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Physiotherapist’s Journey to Swedish C1 Fluency
Physiotherapist Overcomes Challenges to Achieve C1 Level in Swedish for Career in Sweden Success story : Journey to Language Fluency
Achieving Swedish Fluency: Ivana’s Roadmap to TISUS Success
Practical advice from Ivana on how to boost your Swedish skills and prepare effectively for the TISUS exam.
Hej! I am Ivana. I am 43 years old. I come from Croatia and have lived in Sweden for 6 years. I currently live in a small town near Stockholm. I graduated from medical school. In Croatia I worked as a teacher in medical education and now I plan to apply for a Swedish medical license.
1. What motivated you to start learning Swedish in the first place?
I wanted to move to Sweden. I loved it when I first visited Sweden in 2015 and when I made the decision to leave Croatia, Sweden seemed like a logical choice.
2. Can you share your experience with the Tisus exams? How did you prepare for them?
I learned Swedish to a sufficient level. In my case it was C1, but I think one could also do it at a strong B2 level.
- I started with Babbel, an online platform for learning languages. I did all their regular courses and some special ones. And then språkcafés, online and live, enabled me to activate that knowledge. Those two things got me to B1 level.
- I also translated 3/4 of a book from Swedish to Croatian, which was crucial in establishing what I would call an emotional connection between the two languages. It helped me to start feeling the Swedish language through visualizing the differences between Swedish and Croatian, and finding ways to express the same things but in different ways.
- Singing in Swedish also helped. For me, it is the most fun and an effortless way to build vocabulary, albeit with somewhat limited utility. 🙂 And it also helps a lot with pronunciation. Especially if one makes recordings.
- In the fall of last year, I took Online Swedish courses, B2 and Writing & Speaking, and that took me in just a few months to a level where I could work as a teacher in Sweden, teaching natural sciences in adult education. I especially liked the W&S course because it is so well and versatilely designed that it boosts all aspects of learning – grammar, writing, vocabulary, listening, speaking (plus presenting which is even a higher form of speech). However, this course requires dedication and effort as there is a lot of homework. I wrote every single one of them, although most of them after the end of the course, which was 28 texts in total amounting to somewhat more than 10.000 words.
- Two months of teaching in Swedish also served as a kind of intensive language course.
- After that, in April this year, I took the Online Swedish C1 course which gave my Swedish a final polish.
After that I specifically prepared for TISUS for a few weeks.
- I took the Online Swedish TISUS preparation course which included tasks such as listening to radio plays, writing critiques of philosopher’s ideas, writing texts on the spot describing watched videos, TISUS specialized speaking sessions, etc. It was really helpful to put one’s knowledge into practice and test in all these ways.
- For the first part of TISUS, reading comprehension, and the second, the writing part, I did mock exams, trying to emulate the exam as much as possible, respecting the time and conditions I would have for the actual exam. So that there are no surprises during the exam itself.
- For the oral part of the exam, I prepared using the official materials we received by email a week before the exam. For each key word or question in these documents, I read at least two articles so I am well informed. I think I read more than 100 articles. And then I practiced talking about those topics during my long walks. I must have looked funny to passersby but I only cared that I look good and well prepared for TISUS. 🙂
- I also found it very helpful to be a part of the WhatsApp group where colleagues from Online Swedish and I shared useful information about the exam and encouraged each other.
3. How long did it take you to reach a level where you felt confident to take the exams?
7 or 8 years. 🙂 With years-long pauses in between. When I studied, I studied relentlessly, sometimes 4 to 8 hours a day. Especially in the beginning. But it would only be for a month or two. And then months or years passed without doing anything.
Last year, however, I did most of the work. I started in March with språkcafés. I knew I had to make every bit of my knowledge active and usable. And there’s no better way of doing it than språkcafés.
Being in a real school, Online Swedish, helped a lot in achieving continuity. It is very easy to get sidetracked when you’re doing things on your own. But having people around, a teacher and colleagues, can carry you part of the way when you are too tired to walk on your own.
Of course one needs to do the work oneself, there’s no way around it. So my advice would be, be alert, pay attention in class, take notes, ask questions, do the homework… be in it, want it.
Although I have to say, Online Swedish is very effective when it comes to passive uptake of knowledge. The courses are so well designed in terms of well-chosen texts, the methodology, and, of course, great teaching, that knowledge has a way of reaching the brain without much effort.
