How one international student in Norway found not one but two part-time jobs to help pay the bills, plus advice on how you can do the same.

It’s no secret that getting a job in Norway is hard for foreigners. Between the language barrier, tax office confusion, and visa/residence permit requirements applying for a job can seem daunting.

Getting a job as a student can be even harder as you can only apply for part-time jobs and have a class schedule to work around. Hopefully the story of how I got my first two jobs can be helpful for those on the search.

When I first arrived in Norway one year ago I didn’t speak a single word of Norwegian. I spent the first semester getting accustomed to living in Norway and improving my language skills. It wasn’t until returning from summer break for my first semester of my Masters degree that I started looking for jobs.

Opportunities at University

The first job I applied for, and eventually got, is at my university. Campuses are one of the few places where there are jobs specifically for students and positions where you can speak English. During orientation I learned about my school’s writing center and decided to look into employment opportunities there.

I found out that most of the writing advisors were from English-Speaking countries and realized that there was a need at my university for native or fluent English speakers to assist with the University’s writing course.  I applied to be a writing advisor in the fall, had an interview in the winter and started working there around 7 hours a week this spring semester.

For this position I only speak and help with papers written in English. Other on-campus jobs such as at the gym or café/cafeteria can also be good options to look at for your first job in Norway.

Fitness instructor

My second job is working as a fitness instructor at a local gym. I will say that while I teach my classes in English that I doubt I would have gotten the position if I did not speak any Norwegian. I applied with my CV written in English and my Cover Letter written in Norwegian (which my boyfriend proofread before sending in).

My interview took place entirely in Norwegian. My grammar was awful and there were several times I had to ask my interviewer to repeat herself but overall she was happy I made an effort in Norwegian and was impressed that I could communicate so well after less than a year of living here.

I was not previously certified as a fitness instructor and was happy that the gym paid for my certification and was willing to hire someone inexperienced. If you enjoy going to group classes or have a passion for fitness this could be a great option for you! That being said, a fitness instructor is usually only hired to teach a few classes so don’t expect to work more than a couple hours a week.

Other options for students

Cafes, restaurants, and bars are also possibilities. One of my friends got a part-time job at a local coffee shop, but she also had a year of learning Norwegian under her belt. It took plenty of patience and one full year until I got my first job in Norway.

Learning the language is absolutely the key to getting most positions but keep an eye out for opportunities at your school. Good luck on your job search!

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During my undergraduate degree I spent a semester abroad in Spain. The thought of living in a new country and speaking a new language was daunting.

I had taken five years of Spanish in high school and college and still did not feel completely prepared.

Once I arrived in Spain however, the knowledge I had gained from years of practice took over and I had no issues communicating or taking upper-level geology classes in Spanish.

Learn Norwegian Now: Norwegian Class 101 / The Mystery of Nils

This was not the same experience I had when I moved to Norway. Unlike Spanish, which is available at most high schools and universities, Norwegian is not as accessible to learn outside of the country. I had not prepared at all and was thrown into the deep end upon arrival.

Read more: Learn Fluent Norwegian In Just Six Months

I took an introductory Norwegian for Foreigners course at my university, but found that meeting once a week was not enough for me to see significant improvement in my language skills.

There is always the option to take classes at a private language school, but as a student the cost of those courses is a bit beyond my budget.

I instead looked into ways I could self-teach myself Norwegian. There are several language learning apps, Youtube channels, and books dedicated to learning Norwegian.

While I certainly have not tried all of them, I have gone through quite a few and thought it may be helpful to share my recommendations.

Norwegian on the Web

is a great resource created by professors at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

This completely free website allows you to learn Norwegian through increasingly longer paragraphs and dialogues which follow international students spending a semester at NTNU.

As a student, I found this to be particularly helpful as much of the vocabulary was related to university life and studying abroad. I also really felt that I could see how much progress I was making since by the end of the course I was reading full pages of text.

Read more: Learn Norwegian Through A Story

There is a book version of Norwegian on the Web as well which I highly recommend. I prefer the book since vocabulary/definitions are listed on the side of the pages making the chapters easier to follow.

On the website you have to navigate back and forth from one web page to another to look up new words which isn’t as convenient. This is my personal favorite and I hope they come out with a second book/webpage for B1-B2.

Duolingo

is a website and app that allows you to learn several different languages. The app relies entirely on activities to teach you a new language.

One plus about Duolingo is it gives you the option to test out of skills. So if you already know basic Norwegian you don’t have to start at level one. I liked this app a lot more before it was recently updated.

Read more: Learn Norwegian With Duolingo

While it is still free, the update only allows you so many wrong answers before not letting you continue learning new lessons. The only way around this is to review easier lessons or to pay for immediate access.

