FAQ
Norwegian – Frequently Asked Questions
What types of courses are offered?
All Institut Nòrdic courses are online via Zoom. Courses of different lengths begin throughout the year:
- 32-session courses (1 class/week from October to June)
- 32-session courses (2 classes/week from October to February and from February to June)
- 22-session courses from January to June
- 20-session intensives (4-week duration)
We also offer conversation and maintenance courses, as well as online private classes, which can be started at any time.
How do online classes work?
Our online classes follow our usual philosophy, with the advantage that you can attend from wherever you are. Classes are delivered through Zoom (check the technical requirements here), and the environment includes all essential elements for learning.
- Real-time and 100% uninterrupted audiovisual contact with the teacher and other students
- Digital whiteboard
- Instant chat
- Possibility of screen and document sharing
What are the qualifications and experience of your teachers?
All our teachers are experienced with proven track records and have extensive backgrounds in teaching Nordic languages.
Is the intensive course equivalent to a 32-session course?
Absolutely yes. In the intensive courses, the teaching staff is the same and the same books are used as in other courses. The difference is that in the intensive course, classes are daily, Monday to Friday, for almost a month, while in other modalities classes are once or twice a week.
At Institut Nòrdic, we evaluate the assimilated content, not the duration of the course. At the end of the intensive course, you will obtain a certificate confirming that you have passed the enrolled level, exactly the same as you would obtain upon completing the other courses.
So, when I finish the intensive course, can I enroll in the next level in the annual course?
How do I know my level?
If you don't know your level and want to join a course, you can contact us, and we will present your case to the corresponding coordinator, who will get in touch with you to thoroughly understand your situation.
Can I take a free level test?
If you want to take a course and don't know your level, contact us so that the language coordinator can evaluate it. Send us your details and some information about your previous experience with the language, and the coordinator will call you to assess your level.
Do I need to have an official certificate if I have to move to a Nordic country?
If you are moving for work or study reasons, it's best to ask exactly what requirements are necessary. You can contact the corresponding embassy or consulate for more information (get the contact in the last section of the FAQ), as well as any other organization related to your job position or the studies involved.
Are Institut Nòrdic certificates officially recognized?
The certificates awarded by Institut Nòrdic upon completing a course certify that the holder has mastered the knowledge set by the European standard for the level examined and can demonstrate it through any test, although they are not official in any Nordic country.
What are Institut Nòrdic certificates like?
The Institut Nòrdic certificate certifies the level obtained in Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish or Icelandic. To obtain the certificate, you are required to study and pass the continuous assessment in one of the courses taught by the center. Institut Nòrdic provides two types of certificates: certificate with grade and certificate of attendance.
The certificate with a grade is the certificate given to students after passing a course, with which the student can move up to the next level. If the student does not meet the conditions to obtain a certificate confirming they have passed the course, but has attended at least 70% of the classes, they are entitled to a certificate of attendance from Institut Nòrdic.
You can find more information about our certificates here.
What is Institut Nòrdic's evaluation system like?
To learn better and make the most of the course from start to finish, at Institut Nòrdic the assessment is continuous. We don't conduct an exam at the end of the course; instead, everything done during the course counts towards the final grade. This way, the course becomes an uninterrupted learning process, and the results end up being better.
In our continuous assessment, the final grade consists of five parts of equal value:
- Online test at the end of each chapter of the book.
- Writing exercises.
- Oral tests.
- Listening comprehension tests.
- Class participation, homework submission, presentations and other assessable activities.
The continuous assessment may vary according to the level and language, but it applies to all levels.
Can I take official exams at Institut Nòrdic?
At our center, you can only take the official Swedish exam, the Swedex. Unfortunately, no other Nordic country allows official examinations outside their borders, so you should contact the embassy or consulate of the corresponding Nordic country for more information.
Are there job opportunities in my sector in the Nordic countries?
If you know the language, Nordic countries offer many quality job opportunities for qualified professionals. If you're interested in this option, we recommend that you contact the embassy or consulate of the country you're interested in, as well as any professional association in your sector in the destination country. This way, you'll know the legal, language, or accreditation requirements you'll need there and can prepare the path correctly.
We recommend that you visit our page about Nordic countries, where you'll find useful information.
Is knowing English enough in Nordic countries?
Learning the country's language is essential for social integration and is a mandatory requirement to access certain job positions, as well as to opt for working conditions similar to those of a native. However, it is true that knowledge of English is widespread among Nordic people, and it's easy to get by in this language for practical matters.
