Coming to Michigan as a freshman, I had two goals for foreign language study: to pick up a new language, and to study abroad. Having French language for five years and using it on an exchange program in France was an invaluable way to expand cultural perspective, and to learn about art and literature that was formerly inaccessable. Taking up Swedish, especially because it was a lesser known language, has been as valuable as French has been.U of M's program with Uppsala University, an exceptionally strong and well-recognized university in Scandinavia, sold me on Swedish. Though I enjoyed the aesthetics of Swedish language as well, Uppsala offered a path less taken in foreign study to round out my undergraduate education. Having a unique resume in a school of 36,000 is helpful, especially for those pursuing international studies.
John Polley
Why Spanish? Why French? If you took Spanish in high-school but didn't like it, why continue? You only need two years proficiency for a language in LSA so why not try something new. Not to mention that when everybody else is taking placement exams during orientation you can go play around Ann Arbor.
In Swedish the classes are small. Sure it means that you feel like an idiot when you forget things (take it from me on this one), but you do get better, quickly. In the small class size you can get practically all the personal attention you can handle and thus your opportunity to improve in conversations increases greatly. The smaller class may seem intimidating but soon it becomes a great help. The people in the class get closer and actually help each other out.
Want to study abroad? If you want to go to Spain, you practically have to have straight A's in Spanish because the competition is so high. For Swedish we help each other out and are truly happy when one of us gets to go abroad.
Why Swedish? If you can give me reasons why not to take a "less common" language while the opportunity presents itself, call me and let me know.
Joel Wesch
Why Swedish? Why Sweden? I have been asked these questions more times than I can remember. I chose Swedish for a number of reasons. It is a unique language that only a small percentage of people in the world know and it allows me to be a unique American. Swedish is spoken in Sweden, which is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. I wanted to learn something which would make me an individual and expand my knowledge of the world a bit more. I wanted to learn something that everybody else didn't have.
When I tell people that I can speak Swedish the most common response is "Oh yeah, I took Spanish in high school." I didn't say Spanish, but Swedish, then their eyes light up and they are immediately interested. Why wouldn't they be, it is a very interesting culture and language. I wouldn't be in it otherwise. Through learning the Swedish language I have learned so much about the world that I had no idea ever went on. Anyone who would like to expand their knowledge and become an individual should take Swedish. It will teach you things you never knew!
Nicole Vance
The Swedish independent study has been extremely beneficial in my preparation to travel abroad. I feel that I have gained the confidence in both my speaking and writing abilities. I wish that the Swedish program would recieve more publicity because I think it is an amazing language rich with culture.
I have recieved personal attention as well as direct advice on how to learn a new language. I think that my case was specific in that I already had a grasp on the language but that I was attempting to back up and learn the grammar and erase some of the bad habits that I had developed in my speaking.
For this class I focused heavily on reading a book which consisted of over 400 pages. This was a giant task for me seeing as how I had never read an entire book in Swedish. I was able to read and then write weekly responses followed up by a meeting in which we discussed the reading and my writing responses. Each week there was different focus that I tried to work on to better my grammar. First it started out as very obvious mistakes and I feel that I graduated to mistakes that were imbedded into the rules of the language that I just had to memorize.
In all, I am so glad I had the opportunity to take this course and feel that people who have a grasp on the language and a desire to learn it in depth should definitely grab the opportunity. I hope that as many people can benefit as much as I feel I have throughout the course of this semester.
I take Swedish for many reasons, including the fact that I want to study in Sweden and be able to function in the society with an absolute feeling that I am able. I know that there are not that many Swedish programs offered in the United States, so I feel fortunate that we have it available to us here at the University of Michigan. I am hoping that in the future I will see more students take interest to this language because it truly is beautiful and to be able to go to Sweden and feel as though you fit in is one of the most rewarding feelings that I can think of.
Erica OsbornYes, my family and friends did think it was strange
when I told them I was going to study Swedish. I am
not of Swedish descent, nor did I have any relation to
Sweden at all. What motivated me to register for
Swedish was probably my frustrating two-day experience
in an overcrowded French 103 course. I wanted to take
a language course in which I would be able to get to
know the teacher and the students on a more personal
level, which is exactly what I found Swedish 101 to
be.The course extended beyond merely learning the
language and became a lesson in Swedish culture as
well. The instructor's enthusiasm about teaching was
contagious, and several students (including myself)
chose to study Swedish abroad, either in Sweden or
another Swedish speaking country. At a university
as large as Michigan, studying Swedish is a unique
opportunity to experience a small, personalized classroom
setting where oen can truly get to know their teacher and
classmates. The fact that it is also fun is just an added bonus!Liisa Isaacson
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