Why do Swedes learn the English language so easily?

[preslove]

Most western European countries teach their school children English from an early age because the combined economic/cultural power of England and the US make it almost necessary. I was talking to a hungarian chick the other week and she said that she was required to take english from the third grade & that she wished that she was born in an English speaking country because she really wouldn't have to learn a different language.

Most Germans learn English, but few know a word of Polish, yet Poland is right next door.

 

[Aquaman]

Bork Bork Bork!

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[2soX]

Originally posted by: Foxery
Because they value learning languages more than most cultures do. They put in more effort than most of us, and succeed.

Along with most non-American cultures I might add.
But I got my theory, not many people in the world speak their languages, so extra effort is placed in learning English and other languages to succeed.

As far as who... and how many people speak what they speak...

http://www.photius.com/rankings/languages2.html

 

[marvdmartian]

Originally posted by: Aquaman
Bork Bork Bork!

Cheers,
Aquaman

Exactly what I was going to say! Years & years of watching the Swedish Chef on the Muppet Show!! :laugh:

My favorite was when he made popcorn, but they don't have that one on Youtube.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Foxery
Because they value learning languages more than most cultures do. They put in more effort than most of us, and succeed.

It doesn't require much effort at all, it should come naturally to a kid. If you teach a kid another language, they'll pick it up ultra-fast. It requires effort when you try to learn too late.

My friend and his brother came from Hong Kong and while he has an accent (he was about 8 when he came over), his brother has no accent (he was 3)

 

[LS21]

i would say that the average swede / fin / norwegian under the age of 50 are more proficient at english than the average american

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
Norwegians speak it almost natively. Scandinavia has probably the most intelligent people on the planet.

Yup...they are the happiest as well (specifically Denmark) since they expectations are so low!

 

[Carlis]

The Scandinavian languages are to small to provide a healthy market for film and and games etc. Most people in Sweden see more American films than Swedish ones and therefore learn pronunciation's etc. As soon as you pick up a slightly odd interest, any sources you read are going to be in English. If you study at a university, most of the literature is in English. At my university, a large fraction of the lectures are in English. All courses beyond 'basic' level are open to exchange students and teachers will usually start a course by asking if there are any foreign students attending. All in all, the state and the society expects you to know English.

 

[CasioTech]

I had a swedish friend, he learned his english watching seinfeld reruns.

 

[Rage187]

The dutch learn English just as well as the Swedes.

 

[uli2000]

Originally posted by: Rage187
The dutch learn English just as well as the Swedes.

Just what I was going to say. I worked in London for a couple of years, and we had a few Swedes, Danes, and Dutch in the office, and they spoke better english than the Brits.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: uli2000

Originally posted by: Rage187
The dutch learn English just as well as the Swedes.

Just what I was going to say. I worked in London for a couple of years, and we had a few Swedes, Danes, and Dutch in the office, and they spoke better english than the Brits.

Better English than the Brits? Doubtful. Exaggeration FTL.

 

[0roo0roo]

At its theatrical release in Sweden, the film was given the Swedish title Producenterna (The Producers), but it was not a success then. After it was re-released under the title Det våras för Hitler (Springtime for Hitler), it scored with the Swedish audience. Because of this, all of Mel Brooks' films were given a title with Det våras för... (Springtime For...) in Sweden, up until Life Stinks (Det våras för slummen, Springtime For The Slums). For example, Blazing Saddles was retitled Det våras för sheriffen (Springtime For The Sheriff) and Spaceballs was retitled Det våras för rymden (Springtime For Space). After this, Mel Brooks himself has complained at the Swedish habit of always calling his films something with 'Springtime For...' and so, his last two films have been called Robin Hood: Karlar i trikåer (Robin Hood: Men in Tights) and Dracula: Död men lycklig (Dracula: Dead and Loving It), although the latter is called Det våras för Dracula on the Swedish DVD cover.[15] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T..._film)#Cultural_legacy

lol

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: Foxery
Because they value learning languages more than most cultures do. They put in more effort than most of us, and succeed.

Or because they have a far greater need to learn multiple languages than Americans do. If each state in the U.S. spoke a different language, you can bet regular school curriculum would require learning 3 or 4 different languages. Instead we have one language that covers nearly the entire continent.

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Originally posted by: paulxcook

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
Norwegians speak it almost natively. Scandinavia has probably the most intelligent people on the planet.

Which is weird when you think about how they descend from wacko Viking pillagers.

Christianity never dominated their culture as much as in some other countries, that helped keep the intelligence level up

English is pretty easy to learn btw, not to mention that it has a lot in common with the Scandinavian, Dutch, German and Fresian languages. (Last one is more closely related to Old-English I'd say)

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Originally posted by: cubby1223

Originally posted by: Foxery
Because they value learning languages more than most cultures do. They put in more effort than most of us, and succeed.

Or because they have a far greater need to learn multiple languages than Americans do. If each state in the U.S. spoke a different language, you can bet regular school curriculum would require learning 3 or 4 different languages. Instead we have one language that covers nearly the entire continent.

Spanish you mean?

 

[dbk]

Because education is guaranteed....via ridiculous amounts of taxation.

 

[Mardeth]

Go Filppula! In finland you start learning english at age 10 and youre required to study it for a minimum of 6 years...

 

[Shortass]

Having just spent 6 months in Sweden I chuckled when reading this title. Pretty much everyone in Sweden spoke spectacular English (and by pretty much everyone I mean literally everyone except for a single fisherman I met in Stockholm...), but as mentioned about English is both compulsory for a while in primary schools and a large majority of their television programming is in English. This was awesome for me; I got to watch Star Trek, Lost, Scrubs and dozens of movies and got to check out sweet subtitles to boot.

Also, cool region, Scandinavia rocks.

 

[Rage187]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ

Originally posted by: uli2000

Originally posted by: Rage187
The dutch learn English just as well as the Swedes.

Just what I was going to say. I worked in London for a couple of years, and we had a few Swedes, Danes, and Dutch in the office, and they spoke better english than the Brits.

Better English than the Brits? Doubtful. Exaggeration FTL.

I'm sure he meant American English. big difference.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: Aquaman
Bork Bork Bork!

Cheers,
Aquaman

I dont think I have laughed that hard in a long time...for some reason I found that fucking hilarious.

 

[kage69]

and then william the conqueror, a viking, took the whole country.

Not trying to dispute that the UK (and Ireland for that matter) has a lot of Viking ancestry, but I was under the impression that William the Conqueror was a Norman...you know, from Normandy. Last I checked Normandy was a portion of Northern France, not a locale in Scandinavia. I know that after defeating the Saxons at Hastings he fought raiding Vikings somewhat regularly.

Ahh William...probably the most painful and nastiest death on record. And he probably deserved it.

 

[kage69]

Because education is guaranteed....via ridiculous amounts of taxation.

Ridiculous? Really? That region has stellar education, health-care, public transportation, and it's pretty cool how everything is just well, clean.

I'd say it's the US that is ridiculous in those areas, the Scandinavians seem to have it figured out pretty well. I don't enjoy paying taxes myself, but I'd be reluctant to call their system ridiculous when our own is far more...in need of tweaking. We let corporate America insulate itself in foreign countries in a time of war and with a health care crisis in the mail. How's that been working out for us?

We'd do well to learn from our Nordic friends, they have more to offer us than well made ocean going vessels and IKEA merch.