One of the best parts of living abroad is experiencing the culture, and for me, I found it difficult to do so fully without understanding the language. Though Sweden is known as one of the top countries when it comes to English fluency, it was important for me to try to learn at least some of the language when we moved to our new home. 

Learning Swedish has been a humbling but exciting opportunity for me – one that I never imagined for myself! When we first moved to Sweden, I didn’t have a job and was able to dedicate a full 10 months to learning the language. While I’m by no means fluent, I can definitely understand most conversations, read quite a bit and even watch films and tv shows completely in Swedish (MacKenzie and I recently saw a kids film and were so proud of ourselves for the 99% that we understood!). It’s still a bit nerve-wracking for me to have conversations in Swedish, but it’s definitely something I’ve been focusing on, and getting better at every day! 

Though you don’t have to know Swedish to live in Sweden, understanding the language has made my life so much easier and has given me even more appreciation for my new home.

These are 5 reasons I decided to learn Swedish: 

Independence: Now that I am able to read most documents and menus, watch the news and understand cultural references, I no longer rely so much on friends and google translate to let me know what’s going on. It can feel isolating when you don’t understand everything that’s happening, and it’s so empowering not to always need to rely on others!

Showing respect for the culture: While most Swedes do speak English, going to any foreign country with the attitude that you are unwilling to change and adapt is not an ideal way to be successful, in my opinion. One of the best ways to integrate into a new country is by showing respect for the culture and ways of the people, and starting to learn the language is a great way to do so. 

Better opportunities for work: Unless you are working for an international company, getting a job in Sweden without knowing Swedish can be tough. Believe me, I can’t tell you how many times I was at the final stage of the interview and was turned down because I wasn’t fluent in Swedish (even if the language spoken at work was English!). This actually was one of the biggest motivators for me to learn! 

Fitting in socially: No one like feeling left out, and it can often feel that way when you don’t understand the language. There have been many times I’ve been in a group setting where someone switches to Swedish and the group continues in that way, forgetting to switch back to English. Though many Swedish people are willing English speakers, sometimes they feel more comfortable speaking in their native tongue, and it’s great to be able to continue conversations in “Swenglish”.

Fitting in culturally: Learning Swedish has given me a better perspective into the Swedish culture, helping me relate and understand the context of so many cultural phenomena including mannerisms, beliefs, and social norms. This was super important as I integrated into the Swedish culture, and was so interesting as well!

Curious to know more? Keep scrolling to learn more about my experience with learning Swedish!