2GSWN01 Introductory course in Norwegian for foreign students
- Course code2GSWN01
- Number of credits2
- Teaching semester2025 Autumn, 2026 Spring
- Language of instructionEnglish
- CampusHamar
- Required prerequisite knowledge
There are no entrance requirements for this course.
- presenting oneself in Norwegian (age, nationality, date of birth, family etc.)
- basic language elements (numbers, expressions of date and time etc.)
- everyday communication (shops, offices, institutions, private communication)
- personal preferences (favourite pastimes, favourite food etc.)
- study-related conversations (different study activities, rules and expectations etc.)
- introduction into Norwegian society (key concepts connected to health, studies, money issues, rules of conduct, culture etc.
Learning Outcome
The primary goal of the course is for the students to learn simple and practical Norwegian. During the course, students will learn to understand and use expressions for common language functions in Norwegian, become familiar with basic language elements, build a small vocabulary of central words, and develop a basic understanding of aspects of Norwegian society and academia.
- know some simple and practical Norwegian
- possess basic knowledge about the Norwegian language
- have basic knowledge about Norwegian society and academia
- be able to understand simple, common expressions in Norwegian
- be able to understand and use expressions for common language functions in Norwegian
- be able to orient themselves in Norwegian environments by reading signs and directions
- be able to use simple everyday phrases and expressions
- be familiar with self-study resources available for Norwegian as a second language learners
- be familiar with basic language elements
- have a small vocabulary of central words
- develop a basic understanding of aspects of Norwegian society and academia
The course consists of 2-4 teaching hours per day in the course of 3-5 weeks (see details in the teaching plan distributed at the beginning of the semester). The instruction takes place at Campus Hamar, and there is a maximum of 20 participants per course group. The language of instruction is English.
Instruction consists of brief introductions and presentations of the topics (see course content), followed by practical exercises based on the distributed course material. The course material is collected in a compendium consisting of selected chapters from introductory textbooks of Norwegian for foreign students, as well as some English texts about Norwegian language and society. The use of Internet resources with particular relevance to Norwegian language training is included in the course.
It is expected that the students work with the course material outside of classroom hours and take advantage of opportunities to practice their Norwegian language skills.
Attendance during classroom instruction is mandatory. Students must have been present for at least 80% of the classes to be allowed to take the final examination/have the course approved.
| Form of assessment | Grading scale | Grouping | Duration of assessment | Support materials | Proportion | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oral examination | Passed - not passed | Group |
The course concludes with an oral examination where the students are divided into groups and tested on their Norwegian skills and knowledge of the Norwegian language.