It is still a good app however, and works well on the go as the lesson you are working on is available offline.

It is very interactive and allows you to hear the pronunciation quite clearly and at normal and slow speeds. I would recommend using the desktop version of the website instead of the app since you also have to speak out loud online.

The Mystery of Nils

The Mystery of Nils is a book where you learn Norwegian through a story.

It is formatted in a similar way to Norwegian on the Web but is fictional. There are also several activities in each chapter. Audio files reading each chapter aloud are available on the website.

The Mystery of Nils is written in two parts, with Part 1 being A1-A2 and Part 2 being B1-B2.

I have currently only purchased Part 1 but will definitely be buying Part 2 once I have finished the first book. I really enjoy learning Norwegian through storytelling and seeing the words in context.

Learn Norwegian Now: Norwegian Class 101 / The Mystery of Nils

This book does not rank as high as Norwegian on the Web in my mind however, as the fanciful vocabulary is not as practical.

Use children's books to learn Norwegian

If you are already living in Norway take advantage of the public libraries. When I first moved to Norway I would check out 3 children’s books every week to learn vocabulary from.

The pictures and simple sentences make stories easy to follow. I started out getting books that only had one sentence on each page and gradually worked my way up to more advanced children’s books.

The post How to Teach Yourself Norwegian appeared first on 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.

Whether you’re a one-year folkehøgskole student, a student spending a semester abroad, or an international student starting a degree in Norway, you’ll likely be wondering what to pack for your time in Scandinavia. This may be especially true if you come from an area with a vastly different climate (I’m from San Diego).

If you’ve flown domestically in the United States like me, then you are used to the 50-pound check-on limit. Unfortunately, the standard check-on bag on Norwegian Airlines and other European Airlines is approximately 44 pounds (20 kilos) so get ready to jam everything you can into your suitcase!

Pro Tip: Place your heavier items in your carry-on but leave it with a friend when you go up to the counter to check in so they won’t see it and weigh it. There are no scales at the gate so as long as your bag is small enough you can usually get away with some extra pounds.

Here are my tips and suggestions for what to bring for a semester in Norway.

1. Warm clothing

Unless you are only spending the months of May-September in Southern Norway, you are going to need some pretty warm clothes. Most Norwegians wear wool in the winter, as it is the best fabric at keeping you warm. I am allergic to wool, and often wear long underwear or thermals under my clothing in place of a wool sweater.

Pro Tip: Wear your heaviest jacket on the plane even if you’re flying there in the summer. You may look silly at the airport but it’s a much better alternative to taking up half the space in your suitcase! For extra space I also stashed gloves and a hat in the jacket pockets!

2. Waterproof shoes

A basic pair of black boots that can be worn with multiple outfits and in all sorts of weather are indispensible. With limited room in your suitcase, you won’t want to bring any shoes that can only be worn with a select few outfits.

3. Outdoor/Athletic clothing

Many universities offer programs for international students to participate in. My university did a fun and completely free trip to Kongsberg to go skiing one weekend. I ended up having to borrow snow pants since I didn’t think I would be participating in any outdoor sports prior to arrival.

Cross-country skiing is hard enough to pick up even if you’re not wearing pants three sizes too large! Norwegians are also quite active so bringing workout clothes is a must in order to join friends on hiking excursions.

4. A never-been-worn pair of gym shoes

If you plan on working out at a gym in Norway, you’ll need to bring a pair of shoes specifically for the gym. This surprised me, as in the United States you walk into the gym in your shoes. In Norway you must change into your workout shoes in the entry hall as they will not allow you to wear shoes inside the gym that have been worn outside.

5. Formal clothing

I’ve found that going out to parties is often a bit more formal than in the states. Men usually wear button down shirts with dress pants and perhaps even ties and a sports jacket.

Tip for girls: bring a black dress! Norwegian girls wear black dresses to parties 99% of the time. While I don’t mind being a bit different with my style on a day-to-day basis, being the only girl at a party in a colored dress isn’t the most comfortable feeling in the world (I speak from experience).

6. Your favorite sweets

If you have room in your suitcase, make sure to bring your favorite candies from home. The employee at REMA 1000 looked at me like I was crazy when I asked if they had peanut butter M&M’s. In addition to not having the full selection of sweets you may be used to, the price of candy is a lot higher!

7. Prescriptions

Many places in Norway will not accept prescriptions from outside of the country. To prevent having to get a new prescription from a Norwegian doctor, request a vacation amount of all prescriptions from your home pharmacy before you go.

What not to bring

Sweatpants. I’m looking at you, Americans! Norwegians dress more formal than Americans and you will not see them in sweatpants, even in class.

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