Hi all,I have a need to learn some Swedish, nothing too heavy just some conversational stuff.Does anyone have any experience of the most efficient way to do this?My only experience is school (now, well over a decade ago ) where I hatedlanguages (typical scientist!) and dropped them at the first opportunity.Is it effective to get a tutor to come to the office for an hour or two a week?Could anyone recommend teachers/language schools/organizations?Thanks for any input.

QuoteOriginally posted by: twHi all,I have a need to learn some Swedish, nothing too heavy just some conversational stuff.Does anyone have any experience of the most efficient way to do this?My only experience is school (now, well over a decade ago ) where I hatedlanguages (typical scientist!) and dropped them at the first opportunity.Is it effective to get a tutor to come to the office for an hour or two a week?Could anyone recommend teachers/language schools/organizations?Thanks for any input.Where do you live? The most effective way to learn any language is to live and work in a country where that language is spoken. In other words, take a job in Sweden for a year or two. However, you must also remember to pretend that you don't speak any English. Swedes are very happy to speak English and if you let them know that you speak English you will have trouble getting enough practise with your Swedish.If you are not prepared to move then you will have to find another way. There a a few internet pages with Swedish classes that you might have a look at.Language Engineering at Uppsala UniveristyA Swedish courseThere are of course computer programs and online courses that you can buy. Just type "Learn Swedish" into Google and see what you find.There is also a list of places where you can learn Swedish.Where to learn the Swedish languageThe list includes universities and colleges offering Swedish classes.I hope any of this helps.Regards,Niclas

Thanks Niclas, that's very useful indeed.I should have explained my position a little more. I'm working in London with4 Scandinavian traders (Swedish, Danish and Norwegian) - as a resultthe phrases I tend to pick up involve terms like "f#%£ing brokers" etc..Their English is excellent and, in part at least, I want to improve languageskills as a courtesy thing. Also in more tense market conditions, they liketo speak in a mixture of the above languages. Although I want to learn some of the appropriate language(s) I knowthat's its competing with a host of quant stuff that I want to spend time on, on top of a lot of realtime analytic work so I've not got much free time.Also I'm far from being a gifted lingiust so I was kind of looking for adviceabout how to most efficiently pick it up.Thanks again.QuoteOriginally posted by: nsandeQuoteOriginally posted by: twHi all,I have a need to learn some Swedish, nothing too heavy just some conversational stuff.Does anyone have any experience of the most efficient way to do this?My only experience is school (now, well over a decade ago ) where I hatedlanguages (typical scientist!) and dropped them at the first opportunity.Is it effective to get a tutor to come to the office for an hour or two a week?Could anyone recommend teachers/language schools/organizations?Thanks for any input.Where do you live? The most effective way to learn any language is to live and work in a country where that language is spoken. In other words, take a job in Sweden for a year or two. However, you must also remember to pretend that you don't speak any English. Swedes are very happy to speak English and if you let them know that you speak English you will have trouble getting enough practise with your Swedish.If you are not prepared to move then you will have to find another way. There a a few internet pages with Swedish classes that you might have a look at.Language Engineering at Uppsala UniveristyA Swedish courseThere are of course computer programs and online courses that you can buy. Just type "Learn Swedish" into Google and see what you find.There is also a list of places where you can learn Swedish.Where to learn the Swedish languageThe list includes universities and colleges offering Swedish classes.I hope any of this helps.Regards,Niclas

QuoteOriginally posted by: ppauper[Fess up TW.They're talking about you behind your back and you want to know what they're saying.There was an episode of Seinfeld (US sitcom) about that -- Elaine went to a korean nail place,and took a Korean war vet along to find out what the staff were saying about herWell, I heard them using phrase that sounded like "onyttig Engelsk kvantitativ idiot"and then tried typing them into InterTran ...

Try this website www.talklanguages.netIf you do go with them, tell Jim that the Hindi teacher sent you!

The hardest thing about Swedish, IMHO, is the proper pronounciation. If you can find a native from Stockholm (or if you want to be proper, Aland, but definitely not Halmstad to help you get that down, the grammar will be easy for a native English speaker...

Correction: That should read "Åland" (hope the font comes through).

The only important things in swedish are:Hej - Hello.Giftbrun - Toxic Pussy yes, the swedes actually have a dedicated word for that...Manga becker sma blir en stor a - Many small streams have become a big river.Jag skitar i vad du sanger - I don't 'care' what you say.Seriously, I believe Hull University and SESS [now part of UCL] offer Swedish/Scandinavian language courses.Swedish is interesting, very singy BUT their verbs do not change according to the subject (unlike most other languages):Jag bor - I liveDu bor - You liveVi bor - We live