Interested in learning Swedish? Maybe you have Swedish ancestry? Perhaps you’re relocating to Stockholm? Or maybe you just want to know how to say the names of the items in the Ikea catalogue!?
Whatever your reason, in our digital world, learning Swedish is easier than ever. But from apps to YouTube videos and even textbooks and more, where is a wannabe Swedish learner to start?
You’re in the right place. I’m going to guide you through all these options so you can find the best way to learn Swedish for you.
However you end up learning Swedish, you won’t look back. In fact, your only regret will be that you didn’t get started sooner!
Here’s what you’ll discover in this post.
Table of Contents
How Not To Learn Swedish
Why is language learning so tough? We spend years trying to learn languages at school, but most of us can barely string a sentence together!
If you’ve dabbled in learning Swedish and found it challenging, it’s not your fault. Swedish is hard to learn because of something I like to call the old “Parrot Problem” of language learning.
The Parrot Problem is the method you recall from school, where you had to commit vocabulary lists and grammar rules to memory.
Parrot methods don’t truly enable you to learn Swedish or any language. That’s because a “repeat after me, like a parrot” method just puts the language in your short-term memory.
You would think that Parrot approaches would be long gone. But sadly they persist in numerous so-called up-to-date Swedish apps and courses.
Sure, these apps and courses can help you “parrot” a few Swedish expressions. But you still can’t chat fluently with your Swedish friends over a plate of meatballs or gravlax.
What Is The Best Way To Learn Swedish?
The best way to learn Swedish online is with a fresh approach that hardwires the language directly into your brain, through the same natural learning process children use to acquire their native language.
My StoryLearning method achieves this, while avoiding the problems of the Parrot methods. With StoryLearning, you can forget about rote learning, grammar drills, boring textbooks and silly apps that you know you’re wasting your time with.
Instead, with StoryLearning, you learn languages through stories, not rules. As you read, you learn Swedish. You remember words more easily because you're so engrossed in the story. And Swedish makes sense to your brain naturally – on a deep level.
Stories are the most basic form of human communication. We've been communicating through stories for thousands of years – since we were cavemen.
That’s why the StoryLearning method uses the power of story to teach you Swedish from the get-go. You end up learning Swedish almost passively. It’s the same way that a native Swedish speaker learns. That is the exciting result of learning through stories instead of rules.
This fun and effective method makes StoryLearning the best way to learn Swedish.
Best Way To Learn Swedish Online
The best way to learn Swedish online is with my Swedish Uncovered courses which teach you through StoryLearning.
Swedish Uncovered will take you from total beginner to pre-intermediate level with a story-first approach. You’ll be immersed in a Swedish story specially written for your level from the start.
After listening to and reading the story as many times as you want, you watch an in-depth lesson where your expert Swedish teacher teaches you all about the Swedish in the story.
The StoryLearning method combines all of the benefits of online learning—like flexibility, modern engaging materials, and different types of media—with a fresh, motivating method centred on story.
With the StoryLearning method, Swedish truly gets implanted in your mind. And you have fun as you learn because you’re immersed in an exciting story.
Best Way To Learn Swedish Fast
Great question, I mean why wouldn’t you want to learn Swedish fast? No-one wants a repeat of their school days – spending years learning a language you can barely speak!
The thing is, there’s no magic method for getting to fluency fast in Swedish. The honest and rather boring answer is that Swedish fluency comes through consistent daily effort to learn and practice.
So, if you’ve got the motivation and can make the time every day, Swedish fluency can come fast. But if you’re looking for guaranteed fast fluency in Swedish, you can’t go wrong with StoryLearning VIP.
StoryLearning VIP is a 10-week personalised coaching programme which sets you up for success in Swedish! The secret sauce of VIP is the combination of the proven StoryLearning method and a professional native-speaker coach for that essential speaking practice.
I won’t sugar coat it – this programme requires time and dedication. You’ll not only have coaching sessions twice a week, but also personal study time with my course, Swedish Uncovered. But VIP is the support system you need to finally break through to fluency.
