Overcome Stagnation in Learning Norwegian

In the previous article, I wrote about a very common problem of getting stuck at the intermediate level. Now I'm going to suggest some solutions. As you progress beyond the basics, you will reach a plateau, a point where the strategies that worked before are no longer effective. In this article, we will discuss some methods that can help you break through this plateau and continue to make progress toward fluency.

Understanding the Intermediate Plateau

The intermediate plateau is a stage of language learning where things get harder and progress slows down, but you are not yet ready to just go out and talk to people. You have already mastered the most common and easy-to-learn words and are now struggling with less frequent and more difficult vocabulary. You feel no satisfaction from either rapid progress or mastery of the language, and it sucks. This is probably the most frustrating stage of language learning. Many people give up at this point.

Counterintuitively, the feeling of getting stuck described above is a sign of progress. Language acquisition takes time, and periods of stagnation are an integral part of the process. You may think that you are bad at language learning, but in fact you have just moved from beginner to intermediate. You have mastered the basics and are now dealing with more advanced elements of the language.

What got you here will not get you further. It's time to change your strategy. You should put away the introductory resources and start practicing Norwegian on something that feels more real. The following sections will present several methods to help you do this.

Methods for Intermediate Learners

Extensive reading

Extensive reading is a simple but powerful method of language learning. It's about reading a lot of text with a high level of comprehension. The texts should be interesting and chosen by the reader. Essentially, you read a book or article that you can understand without having to translate every second word. You don't analyze the text, you just enjoy reading it. The word "extensive" implies that you have to read a lot. The large amount of reading is a key to success.

Extensive reading is a great way to improve not only your reading comprehension, but also your overall language skills. It allows you to see new words and phrases in context, which makes them easier to understand. If you want to try this method, find books or articles that are at your current level and read them for pleasure rather than for learning.

The problem with regular books and newspapers is that they require a fairly high level of language proficiency. If authentic literature written for native speakers is too difficult for you, look for easy readers - texts written in simple language for learners. You can take a look at our collection of easy readers and find reading materials that match your interests.

Podcasts

Podcasts are a great way to improve your listening skills and get exposure to authentic, living language. However, it is difficult to understand natural Norwegian if you only know the basics. For this reason, it's not necessarily a good idea to use regular podcasts as your main learning resource. Instead, you can listen to special podcasts in simplified Norwegian that are adressed to language learners. They are a perfect link between beginner material and authentic content made for fluent speakers.

To get the most out of podcasts, listen regularly and at a pace that is comfortable for you. It also helps to listen to the same episode several times. You may have trouble understanding what is being said the first time you listen to an episode. After a few listenings, you will understand more. Repetition will also help you memorize words and phrases that appear in that episode.

My favorite podcast for intermediate learners is Lær norsk nå! The author uses simple vocabulary and speaks very clearly, like a friendly Norwegian talking to a foreigner who hasn't yet mastered the language. You can learn a lot about Norway, its culture and history from this podcast. The Norskpodden and Norsklærer Karense podcasts are also good, but a bit more advanced. On the LingQ app you can find episodes of several podcasts with transcriptions.

Watching TV

Watching Norwegian movies and TV series is an easy and enjoyable way to immerse yourself in the language in a natural context. You can turn binge-watching into an effective learning habit.

Even if you don't know more than half of the words used in a movie, you can effectively learn the language from it, as long as you can understand the gist of what is being said and follow the plot. The images and story provide the context that helps you understand what is happening on screen. The opportunity to enjoy authentic content, even if you don't understand many words, makes watching movies and TV a very attractive method of language learning.

Many good Norwegian movies, TV series and programs are available for free on the national broadcaster NRK. There are also some interesting titles on Netflix. If you have trouble understanding original Norwegian productions, you can watch dubbed versions of world-famous films. Many children's movies on Disney+ have Norwegian sound and subtitles. You can find a film you have seen several times and use your knowledge of the plot to make sense of new Norwegian words that appear in the dubbed version.

Speaking

When you start learning Norwegian, you should focus on comprehension, but as you progress to the intermediate level, you will need to add more speaking practice. If you have patient Norwegian friends who want to talk to you, you can practice with them. However, you will probably face one common problem. When Norwegians hear that the person they are talking to is not fluent in their language, they usually switch to English. Tell them you want them to speak Norwegian. Your friends may be willing to help you learn their language if you openly ask for it.

When you talk with friends, communication is more important than learning. It would be sad if you only had superficial and boring conversations before becoming fluent. When you practice with a friend, start speaking in Norwegian and switch to English when you feel that you are losing the connection. After some time you will be able to hold a good conversation in Norwegian from the beginning to the end.

If you don't have friends who speak Norwegian, you can look for conversation partners in places that have been created for this purpose. In all cities and many towns in Norway you can find so-called language cafes. These are group meetings where language learners practice speaking through conversation or other interactive activities. You can also try a language exchange (or language tandem) - practice speaking with a Norwegian speaker in exchange for helping them learn your language. Another option is to hire a tutor, for example at Preply. Language cafes, language exchanges or lessons with a tutor give you practice in a safe environment before you reach the point where you feel comfortable speaking Norwegian in natural situations.

Conclusion

Overcoming the intermediate plateau requires adapting your strategies to match your growing skills and increasing difficulty level. Although it may feel frustrating, with the right methods you can continue to move toward fluency. Extensive reading, listening to podcasts, watching television, and various forms of speaking practice are all effective ways to improve your language skills. By immersing yourself in comprehensible and enjoyable content and speaking Norwegian in a safe and supportive environment, you'll steadily build your vocabulary, comprehension and confidence.

Try at least one of these methods today to break through the plateau and move towards fluency! If you would like to get some personalized guidance in learning Norwegian on your own, you may want to consider my tutoring service on iTalki.