Yes, watching Norwegian TV-series is a valid strategy to learn Norwegian. Here at Inlearn, we strongly believe that getting properly immersed within the Norwegian language and culture is essential to become proficient in Norwegian. This is to say that you can use media as an entertaining learning tool! This article will give you a list of recommended pieces of media to watch, and how to properly use them.
When it comes to free Norwegian media, NRK TV reigns supreme. Here all users within Norway can gain access to not only Norwegian TV-series, but English-speaking shows of all genres. They even all have Norwegian subtitles. This is the website we will focus on for this blogpost.
English and Norwegian shows with Norwegian subtitles
For those around at an A1 or A2 level of Norwegian proficiency, watching English-speaking shows with Norwegian subtitles is a great way to combine your studies with entertainment. Here you just got to choose a genre or show that you’re interested in, and pay attention to the subtitles.
Currently, there are animal documentaries like Attenboroughs Asia and crime thrillers like Shetland that are available to watch with Norwegian subtitles. There are also multiple seasons of the British show Heartbeat that have Norwegian Nynorsk subtitles, and not the usual Bokmål.
For those with an A2, B1 or B2 level of Norwegian proficiency, it might be more fitting to go for fully Norwegian-speaking shows. Here there is also a great selection to choose from.
We can recommend the historical drama Atlantic Crossing, which in addition to being a show in Norwegian, also lets you immerse yourself in Norwegian history and cultural memory. This makes it a great motivator to continue to learn, and fantastic to be aware of while in Norway.
If you are interested in nature and wildlife, we can also recommend any show featuring Lars Monsen, which teaches you about Norwegian nature along with the language. All these shows also have Norwegian subtitles even when they are speaking Norwegian, which can help a lot with the learning process.
Norwegian news programs
Norwegian news is another great resource that not only will helps you learn the language – it also keeps you updated on relevant topics. All Norwegian news you will find at NRK TV will also have Norwegian subtitles. In contrast to international TV-series, there won’t really be any English voices to be heard on Norwegian news. However, this could still be a good resource for those with a lower level of Norwegian proficiency.
For those at the A1 or A2 level, Supernytt could be a good option. This is a news program aimed at children from around 8-14 years old, but that also means it contains simple language that you will be able to understand.
One slight exception to the lack of English voices is Urix. This program covers more international news, and thus has a slightly higher volume of English.
For those at a B1 or B2 level, you just need to choose what you are interested in the main NRK TV news page. Here you will see a wide array of different programs, from more national news, to debates, documentaries, local district news and international news.
In particular, we can recommend checking out the Dagsnytt 18 program, which contains short, day-relevant debates and coverage which contains more casual language.
Debatten is also a good choice, which is similar to Dagsnytt 18, but usually tackles more serious topics.
Norwegian comedy shows
You may think comedy shows might just give you a false and ridiculous view on society, however we think that comedy actually often help to highlight modern topics and cultural phenomenons more than anything. Note that these shows are almost fully Norwegian, with little English.
One such show we recommend is Førstegangstjenesten, which shows exaggerated and hilarious versions of the people you might come across in your daily life, while being set in a fun Norwegian Armed Forces setting.
Another show we recommend is Karl Johan, which combines street interviews, parodies and messing with people to create something really funny.
Another recommendation is Svart Humor, which involves immigrants a lot, and more than anything highlights cultural differences and misunderstandings in language.
The last show we recommend is unique in the sense that it is animated, being Norske grønnsaker. Because it is an animated show, it gives you clear visuals to help you understand the story being told, and suits well for those at an A1 or A2 level.
What about the next step?
As we’ve seen, watching shows and news programs can be a great tool to feel more integrated and aware of Norwegian culture and society, and to feel more confident and motivated to learn the language.
At Inlearn, our teachers strive to really get you eager to learn and truly enjoy the process of learning Norwegian. We offer officially approved Norwegian courses from the A1 to B2 level, where we strongly believe in social learning environments, flexibility and personal connections as ways to learn.
Interested? Please check out our courses in Oslo, or online.
Or alternatively, contact us with any questions at +47 99 09 05 90 or info@inlearn.no 😃
