Norwegian on the Web 1 (NoW1)

What kind of course?

NoW1 is an online self-study course in Norwegian at entry level, where all the teaching aids are integrated on a website, free of charge. NoW1 is developed at Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, by experienced teachers.

For whom?

NoW1 is open to all who want to learn Norwegian. The content is also specially designed for learners who study or work at NTNU. The latter can get a wider range of services with classroom instruction. As a student or employee at NTNU, you can apply for admission to the classroom courses and access to exams.

Read more on https://www.ntnu edu/norwegiancourse

You will find Norwegian on the Web 1 at https://www.ntnu.edu/now/info/guide

What will you learn?

The chapters 1–6 lead to knowledge equivalent to level A1/A2 of the Common European

Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment (CEFR). The chapters 7–10 lead to skills at level A2/B1.

Norwegian on the Web 1 (NoW1) focuses on basic grammatical rules of inflection and word order such as verb tenses, gender and number of nouns, the pronoun system and the word order in main and subordinate clauses.

In addition, NoW1 focuses on the use of familiar everyday expressions and basic vocabulary. The learners should for example be able to introduce themselves and others.

They should also be able to ask and reply to questions about everyday life and personal details such as where they live, family and friends and spare time, using different tenses.

The learners are supposed to be able to interact in a simple way, provided people talk slowly and clearly and are prepared to help.

What is the content of NoW1?

NoW1 consists of texts with audio recordings and vocabulary lists, grammar and various types of exercises related to the texts, pronunciation training and some extra material

The textbook contains the main parts of the online course. In addition, a workbook has been developed (Norwegian on the Web 1 Workbook), mainly for classroom use.

The exercises in this book are not the same as those online.

The 2nd edition is adapted to the situation at NTNU today, where a large part of the learners come from non-European countries. In addition, we have integrated NTNU’s campuses in Gjøvik and Ålesund in the new texts and exercises.

TEXTS

(TEXTBOOK/ONLINE)

The texts follow some foreign students and employees at NTNU who travel to Norway, establish themselves there and start studying or working at the university. Each chapter is supplemented with the following sections:

GRAMMAR (TEXTBOOK/ONLINE)

Each chapter deals with specific grammatical subjects, but in a simple notion that does not require any advanced knowledge of grammar. There are also several grammar videos online in addition to a larger overall presentation of the Norwegian grammar in second language perspective.

PRONUNCIATION (TEXTBOOK/ONLINE)

This section contains brief descriptions of the focused topics related to the pronunciation of Norwegian. It also addresses the relationship between written and spoken Norwegian. A more detailed presentation is given in the larger overall presentation of the Norwegian grammar.

LISTENING EXERCISES (ONLINE)

Here you will find exercises related to listening and pronunciation.

EXERCISES (ONLINE)

Here you will find interactive, self-correcting exercises

VOCABULARY (TEXTBOOK/ONLINE)

This section provides information on systematic vocabulary : inflected forms, pronunciation and translation of the words. The course has lists of different levels: the individual text (textbook/online), each chapter (online) and for the whole course together (online).

EXTRAS (TEXTBOOK/ONLINE)

In this section there is supplementary material such as more grammar, vocabulary lists, short texts and videos

MORE MATERIAL (ONLINE)

On the NoW1 page you can also find e.g. a user’s manual (see Info – Guide) and various background material. Under Info – Downloads the user finds most of the course material in the form of PDF files that can be downloaded and printed.

We would like to thank our colleagues at NTNU, Anne Dahl, Heidi Borghild Helgå and Lena Hveding for all their support, feedback and useful comments throughout the work with the second edition of this book.

PROJECT MEMBERS (SECOND EDITION)

Åsta Øvregaard, Sissel Robbins, Hege K.S Langfjæran, Birte Hillestad, Olaf Husby and Dominique Heyler.

Spoken Norwegian

WHICH FORM OF NORWEGIAN ARE YOU GOING TO LEARN?

As there is no spoken standard Norwegian, the second language learner may experience quite big differences between spoken forms of Norwegian (dialects) when it comes to the vocabulary, intonation and speech sound inventory. In addition, there are two written forms, Bokmål and Nynorsk.

In this course you will study Bokmål. Within Bokmål there are optional forms. In this course we have chosen forms that are closer to the Trondheim and Oslo dialect

There are different speech sound inventories for the different dialects. In this course we will be using the sound system of Central Eastern Norwegian as a reference. Central Eastern Norwegian is a general label for dialects found in areas around Oslo. As teachers come from different parts of Norway, they will be using the regional intonation patterns when speaking Norwegian. Spoken Bokmål based on Central Eastern Norwegian sound system with regional intonation patterns is commonly used in introductory courses in Norwegian for adults For short we will label this form of Norwegian as “spoken Bokmål” Norwegians in general speak a dialect. Some dialects are closer to spoken Bokmål than others. As Norwegians in general hesitate to convert to “spoken Bokmål” in communication with foreigners, beginners may experience difficulties in understanding the Norwegians who maintain speaking with dialect forms instead of converting to spoken Bokmål.

Chapter 1

Going to Trondheim

What to learn

• introducing oneself

• making simple statements and questions

• making simple negative statements

• numbers

Main grammar

• personal pronouns

• present tense of the verb

• word order