EPN-V2

NOBE6000 Norwegian Language for Foreign Students, Beginner Level Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Norsk språk for internasjonale studenter, begynnernivå
Study programme
Norwegian Language for Foreign Students, Beginner Level
Weight
7.5 ECTS
Year of study
2025/2026
Curriculum
FALL 2025
SPRING 2026
Schedule
Programme description
Course history

Introduction

The Beginner’s course of Norwegian is an introduction to some main aspects of Norwegian language. The objective of the course is to enable the candidates to understand and produce Norwegian in some common social contexts.

Learning outcomes

The objective of the course is to enable the candidates to understand and produce Norwegian in some common social contexts. By the end of the course the candidates should be able to:

Knowledge

  • apply a basic vocabulary of isolated words and phrases related to particular concrete, familiar situations, in oral and written language production
  • apply basic grammatical structures and sentence patterns in Norwegian in oral and written language production
  • understand and use familiar everyday Norwegian expressions and very basic Norwegian phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type

Skills

  • read and understand short, simple texts in Norwegian by recognizing familiar words and basic phrases
  • write simple Norwegian phrases and sentences about themselves and imaginary people, where they live and what they do
  • pronounce a repertoire of learnt words and phrases in a way that can be understood with some effort by native speakers

General Competence

  • interact in a simple way using Norwegian, and follow simple directions in Norwegian provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help introduce themselves and others
  • ask and answer questions in Norwegian about personal details such as where they live, people they know and activities they like
  • ask and answer simple questions, initiate basic conversation and express immediate needs
  • respond in Norwegian to simple statements on everyday topics

Content

Making society more knowledge based is conveyed through a number of official documents. It has often been about increasing access to research-based knowledge in order for the decision makers to base their work more on evidence. In the health services, this tradition is called Evidence-based Practice (EBP), in Norwegian Kunnskapsbasert praksis (KBP). Internationally, the field is known under the umbrella term Knowledge Translation (KT) and offers an alternative strategy to EBP. It is known under various names within different traditions and academic fields.

Knowledge Translation looks at how knowledge garnered from research can be made more applicable through different forms of 'translation strategies'. Hence, the attention has increasingly been drawn towards the quality of research and how it is translated and implemented - not only the decision makers' ability to find, evaluate and apply research. The research results can, in other words, be hard to access, not 'translated' well enough, or not well enough adapted and implemented to local contexts to be applied to society. Knowledge translation is about an effort to meet these challenges.

The course will cover a number of different strategies and interventions concerning what can be done to apply research in an easier way. This could be situations where we increase society's general insight into what research has demonstrated when decisions have been made in society, or when services or methods are developed, further developed or implemented. Put in another way: how should we proceed to reduce the gap between 'what research tells us' and 'what we actually do'? Whether in the short or long run, the main goal of all research is to improve society. This can only happen when we close this gap.

We talk about two types of translation within the field of Knowledge Translation. In the so-called 'End-of-Grant KT', the translation of the research starts after the research results are ready and the research project is complete. 'Integrated KT' has become increasingly prevalent and requires that those who use the research also take part when that research is developed and when it is translated, implemented and integrated into new contexts. This is in line with the increased attention on user participation in research and coproduction of knowledge. Knowledge translation is therefore about mutual cooperation between society and research over time. This cooperation consists of different contributions and different forms of knowledge, but the shared common goal is to improve the basis for decision-making with a view to creating a better society. These are key perspectives of the course.

The course is developed through a collaboration with the network organisation 'Presenter - Making Sense of Science'.

Teaching and learning methods

The course activities include:

  • Reading comprehension practice
  • Listening comprehension practice
  • Conversation practice
  • Grammar exercises
  • Written assignments

Course requirements

80 % attendance is required.

It is compulsory to attend the seminars, and students are required to participate in course activities. These activities are essential for developing knowledge, skills, and overall competence, as they provide students with the opportunity to articulate and discuss key course topics.

Assessment

Course Code: NOBE6000.

Exam Form: Written and oral exam in pairs.

Semester: By the end of the semester.

The final assessment consists of a one-hour written exam arranged in INSPERA and consists of a 20-minute oral exam in pairs. Both the written and oral exams are organized on campus, under supervision. The students have to pass both the written and the oral part to obtain the final grade.

Re-examination

In case of failing the exam or in case of valid absence at the time of the exam, the student is entitled to make a renewed attempt the next semester. The re-examination will be arranged in the same manner as the regular exam. The students are themselves responsible for registering for the re-examination within given deadlines.

Permitted exam materials and equipment

No helping resources are allowed for the final exams.

Grading scale

The assessment criteria correspond to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages descriptions of A1-level language competencies. The grading scale used in the final assessment is the ECTS-grading scale, Pass/Fail.

Examiners

The final exams are assessed by internal examiners.

Admission requirements

Target Group

The target group of the course is international exchange students who are admitted to the study programmes at OsloMet for the current term.

Admission

International exchange students, who are admitted to the study programmes at Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet) for the current term, will be given priority over other applicants. Other categories of international students who currently follow study programmes at OsloMet, may be admitted to the course provided that there will be available places. Trainees through the ‘Akademisk dugnad’ at OsloMet must be approved by the Section for Internationalisation and must meet the general admission requirements for Higher Education Entrance Qualification (GSK).

The following categories will not be able to apply for the course:

  • Applicants with equivalent or higher language competence
  • Other categories of applicants, who are not international students at OsloMet
  • Students with ordinary admission to OsloMet

Ranking of qualified applicants

Qualified applicants will be ranked in the following order:

  • Erasmus+ students and trainees.
  • Exchange students from other exchange programmes.
  • Trainees through the ‘Akademisk dugnad’ at OsloMet and have been recommended by the Section for Internationalisation.
  • Master’s degree programme students.

Applicants in each category will be ranked according to drawing of lots principle.