Due to the pandemic, International Summer School (ISS) at the University of Oslo was compelled to redesign its courses within a few months and offer the admitted students online classes. In total, 350 students from 60 different countries have taken classes in Norwegian language at UiO from home this summer – a record high number for language students at ISS!
It is the first time that ISS offers digital Norwegian language courses for credit, and this has made it possible for even more students to participate. Some of the barriers like visa applications and finances were no longer an issue for many students. We are very happy to receive such high levels of interest, says ISS-director Nita Kapoor.
Global Interest for Norwegian Language
Puneet Sekhon from Punjab in India currently lives in Ås in Norway, and works as an intern at Ski Library. This summer, she has taken a 6-week digital intensive course in Norwegian language for intermediates (Level III) at ISS.
I have felt encouraged during group discussions with others. I notice my own progression because now it is easier for me to read prose and authentic material. I have gotten to know Norwegian culture and society much better, and I have expanded my vocabulary. It is easier to participate more in conversations with colleagues and visitors at the library.
Minji Kim from South-Korea was disappointed that she couldn’t experience Oslo with the international group of students at the ISS, and she has missed meeting her classmates in real life to socialize and practice the language.
I really liked the feeling that we all were connected and networked working together even though we were all away from each other. I have loved learning phonetics with teacher Erik! He made the virtual classroom very much like a real classroom! The Norwegian pronunciation can be one of the most challenging parts for most new learners, but we managed to practice on a regular basis together pronouncing many Norwegian words correctly!
Hoping for Norway next Year
Fellow student Matheus Saez from Itabira in Brazil was also disappointed about not being in Norway this summer.
It is not easy to surround yourself with Norwegian language over here, but I have found movies and podcasts in Norwegian, which helps. I hope to be able to go to Norway next year, also because it was hard for me technically with digital tools and resources.
The best part about the summer was meeting others who were also interested in Norwegian language and culture:
It is a bit lonely to study Norwegian literature in Brazil, so it is a lot of fun when it is possible to talk about Norwegian authors and books. Through the ISS, I have been able to meet others from different countries who are also interested in Norwegian language, history and literature. The digital language café in particular has been very nice because there is more room for speaking freely than in class. In the language café it has been easier to open up to others and make friends and share stories, says Matheus.
Community Without Meeting
Torunn Strand Andresen is one of the lecturers who had to teach digitally for the first time:
What really differs is that we cannot see our students as well as we would like. In a classroom, we can see their facial expressions, and we can tell who is struggling to understand and who wants to say something. A conference-tool like Zoom can never replace the human connection between people in a classroom.
Even though classrooms have been virtual this year, Andresen finds that the bonds between students have been strong:
It has been lovely listening to what the students talk about in the digital group rooms after completing their assignments. At their best, they have exchanged experiences, helped one another with vocabulary and been very helpful.
This year’s class of 350 Norwegian language students are currently finalizing their exams, before many of them continue on to the next level in August.
Read the article in Norwegian on Uniforum.