iHanna’s fall postcard swap

We all want to get mail. The right kind of mail. Forget e-mail, bills and surveys. MAIL as in postcards. Lovely handwritten postcards. Wouldn’t you like this? I made a small challenge earlier this fall – I suggested to a few twitter peeps that we all would send five postcards to friends that particular weekend. I guess we all sent store bought ones. Well, actually I sent one DIY card.

I’ve just been presented with another opportunity to craft and send my very own postcards. This time to people I have never met. How exciting isn’t that? Another bonus is that I get DIY cards in return!

Handcrafted mail! Do I have your attention? Yes? Thought so! Move over to iHanna’s web to read more. Hanna is one of these lovely creative ladies that inspire folks to do stuff like this. Twice a year she hosts a Do it Yourself Postcard Swap. All you need to do is sign up, pay 6 bucks for administration and drag out your stash of creative treasures. Or grab a magazine from the paper recycling box and start tearing pics out for collages. It can all be made simple as long as you are having fun with it! Create ten handmade postcards in any style, mail them and start enjoying that walk to your mailbox.

Create, connect & share – that’s the swap slogan!

I started on a few postcards the other day, while doing other creative work. This is how it looked. Base is red but I am sure that will change!

 

DIY postcard swap
DIY postcard swap

I am looking forward to not only creating and receiving DIY postcards but also to discover and follow the progress of participants in the postcard swap!

Are you in?

Postcard in Swedish is vykort. Vy means “view” and kort means “card”.

 

The Culture Shock of Duct Tape

When I moved to the US one of the first new English words I learnt was “duct tape”. I had simply never before had a reason to use that word in English. I’m a fan of duct tape – silvertejp in Swedish – though, and find various use for it. I had just never before came across that special use for it that made me learn the word in English. A use that was constantly hammered into my newly relocated brain. That is, as soon as I had television in my new US home sorted out. The Department of Homeland Security advised me, by airing repetitive messages on prime time, to stock up on duct tape to be able to seal my windows in case of a chemical or biological terrorist attack. Talk about culture shock. Where to had a dragged my newborn?

Well, I bought the duct tape. Thankfully I did not have to use it for sealing windows, even though it briefly crossed my mind once.

As I mentioned earlier the Swedish word for duct tape is silvertejp. You can probably decipher it – “silver” and “tape”. On Saturday I came across pink duct tape. After all it is the month of October and breast cancer awareness. Pink in Swedish is “rosa”. But what happens to the word? The tape is no longer silver?! Pink tape? Oh no, it is still silvertejp. It is just rosa (pink).

By the way; the next English word I learnt was “debris”.

Running out of ideas for duct tape? Here are some ideas including duct tape ipod case and a halloween costume.

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Swedish ABC – pop culture

Are you familiar with the Swedish ABC? Well, perhaps not this one.

Check this alphabet out to learn – or smile knowingly – about Swedish pop culture. Equally interesting whether you are Swedish, new or seasoned expat in Sweden, or simply curious.

Radio Sweden has made a compilation of Swedish culture and language in their own ABC. Listen to it by clicking the link below.

http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=2165159

Anything you want to add?

Tip for encouraging your child to speak a language

Here is a useful tip for encouraging your child to speak in another language.

Sometimes children can be a little hesitant to speak a language which is not native to them. Well, there are some tricks to help them. For instance you can use hand puppets, teddy bears or dolls. Let them “do the talking”. This makes the children feel more confident since they use another voice – it is not “them” who is speaking.

Even if children happily speak a language bringing in another character is a fun way to stimulate and encourage a conversation.

Today I met with “Bob”. Boy, did he speak a lot, in Swedish!

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If you are interested in individual Swedish language classes for children or adults read on.

Clarify your goals for learning Swedish – or any language

Goals for Learning Swedish

Goal setting is a must. Yes you have heard it before. I know. Hopefully you also practice it. Sometimes the goal for learning Swedish is “I want to be fluent” or “I want to be able to speak without FEAR”. But being a bit more specific is a wise strategy for acquiring language skills, as well as any skill. Here is some inspiration for the language learner. One of my Swedish via Skype students was recently interviewed by Digitala Affärer about learning Swedish, and her clear and highly rewarding goal of being able to participate in a Swedish conference. In Sweden. In Swedish! Link to article at bottom of post.

