Course content

The Introductory Program has two main components: Norwegian language and Norwegian social studies. These components make an integrated whole where the main focus is on Norwegian language. The students are expected to participate actively in classes and to do the required homework. Tests that are evenly spread throughout the term will be given to let the students know how they are doing, but these grades will not count as part of the final grade. The students will learn 'Bokmål'.

In all parts of the course, emphasis will be on giving students practice in everyday Norwegian. Students will work with dictations and pronunciation exercises in a language laboratory, and with grammatical exercises, reading texts, role playing, lectures, conversation, presentations, reports and free writing. They are encouraged to use Norwegian mass media, and to bring home audio-based exercise programs.
In the first term the students follow a common curriculum mainly based on textbooks for Norwegian as a second language (e.g. Manne: Ny i Norge and Bo i Norge, or Ellingsen og MacDonald: På vei og Stein på stein, text books and exercises) together with grammar for foreigners (e.g. MacDonald: Norsk grammatikk for fremmedspråklige with work grammar and workbook).

In the second term teaching covers a common curriculum from textbooks (e.g. Ellingsen and MacDonald: Her på berget) and authentic texts giving the students basic knowledge of contemporary Norway and the historical foundations for the country's social systems and norms of interaction. In addition current information from Norwegian mass media is used extensively.

The aim of the social studies instruction is to give students information on practical things that are important for adapting to life as a student in Norway,
inform them about current social debate through material from mass media, give knowledge of central periods in Norwegian history and in chosen subjects such as geography, the Norwegian political system, social, family and welfare politics, Norwegian economic politics, main features of the development of Norwegian trade and industry, issues of minorities in Norway, and Norwegian religious life.
Throughout the second term students will also work with an individual paper; a term paper (for instance from the student’s own field of study) which will be presented as an oral presentation to the group.

Learning outcome

After completing the Introductory Program students must have attained skills in oral and written Norwegian to satisfying the matriculation requirements of a grade E or better in order to be accepted to academic courses.

Learning methods and activities

The Introductory Program is a dense, demanding full time program over two terms with 12 teaching hours a week, including exercises in a language laboratory. In addition to this there is group teaching one hour a week (conversation training). The course has obligatory attendance with a great deal of homework. The students forfeit their rights to carry on taking the course and to take the exam if they do not attend at least one of the first two lectures (unless written notification has been handed in in advance).
More on assessment:
As the Introductory Program has obligatory attendance and demands for exercises to be handed in, students must have a minimum of 80% attendance and at least 20 submitted and approved written works (including the term paper) by the end of the course in order to sit the exam. The size of the term paper must be between 5-10 typed A4-pages (line spacing 1.5).
The Introductory Program ends in May with a written and oral exam extending over two days. The written exam is 6 hours. The exam time is divided into 1 hour for a dictation/listening test in a language laboratory and 5 hours for testing formal knowledge (grammar and linguistic understanding) and free writing of about 400-500 words. Dictionaries are not allowed during the written exam.
The oral exam is about 20 minutes long. Before the examination begins, the candidate has 20 minutes to read an unfamiliar text which will be the basis for some of the examination. Dictionaries can be used when reading the unfamiliar text. The candidate may also be tested with the individual paper (the term paper) as starting point.
Separate grades are given for the written and the oral exam. The written exam counts 2/3 while the oral exam counts 1/3 in the combined grade. Both the written and the oral exam need to be passed in order to pass the exam. Both exam parts need to be retaken in a fail situation.

Compulsory assignments

• 1 term paper with supervision
• 19 approved written exercises with supervision
• Oral presentation of the term paper
• 80% attendance (obligatory attendance one of the first two lectures)

Specific conditions

Credit reductions