– It was difficult, but when you talk so much with Norwegians and you are part of Norwegian society, it comes a little automatically. That’s what Ukrainian Mykhailo Lakatosh (17) says in almost completely fluent Norwegian. He fled the war in Ukraine and came to Norway in May 2022. Then the 17-year-old started secondary school at Brønnøysund in Nordland and mostly spoke to his fellow students in English. At that point he had enough to get to know everything in the new city. – But when I came back after the summer holidays, I came back to students I knew from before, so I started speaking Norwegian. Four months later, he passed the Norwegian test B1. – It is a record and a sensation. You have to look for a meal for a student for a long time, says Lakatosh Liv’s teacher Kristin Nicolaisen. The common European framework for languages The common European framework for languages is a common European level scale based on the five language skills listening, reading, oral production, oral interaction and written production. In English it is called: The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment, or CEFR. The framework, which was completed in 2001, proposes a standard European language progression consisting of six different levels from the “breakthrough level” A1 to “full mastery” C2. The basic user is at level A1 to A2. Those involved can understand and use familiar and everyday expressions to cover basic needs. The independent user is at level B1 to B2. Those involved can understand the main points in clear, standard text and speech on familiar topics that are often encountered in connection with work, school, leisure etc. And can cope in most situations. The advanced user is at level C1 to C2. Those involved can understand a wide range of advanced texts and messages that are not directly expressed. Can easily understand practically everything one hears or reads. Source: Great Norwegian Lexicon and the Directorate of Education. – I haven’t seen my husband in 38 years. The teacher says that it normally takes two years to reach the B1 level. When Lakatosh took the test in December, it was originally for the lowest level A1 to A2. But he did so well that they chose to test him at B1 on the same day, and he did brilliantly. B1 is a level one must be at in order to, for example, get a job or study at university and college in Norway. When you are there, you can manage yourself, your background, your interests and write simple coherent texts. – How good is that performance? – I haven’t seen my husband in 38 years. It’s such a high level in such a short time. It’s the best I’ve seen, says Nicolaisen. Mykhailo Lakatosh’s teacher, Liv Kristin Nicolaisen, says his work effort has been formidable. Photo: Ole-Christian Olsen / news The Ukrainian has taken advantage of all the offers he has received. Everything from homework help, Norwegian lessons and extra lessons with Nicolaisen, but the most important thing has been our fellow students. Classmate Thomas Dahle in particular has meant a lot to Lakatosh. – He has helped me a lot with Norwegian. He was also interested in learning a little Ukrainian, he says. The two have shared a desk since last autumn and Reinfjord is very impressed that he has learned fluent Norwegian so quickly. – It’s very funny. He is a very nice guy to hang out with, says Reinfjord. Classmate August Reinfjord does not think he would have managed to learn Ukrainian as quickly as Mykhailo Lakatosh has learned Norwegian. Photo: Ole-Christian Olsen / news Friends Emilia Fjelldal and Julie Haugli are also impressed by their classmate. – What do you think is the trick for him to have learned Norwegian so quickly? – He is with us who speak Norwegian every day, and then he gets a lot of input from Norwegian words. So that can make it easier, says Haugli. – The key is to speak Norwegian together Lakatosh’s classmate may be on to something, according to Olaf Husby, associate professor at the Department of Language and Literature at NTNU. – The key is that he has been allowed to be together with Norwegians and that they speak Norwegian together. That is the best way to learn languages, he says. Linguist Olaf Husby says the best way to learn Norwegian is to speak the language everyday with others. Photo: Ole-Christian Olsen / news Norwegian can be difficult to learn, says Husby. Especially with regard to language rhythm, gender, and the way we place the verb in a sentence. – We also have a specific language that many may find difficult. Husby himself has helped develop a digital Norwegian course for Ukrainian refugees, and says that getting up to B1 at that time is well done. – It is interesting that Ukrainians want to learn Norwegian. I hope that those of us who work to make it possible for them to learn the language are able to do a good job, he says and adds: – But it is not just up to the Ukrainians to learn Norwegian, we must do as Lakatosh’s group of friends. We have to be together with them and use Norwegian, then they will become good quickly.
ttn-69