 

Goals for Learning Swedish – our strategy?

  • Watching videos of speeches from for instance Webbdagarna (“the Web Days”)
  1. listening comprehension
  2. summarizing; written or oral presentation
  3. reviewing, reflecting and criticizing
  4. comparing (use of language, articulation, topics)
  • “Analyzing” web pages on the topic – anything from WebCoast to small business companies within web design

 

  • Collecting internet and web related words to build glossary

 

  • Reading newspaper and magazine articles – practicing scanning and summarizing without preparation

 

  • And most importantly working towards a high confidence in speaking the Swedish language

Since the conference was scheduled we had a time frame. The work was of course always done with an eye on grammar and structure, remembering acquiring new vocabulary, pronunciation and learning about Swedish culture and phenomena!

Here is the article over at Digitala Affärer.

Link to Christas impressions of the conference

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Swedish children’s literature

Swedish children’s literature

Who haven’t heard of Pippi and Astrid Lindgren? But there’s more to it when it comes to Swedish children’s literature. When I was living abroad Swedish children’s books – in Swedish – were very important to me and hopefully to my kids too. Luggage was heavy every time we returned after a visit to Sweden. I bought tons of books.

Today, being back in Sweden, we enjoy the libraries and spend less money – not time – on books. We still carry loads home every week.

Read about Swedish children’s literature here. Did you know difficult subjects are often brought up and dealt with? Personally, I love Goodbye Mr Muffin (Adjö, herr Muffin) by Ulf Nilsson.

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Giveaway Swedish Conversation Classes

Giveaway Swedish Conversation Classes

Did you know that September the 26th is European Day of Languages?

To celebrate I am giving away one set of 2 Swedish Conversation Classes via Skype!

Learning another language is an excellent way to achieve a greater understanding of cultures that are not yet (fully) familiar to us. So, we do not only understand each other better in terms of the languages we are speaking but also because we develop our cultural competence. The Council of Europe wants to promote multilingualism, and on its initiative the European Day of Languages are celebrated on Sept 26th every year.

What about the giveaway?

A Swedish Conversation Class is perfect for you who might know at least a little bit of Swedish/have studied Swedish 😉  but are not really used to speaking the language. It also suits you if you do speak some Swedish but want to work on vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar and fluency.

All you need to do to enter the giveaway for a chance to win Swedish Conversation Classes is to

  • leave a comment below telling me the best parts of learning Swedish via Skype. Don’t forget to leave your contact info
  • like Globatris on Facebook if you haven’t already
  • and share this post

One winner will be selected, at random.  If you are the winner you will be contacted via the information you have provided in the comments (e-mail, Twitter, Facebook etc.). Together we will then schedule the lessons,  which must have been taken by end of Nov 2013.

Giveaway open for entries until Oct 3, 2013.

Read more on Swedish classes here

Only one entry per person. Lessons cannot be substituted for money.

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You can read more about the European Day of Languages here.

Growing up in Sweden

Growing up in Sweden

What does it mean to be a child in Sweden? Growing up in Sweden has many benefits.

Learn about school and vacation, family and leisure time, culture, hobbies and joining a club. What is Swedish children’s literature and do all parents work? Is there a support system for the young and how many children really play an instrument?

www.sweden.se shares the full story on Growing up in Sweden.

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Swedish music in Swedish series

Swedish music in Swedish

I know I just recently posted a tip for you for Swedish music in Swedish. I wasn’t planning on doing it again so soon but I just had to share this gorgeously soft tune, reeking with nostalgia, with you. It is like wrapping yourself in a blanket with a cup of tea – “lagom” hot of course -, watching the leaves sailing through the fall sky to find comfort on a soft, emerald lawn.

The daughter of Ted Gärdestad, Sara Zacharias, found a hidden treasure of her father’s unpublished songs. It took a few years before she decided to record them herself, and here is the beautiful result. Not only the music is Gärdestad, but also her face; the eyes! Sara says this is it; she will not pursue a career in singing; she just wanted to share these songs. Well thank you!

Source Metro

Your moving abroad sidekick. Swedish lessons via Skype. Intercultural communication.