4. Did you face any challenges during your language learning journey? If so, how did you overcome them?
I am not sure what you mean by challenges… But what comes to my mind are health problems that I had, some of which left me in bed with nothing to do but think. In all, I spent a year and a half of my life lying in bed in such a state. And more years went by visiting doctors and trying to live a more normal life. I wasn’t thinking of learning Swedish at that time. For 4 years I didn’t touch it.
During that period I was isolated and disappointed in life and myself, but it also made me look for a better way. And I found it.
Also, my health problems helped me see medicine from a patient perspective, which inspired me to try to change something for the better.
5. What resources or methods did you find most helpful in improving your Swedish language skills?
It all turned out to be very helpful, otherwise I wouldn’t pursue it – Babbel, språkcafés, translating, Online Swedish courses, working as a teacher, preparing for TISUS… but if I had to choose one thing, it would be språkcafés.
That’s what helped me the most. One cannot learn to speak a language without actually speaking it. And contrary to some advice like “use your Swedish wherever you can”, I’d say it wasn’t helpful to me.
It wasn’t until B2 level that I started using Swedish in real life situations. Before that, it was actually counterproductive. I’d go to the store, gather the courage and ask something in Swedish, then either the person wouldn’t understand me or I wouldn’t understand them and then they’d quickly switch to English, and I’d feel awful thinking: “I’ll never learn this…”
However, in språkcafés it is like a playground. No one expects you to understand or speak well. So I was as relaxed as could be.
I went to every språkcafé in my area – in three parishes in the Swedish church and the local library, and online: Kompis Sverige, Online Swedish, Röda Korset, Meetup groups, and I made it clear to everyone that I was ready to practice Swedish anytime and with anyone who is willing to talk to me. Soon I had my own WhatsApp groups and I even run my own språkcafé now once a week. As a hobby. That is how much I love it.
The Online Swedish språkcafé is the best I’ve been to because it is not time limited. And I set myself the goal of leaving last. While one person was present, I stayed. In the beginning, I would stay for more than 5 hours, I would be so tired that at the end I would hardly know my name. But I knew: when my brain wanted to give up, then it was the time to push it harder. Because then the physiology of the brain starts to change and the brain learns. Also, the best speakers tend to stay longer because they can endure it, so that is when you have the opportunity to learn from the best.
Språkcafés are, in my opinion, the cheapest way to learn Swedish – in terms of time, effort and money. So my advice would be: when you have absolutely no motivation, just come to språkcafés. At least you will maintain the level you are currently at.
6. Did you participate in any language exchange programs or language meetups to practice speaking Swedish with native speakers? How did that impact your learning?
No, but I was lucky to live in Sweden. Although I didn’t use that opportunity for 4 years. But when I started using it, I made the most of it. I wanted to become part of Swedish society. I wanted to get to know the people who live here and learn how they think and why.
The most helpful in that sense was the Swedish Church. It is simply a magical place that welcomes people with open arms. I am Catholic and not a member, but the moment I start working I’ll start paying taxes for the Swedish church because it has given me so much.
Nowadays I volunteer there, I sing in two choirs, I am a member of a walking group, I visit their summer cafes, språkcafés, etc. And no one has ever approached me with any religious agenda. And I learned so much from them – from their generosity, openness, their practical approach to faith and their wonderful spiritual music. My husband jokes that I became a Protestant without realizing it, but I would say that thanks to Protestants I became a better Catholic.
In my opinion, the Swedish church is the heart of the Swedish people and I would recommend it to everyone regardless of religious affiliation. It makes one’s life richer, in any way one needs it.
7. How did passing the exams positively affect your personal or professional life?
Well… it wasn’t so much passing the exam as being on the way to it. Although it is easy to say that now, with a certificate in the pocket.
But really, it wasn’t TISUS alone but the desire for something better, to achieve things… a true life, not just survival, that transformed me as a person.
As for the certificate… Yes, it’s certainly a useful achievement. As far as I know, it is the strongest certificate when it comes to the Swedish language. For example, it is recognized if one wants to obtain a Swedish medical license, a Swedish teaching license or study at Swedish universities. So yes, I’ve had my eye on it since 2017 because it opens some possibilities.
