10 great ways to learn Norwegian for free
In our last article, we listed 10 reasons why learning Norwegian is a worthy investment, despite the many barriers and challenges to learning the language. Highest on the list of challenges is the high course fee. Here are 10 great ways you can learn Norwegian free of charge:
1) Free course by the municipalities: Depending on your residence permit, you might belong to the group of immigrants who have a right to free tuition in Norwegian classes offered by the municipalities (kommune). Under the current integration law, which came into effect in January 2021, you can learn Norwegian free of charge up to the level you desire – as long as it is within your period of free tuition. The duration of free tuition depends on your prior education. For those who have completed high school and above, the maximum duration of free course is 18 months, while those with a lower level, the duration is 3 years. To confirm if your residency qualifies you for free tuition, check your UDI letter or click this link to read more about the scheme.
2) The Inter-Nationals Intensive Career School in Norwegian: The Inter-Nationals Intensive Career School in Norwegian is a project run by us, Inter-Nationals. The programme aims to develop your language, educational, cultural, and professional skills so that you can kickstart your career or start your business in Norway. The career school has different tracks, and you can learn more about the offer, enrollment, and timetables by clicking this link.
3) NTNU’s Norwegian on the Web (NoW): NoW is an online course in Norwegian, where all the teaching aids are integrated on one website. It is open and free to anyone and with NoW you can learn Norwegian when or where you like. NoW was developed by experienced instructors at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and is a good investment for people who have the discipline needed for such self-studies.
4) As a single course in the university: Almost all public universities in Norway offer free Norwegian language courses to their international and Erasmus students. So, if you are a student, inquire with your (international) student office for the language offers.
The best things in life are free. Click here to learn about Inter-Nationals upskilling programme, public policy influencer programme and our intensive Norwegian exam preparatory class.
5) As a 1-year programme in the university: Almost all public Norwegian universities offer a one-year Norwegian for Foreigners course. At the end of your studies, you should be able to speak Norwegian at a B2/C1 level and your diploma allows you to take Norwegian taught degrees in Norway (minimum grade of C). You can also use it for your permanent residence or citizenship application. The programme is free, and you only have to pay the semester fee like all other students at the university. The only other cost you have to consider might be the cost of relocating to the University’s location (if applicable).
6) Through your employer: Many employers are happy to offer their foreign employees (and their spouses) sponsored Norwegian course. The bigger the company, the more likely they are able to cover this course. Smaller companies might be able to get grants to support their employees to learn Norwegian. If you are a small company or work in a company and need to learn more about such grants, reach out to us and we will link you to the write resources.
7) Klippekort scheme by IMDI: Based on stipulations in the Integration loven, not everyone in Norway is eligible to receive free Norwegian course from the government. The government is aware that those not covered by law might be learn Norwegian due to the high course fee and has introduced a grant system called Klippekort, where those affected can receive between 80 – 100 hours of free Norwegian tuition through an approved language provider. To learn more about possible offers, reach out to the providers you know and ask them if they have such courses. Some providers we know that offer the course are Alfa Skolen, AOF, Norsklærer Karense etc.
8) Språkkafe: Many people often report knowing how to read and write Norwegian, but not feeling confident enough to speak it. Going to språkkafe is one smart way to solve this problem. Språkkafe is an informal and low threshold setting where you get to practice Norwegian with other interested learners or local volunteers. Beyond language proficiency, språkkafe is also a way to expand your network.
There are many physical and digital språkkafe offers. Google “språkkafe near me” to find the nearest one that interests you most.
9) Voluntary organizations: Some of the biggest voluntary organizations like Caritas, Red Cross or immigrant organizations, offer free or low-cost Norwegian courses. Many of these courses are more regular and structured than språkkafe. Reach out to voluntary organizations near you for more details of their offer.
10) Digital apps and videos: You can learn Norwegian in a fun way from the comfort of anywhere by leveraging digital apps like Duo Lingo, Babel, Memrise, Nemo. Most of the necessary features in these apps are free. For Youtube videos, the most popular channels are Norsklærer Karense, Norwegian Teacher – Karin. The only things you need are your curiosity, self-discipline.