of my Seniors for a bevvie and again we spoke a lot of Swedish!
I have been listening to Radio P1 all day and you know what I am getting it! Its almost as if someone has slowed down the audio so I can hear it but of course Berlitz Total Immersion Swedish has accelerated my abilited to listen and understand.
Today I did a bit of shopping, a new fishing shop I found and at OnOff. I was able to ask about things in Swedish and not drop into English as I am prone to do. I was able to ask about two different subjects..’fishing spinners for perch’ and ‘portable radios’.
Yes I want to get myself a small portable radio so I can listen to Swedish radio when I am out and about.
These are major milestones for me but I realise I now need to push on a lot more but the mists are clearing. My written Swedish needs work but I am babbling away in Swedish like a kid now which is a big improvement.
Going forward, I need to finish my Linguaphone course off, cds please JW! I need to build up my vocab, so continue with reading DN daily and need to pick up a few books Berlitz recommended to increase word power. Maybe I will do another stint at Folkuniversitet this winter. Hopefully at a higher level with people who actually want to learn and arent forced there by their company and not really motivated.
I need to read more books, I have Reinfeldts ‘ensamvarg’ book to start. I might even give those ljudbocker a go, I nearly bought one today but could decide between Anthony Beevers ‘D Day’ or Goran Perssons autobiography they were 300 SEk though so will give it awhile. I would rather listen to the radio for now.
Also I need to read more kids books, more Broderna Lejonhjärta than tre små grisarna 
And next year I would love to go on Level 4 Berlitz Total Immersion Swedish! I know glutton for punishment as right now I do feel like I have done ten rounds with Tyson. My brain hasnt had this amount of exertion since my A Levels.
If you can get the funding and time off I would really recommend Berlitz, in fact if you have a few quid tucked away and you need to speak Swedish quickly then I would recommend the investment.
Delicious 
Digg This Post 
Facebook 
Stumble This Post
Related posts:
{ 4 comments }
Linguaphone can be returned at the quiz tonight if you come
A bit of (hopefully) helpful pushing…
If you can spend all evening speaking Swedish, it shouldn’t be a problem to whip up a blog entry every now and again in Swedish
…
I found writing regularly in Swedish to be of inestimable help in learning Swedish. It was easy to get away with poor grammar when I was only speaking the language. Poor grammar/spelling, however, sticks out like a sore thumb in written Swedish. I’m certainly very far from great at it but I get better with every sentence I write. Its also a very good way to make sure new vocabulary sticks.
Furthermore, its rather difficult when you first start writing, which is actually great since nothing worth having is ever easy.
wow Shane, I am so impressed! really you don’t need me to tell you, but: fantastic work! I really admire your dedication to learn Swedish… if I did a tenth of what you do for my Thai…
Keep it up, and if you do go for the Swedish blog entry I will use Google translate but still read it
Coming from you Rosie that means a lot.
Of course Thai looks a hundred times harder than Swedish for sure!
Comments on this entry are closed.