Norsk 101: Kom til Norge, opplev verden! (Come to Norway, experience the world!)

Language practice with Christie Ericson

Photo courtesy of Christie Ericson
Each summer, the International Summer School at the University of Oslo brings together students from all over the world in a unique learning environment.

Som tusenvis av andre studenter (Like thousands of other students) kom jeg til Den internasjonale sommerskolen (I came to the International Summer School) ved Universitetet i Oslo (at the University of Oslo) for å oppleve norsk språk og kultur (to experience Norwegian language and culture).

Den internasjonale sommerskolen [ISS] ble opprettet i (was established in) 1947 etter andre verdenskrig (after World War II). I dag tilbyr Sommerskolen (Today the summer school offers) et bredt kurstilbud (a broad range of courses) på bachelor- og masternivå (at the bachelor’s and master’s level), med fokus på (with a focus on) fredsstudier (peace studies), demokrati (democracy), menneskerettigheter (human rights), historie (history), kjønnsstudier (gender studies), språk (language) og kultur (and culture).

Men ISS tilbyr også en unik mulighet (But the ISS also offers a unique opportunity) for å lære om ulike land og kulturer (to learn about different countries and cultures). Mer enn 500 studenter (More than 500 students) fra rundt 90 land (from around 90 countries) kommer til ISS hver sommer (come to the ISS every summer).

For studenter som bor i studentbolig (For students who live in the dormitory) er det mange muligheter (there are many opportunities) til å bli kjent med studenter fra hele verden (to get to know students from all over the world).

Til frokost kan du sitte i matsalen (At breakfast you might sit in the dining room) sammen med studenter fra (together with students from) Colombia, Hellas (Greece) og Etiopia (and Ethiopia). Til lunsj (At lunch), med studenter fra (with students from) Brasil (Brazil), Zimbabwe og (and) Bangladesh. Og til middag (And at dinner) kan du prate med studenter (you might chat with students) fra Pakistan, Uganda og Sør-Korea (and South Korea). Og dagen etter (And the next day) sitter du kanskje med studenter (you might sit with students) fra helt andre land (from completely different countries)!

Et annet populært arrangement (Another popular event) er den internasjonale kulturkvelden (is the International Cultural Night), en flerkulturell festival (a multicultural festival) for å feire mangfoldet ved ISS (to celebrate diversity at the ISS). Studentene presenterer tradisjonene i sine hjemland (The students present the traditions of their home countries) og viser frem tradisjonelle drakter, dans, musikk og mat (and showcase traditional costumes, dance, music, and food).

Diskusjoner med andre studenter på ISS (Discussions with other students at the ISS) utfordret mine egne fordommer (challenged my own prejudices) og oppfatninger (and perceptions) om mennesker fra andre land (about people from other countries). Det unike læringsmiljøet (The unique learning environment) ved Den internasjonale sommerskolen (at the International Summer School) tilbyr en utmerket mulighet (offers an excellent opportunity) til å øke forståelsen mellom nasjoner (to increase understanding between nations) og å fremme internasjonal godvilje (and to promote international goodwill).

This article originally appeared in the April 2023 issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.

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Christie Ericson

Christie Ericson is an academic librarian living in Anchorage, Alaska. She has a background in languages and linguistics and has been fulfilling her lifelong dream of learning the Norwegian language. She also serves as the cultural director and librarian at her local Sons of Norway lodge and is completely addicted to Selbu mitten knitting.

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