Best Way To Learn Swedish For Travel
What if you’re not aiming for Swedish fluency? What if all you need is a bit of Swedish to get around on a trip to Gothenburg or Stockholm?
If that sounds like you, you must be wondering – what’s the best way to learn Swedish for travel?
The best way to learn Swedish for travel is to concentrate on the language you’ll need to get by in practical scenarios you might encounter in Sweden.
That looks like knowing some Swedish greetings as well as expressions to use when eating out or getting around or at a hotel or AirBnB.
The good news about learning Swedish for travel is that you can master it fast. That’s because you’re picking up highly practical language in a meaningful context.
You can use my blog post about Swedish phrases to prepare for a journey to Sweden. You’ll discover 83 common Swedish expressions to greet people, ask for help, shop and eat out and travel around the country.
This fluff-free approach guarantees you’re ready to get by in travel Swedish the next time you’re in Sweden.
Best Way To Learn Swedish While Driving
So you’re ready and raring to go. But then you realise – where am I going to find the time to fit Swedish into my day? Full-time work and a commute leaves little time to study Swedish.
The thing is, your commute is also an opportunity to learn Swedish on the road, if you know how to make the best of it. So what’s the best way to learn Swedish while driving?
First things first, I want you to drive safely. So I’m not going to recommend anything dangerous like looking at a screen or page. Eyes on the road please!
If you can’t look at books or screens, how are you supposed to learn? You use your ears to learn Swedish.
Nowadays, you can find Swedish audio to listen to as you drive. You could listen to Swedish podcasts or an audio course in Swedish.
By listening to Swedish regularly, as you would on a commute, you can absorb a lot of the language like a sponge, without studying.
If you’re just getting started in Swedish, your best place to kickstart your learning is with a beginner audio course like the Michel Thomas one.
If you’re an advanced Swedish learner, you need to switch up your playlist and trade learner material for real Swedish audio created for native speakers.
Whatever your podcast app of choice, you can search for podcasts from your favourite Swedish-speaking media companies and creators. Tune into podcasts that align with your interests so that you’re motivated to listen to them.
Best Way To Learn Swedish On Your Own
Do you prefer learning languages by yourself rather than going to group Swedish classes with inflexible curriculums? If so, you're a language learner after my own heart.
I’ve always achieved great results from self-directed language learning. As I like to put it, languages can’t be taught, only learnt. So your self-directed learning is what matters the most to your Swedish fluency.
My solo learning enabled me to learn eight languages fluently and found StoryLearning to share successes and failures with fellow self-directed learners.
I’ve condensed my experiences of solo language learning into my Uncovered courses which I designed for independent learners. And Swedish Uncovered is no exception.
Swedish Uncovered is a self-study course you can use as the underpinning of your Swedish study. You’ll also find astute advice on the best way to learn Swedish on your own in the course.
Best Way To Learn Swedish Fluently
If Swedish fluency is an important life goal, get support to achieve it! The best way to learn Swedish fluently is through personalised Swedish coaching.
Working with a coach means that you have someone to keep you accountable. And of course, personalised coaching also ensures that you get the speaking practice and confidence you need to truly engage with native speakers.
I’ve added these key ingredients to my StoryLearning VIP programme. VIP is a 10-week language coaching programme designed to get you your big breakthrough in Swedish. This is the highest level of learning support we offer and your fastest ticket to Swedish fluency.
StoryLearning VIP works because it gives you the complete structure you need to succeed: coaching plus the proven StoryLearning method.
If you’re ready to speak Swedish with confidence, get to that high fluency you’ve always dreamed of and make it a serious part of your life, VIP will help you get there!
Personalised coaching is the best way to learn Swedish fluently because you get:
- Support to master the language from your learning materials
- A personalised learning pathway that adapts to your strengths and weaknesses
- Accountability to keep going, even on tough days
- Hours of individual speaking practice to build your confidence
If Swedish fluency matters to you, then personalised coaching will help you achieve it.