I need to learn very quickly. What can I do?
You can combine courses of different durations in such a way that you complete two or three levels in approximately one year. Some examples, starting with level A1:
- It combines a 32-session (once per week) A1 level course with an A2 level summer intensive. You complete two levels in just over 9 months (October - July).
- Combine two 32-session courses (twice a week) at levels A1 and A2. Complete both levels in nine months (October - June).
- Combines a 22-session course with an A2-level summer intensive. Complete two levels in 6 months (January - July).
- Combines an A1 intensive course with a 32-session (once per week) A2 course. You complete two levels in 12 months.
- Combine an A1-level summer intensive with two 32-session courses (twice a week) at levels A2 and B1*. You complete 3 levels in 12 months.
*For more information, consult the offer of the language you want to study.
Are Nordic languages similar to each other?
Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, and Icelandic belong to the Northern or Nordic Germanic languages, so they are similar to each other, although Icelandic is the most different in this group. Therefore, they are easier to learn if you know English or German, as they share certain vocabulary and characteristics.
On the other hand, Finnish is a Finno-Ugric language, a branch of the Uralic languages. For this reason, it differs greatly from the rest of the Nordic languages and it's difficult to find similarities with other European languages other than Estonian.
How long do I need to speak?
Anything is possible: the more motivation and effort you put in, the faster you'll progress. The time needed to be able to function minimally in a new language depends a lot on each person and their desire to learn.
At Institut Nòrdic, we promote oral and written comprehension and expression from the beginning. This way, students will find that they can communicate from day one, with increasingly complex and elaborate concepts. It is considered that upon finishing the second course, students already have the essential grammatical concepts and vocabulary, and can understand and express everyday ideas.
Check the page about learning levels for more information.
Is Norwegian difficult?
Norwegian belongs to the Northern or Nordic Germanic languages, therefore, it has a lot in common with other languages in the same group. It has a much simpler structure than Latin languages and shares part of the lexicon and certain characteristics with both English and German. Having knowledge of these languages can help you learn faster. It also shares sounds with Catalan and French.
Anything is possible: the more motivation and effort you put in, the faster you will progress. The time needed to be able to manage minimally in a new language depends a lot on each person. At Institut Nòrdic, we focus the classes so that everyone can participate and learn.
What is the use of learning Norwegian?
Learning any language is enormously positive, enriching, and helps personal growth. Knowing Norwegian is important for anyone who wants to work, study, or settle in Norway, or simply to know its culture. Additionally, speaking Norwegian opens doors to other Scandinavian countries, as their languages are very similar. And let's not forget that, being a Germanic language, Norwegian also helps in learning English and German.
Does knowing Norwegian help in learning other languages?
Especially in learning other Scandinavian languages. If you know Norwegian, it's easy to understand Swedish and Danish. And undoubtedly, Norwegian makes things easier when studying English and German.
What type of Norwegian do you teach? Bokmål or Nynorsk?
For those who don't know, in Norway there are two written languages: Bokmål and Nynorsk. At Institut Nòrdic, we teach Bokmål, which is the one with more users within the country and is used in teaching Norwegian to foreigners.
What are the differences between Bokmål and Nynorsk?
Bokmål and Nynorsk are the two written languages that exist in Norway. Due to historical reasons and unions with Denmark and Sweden, the old written Norwegian completely disappeared and they had to create a new language. To represent the entire population, as there were several spoken dialects, they created two languages instead of one. Bokmål is based on Danish, which was the mandatory written language at that time, and Nynorsk is based on all the spoken dialects of the country. They have been maintained to this day, and depending on which part of Norway you live in, you will write in one language or the other. However, since they are written languages, no one speaks either Bokmål or Nynorsk. What is spoken are dialects that are based on and resemble these languages. For this reason, they have a lot of variety in terms of the way of speaking, although everyone understands each other.
What materials are used?
We use the same books that are used in the official language school in Norway, Folkeuniversitetet, in digital format. For levels A1 and A2, we use the digital books of 'På vei'; for levels B1.1 and B1.2, we use the digital books of 'Stein på stein', and for levels B2.1 and B2.2, we use the digital books of 'Her på berget'. Both a textbook, a workbook, audio files, and online exercises are included. In addition to this material, teachers also use their own materials in the form of photocopies, books, Norwegian films, etc.
What if I decide to study a second language?
If you decide to study a second language at Institut Nòrdic, you will receive a 10% discount on the enrollment fee.