Dear all,
I am in both a good and bad situation:
1. Swedish speaking partner
2. Swedish speaking in-laws
3. Swedish speaking friends
4. Finnish speaking majority school
5. Finnish speaking school friends (one Swedish speaking school friend)
I speak Swedish in the weekends, listen to Finnish during the day, Swedish news at night, Finnish out on the pubs.....? Can get confusing.
So, which language do you learn first, or focus your attention on? I had Swedish chosen for me, after a few family weddings, ski trips with friends etc.
Can I have some encouragement, or some tvåspråkig inspiration?
(I know this doesn't belong in Learn Finnish but where else do I put it???)
Swedish for foreigners???
- Hank W.
- The Motorhead
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Well, if you get Swedish fluency, you'll just be automatically counted into the "bättrefolk" down here by the Finns. Of course with a horrid 'pami' accent you'll be treated like something the cat brought in by the locals as you are not one of the "ankdammen" either. But as a good point, you will have chances to some areas & professions (or moving to Åland) easier. So if I was you I'd exploit the inlaws to the fullest extent and learn fluent Swedish (as its easier for the Englishspeakers anyhow.) Broken Finnish in Österbotten won't be anythging extraordinary and your Finnish will be anglo-broken anyhow I guess.
Cheers, Hank W.
sitting here like a lemon looking for a gin.
sitting here like a lemon looking for a gin.
I'm in the same situation.
Swedish speaking in-laws, most of the 'friends' are Swedish speaking. If you have some German language skills the Swedish will come gradually. I learnt it within a year, without really studying it. I can manage pretty ok with Swedish.
Focus on the Finnish. You're going to find a lot more problems in there. You'll need all your time for that. Especially if you're using mostly Swedish.
Swedish speaking in-laws, most of the 'friends' are Swedish speaking. If you have some German language skills the Swedish will come gradually. I learnt it within a year, without really studying it. I can manage pretty ok with Swedish.
Focus on the Finnish. You're going to find a lot more problems in there. You'll need all your time for that. Especially if you're using mostly Swedish.