Norwegian is said to be one of the easiest languages in the world for a native English speaker to learn. The reason is that from a linguistic perspective, the languages have a lot in common: the way verbs work, word order (in many, but not all cases), and a large amount of shared vocabulary, although the Norwegian language has fewer words compared to English. Composite words are commonplace, whereby two words are compounded to make a new one.

Tove Jane notes that perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of learning Norwegian is that Norwegians generally don’t make it easy for expatriates to practice their Norwegian. Norwegians will gladly switch to English once a non-Norwegian person enters the conversation. It is commonly said that you don’t need to speak Norwegian to live in Oslo, but that is not the case in all of Norway. 

Showing interest in learning the language shows colleagues respect and a positive attitude towards the culture. However, in many cases, Norwegian is the fourth or fifth language of immigrants to Norway. Tove Jane has experienced high-level executives who understand Norwegian perfectly but lack the confidence of speaking. Many are looking to learn so they can communicate more effectively and connect with their teams. For practicing, she suggests engaging in conversation with someone outside the company or family. The New 2 Norway team consists of knowledgeable teachers who can customize their programs to fit the needs of the individual learner. Classes are offered to individuals or to small groups of up to six persons.