Why so many people in Scandinavia can speak perfect English?

Question

I have met or seen on TV a lot of common people, of all ages, from Sweden or Norway speaking great English. How do they learn English, what is the process? Thanks

Answer 1

3 factors:
1) Scandinavians watch their TV either in their own languages or in English with subtitles (and not dubbed, as in the case in Italy, France, Spain, Germany). When it comes to movies/TV series/documentaries, the latter (thanks to the strong US/British film & TV industry) is predominant, so they are used to hearing a lot of English on TV and in the cinema of course. For that reason you´ll find that the Dutch speak excellent English too.
2) The Danish, Swedes and Norwegians speak a Germanic language, and English is a Germanic language too (although from a different branch, and nearer to Dutch or German). (Finnish has nothing to do with this group btw if you´re talking about geographical Scandinavia, but you can apply nº 1 and 3 for the Finns). So a Swede would have easier access to a related language than other people in the world (compare it to an English-speaking person trying to learn German or Japanese, the first one would be easier for him or her).
3) Scandinavian languages are not spoken by many people, Swedish has around 9 million speakers, Danish and Norwegian around 5 million. If you want to trade and do business (or travel or find out information or look for a lover or whatever), you have to communicate (eg: compare that to Spanish speakers who can communicate with 400 million people in the same language). Necessity makes you ready to communicate and English is, at the moment at least, the international language of communication.

Answer 2

The children start learning English in elementary school. I find that many of the younger generation have a strong desire to speak 'American' English, not the British English they learn in school. American movies and music is very much a part of society(with English subtitles on the screen). My husband is Norwegian and I find that the 30's and 40's age group is mixed. Some have a very small English vocabulary, but broken and others are extremely fluent, because of travels and jobs. Most of the older generation do not speak English at all. I also find that many can speak it, but are very shy and afraid to speak it for fear of sounding ignorant.
There are over 200 dialects in this small, but beautiful country and depending on where you're from, the English can sound completely different from one person to the next.
The grammar is a bit different compared to English. Many times, I am correcting people(and vice versa) with their verb tenses. Though it's correct in Norwegian, it can be wrong in English. Or it simply just doesn't translate.
I am finally fluent enough to communicate and work in Norwegian society, but it takes many many years to speak like a native. ANd if you live here, you HAVE to speak the language if you want to be a part of society.

Answer 3

In Scandinavia you'll be able to get by way of with English simplest, however if you happen to plan to stick there for various months you must study the regional language, if just for politeness. But I located got here in touch with a couple of regional individuals (revenue individuals on a marketplace) and written language (in museums, on stations) in which a few potential of the language was once wanted. (I am fortunate that my possess language is close Norwegian and I would good continue to exist in the ones circumstances.)

Answer 4

British or American films/etc. are in English, subtitled in their own language. They are taught English very early at school. Same goes for the Netherlands (Holland).

That being said, apparently, in Norway, they tend to speak English but it's a copy of their language (= they tend to follow Norwegian grammar rules). That's what someone told me, but I've never been there, so I'm not 100% sure.

Answer 5

I used to know a girl who was from California, but moved to Sweden---she said the kids are her school learn English.

Answer 6

I asked a Swede this once- she told me that it was required for them to be fluent in 2 or 3 languages. English just happened tobe one of the ones she chose... and that she and many others work/study abroad to perfect their fluency.

Answer 7

They watch a lot of Brit & American shows
They have to learn it in school
Their language is pretty close to English