General provisions

The course is a freestanding course.

Entry requirements

Basic eligibility for university studies (except the Swedish language requirement) is required for admission to the course. The course Basic Swedish 1 (or the equivalent skill in Swedish) is also required.

Learning outcomes

The goal of this course is to help students with foreign education backgrounds and native languages other than the Scandinavian languages and Finnish to acquire basic skills in the Swedish language and some knowledge about Swedish culture and society. The course will provide a basis for further studies in Swedish than can provide the competence in Swedish required to pursue university studies in Sweden.

After completing the course, students will:

• be able to demonstrate knowledge of and apply fairly accurately the rules of Swedihs language structure
• have a vocabulary of everyday words and phrases
• be able to communicate verbally about everyday topics with Swedes in Swedish
• be able to hold short presentations about factual topics
• be able fo tollow and participate in simple conversations and discussions about familiar topics and events
• be able to gain a general understanding of what is said in some TV programs, such as nows programs, that do not make excessive demands of the student (i.e. that do not require lengthy contextual understanding or prior knowledge)
• be able to read and comprehend short news items and articles of various kinds, such as those in newspapers
• be able to recount experiences and events
• be able to respond in writing and comment on various facts/opinions in formally simple written language
• be able to explain in writing in a simple manner their own opinions and experiences
• be able to demonstrate some knowledge about Sweden and Swedes, as well as Swedish culture

Content

Exercises in verbal communication. Exercises in listening comprehension. Systematic review and training in basic grammatical structures and the pinciples of pronunciation. Reading, both of textbooks and of simple, authentic Swedish texts. Writing exercises. Introduction to Swedish society and culture.

Instruction

The instruction consists of lectures and group exercises, partly in the language lab.

Assessment

Assessment will be carried out continuously throughout the course. In addition, there will be a written and possibly an oral exam at the end of the course. A two-grade scale (Pass, Fail) will be utilised. Students must complete required course assignments before they may take the final exam. there will be a re-test arranged (within a reasonable time after the original exam) for students who fail the final exam.

Other regulations

The course is intended primarily for exchange students of all levels but subject to availability other students with foreign educational backgrounds may be considered. In both cases it is necessary for the applicant to be enrolled in the student register (Uppdok) of their main department at Uppsala University before an application can be granted.