8. Were there any specific strategies you used to boost your vocabulary and comprehension skills in Swedish?
I don’t really know, I get uncomfortable even being asked about it.. 🙂 I hate working on vocabulary. I still haven’t found a good way to do it. At least not better than taking those boring Online Swedish vocabulary courses. 😉 If I find a better method, I’ll be sure to let the world know about it.
I think Babbel also has a good vocabulary building method, at least at entry levels.
As for comprehension, I assume you mean understanding people when they speak. Well, that is still one of my pain points. I have to say that I was always bored listening to podcasts, no matter what they were about. And especially watching Swedish movies or TV series. What puts me off is that subtitles rarely match what is being said in the movie in the exact way and that just distracts me. So when it comes to understanding, I just speak to people, in språkcafés or in real life situations.
Although when it comes to talking to native Swedes, I rarely understand more than 80-90%. And sometimes I have to ask to switch to English, especially during phone conversations about important things like health, issuing documents, and so on.
But a language is a living organism created by millions of people over millennia, it needs to be approached humbly. I would say that now at the C1 level I feel like a real beginner. Now I can better understand how vast the Swedish language is and I am looking forward to really start learning it.
9. Did you find any cultural aspects or differences in the language that were challenging to understand? How did you overcome them? For example, Swedish may have certain idiomatic expressions that don't directly translate to other languages or cultural references that are specific to Swedish society. Understanding and adapting to these cultural aspects can sometimes pose a challenge for language learners.
Of the languages I studied, and apart from Swedish, these are English, French, German and Latin, Swedish was the easiest for me to learn. Partly because it is very similar to English in terms of grammar and vocabulary. And partly because I think Swedish grammar is fairly simple and functional. There are rules regarding both grammar and pronunciation. Being able to pronounce things reasonably well right from the start means a lot when it comes to motivation to keep learning.
But there are still a lot of things I have difficulties with:
- prepositions, of course: In Croatian we use different prepositions in the same expressions. For example, to be afraid of something would be the same as in English att vara rädd av något, but in Swedish it is att vara rädd för något. I try to overcome this by paying special attention to prepositions and their use whenever I come across them. I am like a dog that always has one ear alert when it comes to prepositions.
- matching articles/pronouns, adjectives and nouns in spoken language: When I am writing, I don’t have a problem with this, I just apply the rules I’ve learned. Because then I have enough time to think about it. However at the speed of spoken language, all kinds of combinations occur like denna svarta katten, mitt röda bordet, and so on.
- which past tense to use: Is it presens perfekt (har varit) or preteritum (var)? I am not perfect at this in English either, but I’ve listened to English so much that it comes automatically. So, like I said, I need to find a way to motivate myself to start listening to Swedish more.
- simple expressions that I haven’t come across yet: For example, it seems to me that there are a million different ways to greet someone and ask “How are you?” in Swedish, and I always come across some I haven’t heard before. 🙂
When it comes to cultural differences, I tend not to focus on differences, but on points of contact. I look for ways new experiences can change me for the better and ways in which I can bring something of value in return. And as I said before, translating from Swedish to Croatian, at a level of quality that would be sufficient for the publication of the text, helped a lot with that.
10. What advice would you give to others who are currently learning Swedish and aiming to pass the exams?
- I don’t know if there is much use in giving advice. We all have unique brains and therefore have to find our own specific ways when it comes to such complex activities as learning a new language. However, if I had to give some advice it would be:
First, go to språkcafés. I repeat, there is no language learning without actually speaking. And when you are in språkcafé, please don’t just sit there and sulk because we all didn’t tend to you. Take a step and participate in the conversation. Moreover, make it your personal goal to create good atmosphere for others. If you don’t make it only about yourself, it will pay off way beyond your language skills, believe me. I have a lot of experience with this.
Second, find something fun and interesting for yourself. Not only when it comes to learning Swedish, but in general. If I may paraphrase Friedrich Nietzsche: “The one who has a why can bear any how.” And love is the most powerful why of all.
So love it and you will succeed.
For example:
- I hate listening to podcasts but I love språkcafés so I do that instead.
- I hate doing text summaries, but I like to analyze texts, so I spice up my summaries with analysis.
- I like to sing so I found some Swedish songs to improve my pronunciation.
And finally, put in the effort. As one of the best Swedish athletes, Ingmar Stenmark, said: “I don’t know anything about luck, but the harder I train, the luckier I get.”
Online Swedish, thank you for everything you’ve given me, and for this opportunity to share my experiences with others. May the sky be your limit.