Best Way To Learn Swedish Pronunciation
Swedish pronunciation isn’t straightforward. What’s with those extra letters in the alphabet for starters?
But many learners make Swedish pronunciation tougher than it needs to be because of the Parrot Problem.
When you try to learn Swedish sounds and letters by heart, you put them into your short-term memory. So they don’t come out right when you actually speak Swedish. Besides, words and sounds exist in relation to each other, not in isolation.
The best way to learn Swedish pronunciation is to ditch rote memorisation. Of course, you can read or watch an explanation of Swedish pronunciation. But then stop listening and repeating sounds in isolation.
Once you get the basic idea of Swedish pronunciation, you need to hear the sounds of Swedish in a meaningful context. And most importantly, in relation to each other. The best way to do this is to read and listen to short stories in Swedish.
By reading and listening to Swedish stories at your level, Swedish pronunciation will start to become second nature. When you’re ready to speak, people will understand you, because you’ve absorbed the sounds and intonation of Swedish in context.
If you’re wondering where to find Swedish stories at the right level for you, my top recommendation is my short story book, Short Stories in Swedish.
Best Way To Learn Swedish At Home
Some misapprehensions about language learning refuse to die. A classic one is that you must move abroad to get fluent. But moving to Sweden is no guarantee of reaching fluency, especially if you’re a beginner.
Learning from home has played a big part in reaching fluency in several of my languages. When I learn at home, I control my language learning routine and can get the daily study and practice I need to get fluent. Relocating to a new country messes up that routine!
So if staying put is best, how can you learn Swedish at home? The best way to learn Swedish at home is to read and listen to Swedish every day at your level. You can read a beginner Swedish book, work through a StoryLearning Swedish course, or listen to Swedish podcasts.
This type of daily immersion in Swedish is known as an “input method”. An input method means that you learn not from deliberate study, but by reading and listening to material that you want to understand.
And if you ever do go to Sweden one day, you’ll improve faster thanks to the solid footing you got from your at-home immersion.
Best Way To Learn Swedish FAQ
What Is The Best Way to Learn Swedish Online?
The best way to learn Swedish online is with StoryLearning’s Swedish Uncovered course. With Uncovered you learn Swedish through stories, not rules.
What Is The Best Way to Learn Swedish While Driving?
The best way to learn Swedish while driving is to listen to Swedish audio created with learners in mind such as podcasts in Swedish or audio courses.
What's The Best Way To Learn Swedish Pronunciation?
The best way to learn Swedish pronunciation is by reading and listening to Swedish at your level every day. This daily immersion in Swedish will help your brain adapt to the language so that Swedish pronunciation becomes intuitive.
What's The Best Way To Learn Swedish Fluently?
Personalised Swedish coaching is the best way to learn the language fluently because you get a personalised learning pathway, feedback, accountability and plenty of 1-1 speaking practice.
Ready To Start Your Swedish Learning Journey?
Learning Swedish isn’t always a breeze, even if it’s totally worth it.
Whatever your reasons for learning the language, knowing the best way to learn Swedish is crucial so that you achieve your goals fast.
And with so many possible ways to learn Swedish, it can be hard to know which one to pick.
The best way to learn Swedish is to immerse yourself in it daily by reading and listening to Swedish at the right level for you.
This type of story-centred immersion is at the heart of the StoryLearning method. Even if you find this method difficult at first, you’ll quickly see what all the fuss is about.
Once you’re immersed in the story, you’ll be motivated to find out what happens next. And once you’re hooked, there’s no going back.
That’s what makes stories the best way to learn Swedish fast.
Olly Richards
Creator of the StoryLearning® Method
Olly Richards is a renowned polyglot and language learning expert with over 15 years of experience teaching millions through his innovative StoryLearning® method. He is the creator of StoryLearning, one of the world's largest language learning blogs with 500,000+ monthly readers.
Olly has authored 30+ language learning books and courses, including the bestselling "Short Stories" series published by Teach Yourself.
When not developing new teaching methods, Richards practices what he preaches—he speaks 8 languages fluently and continues learning new ones through his own methodology.
