Swedish as a Second Language study plan
Swedish as a Second Language · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Reading & Writing
Map the exam's reading task types and writing task types, then write a one-page inventory of what each task actually demands of you
Read two 600-word Swedish news articles per session and mark every unknown word, then sort those words into high-frequency and low-frequency lists
Draft three 150-word opinion paragraphs on familiar topics and label each sentence by its function (claim, example, concession, conclusion)
Record yourself reading one article aloud and note where pronunciation slowed your comprehension
Your checkpoint
A vocabulary notebook of 120 sorted words plus three labelled 150-word paragraphs
Reading & Writing
Practice skimming a 700-word text for main idea in under four minutes, then answer three global questions without rereading
Build a personal connector list (dock, däremot, följaktligen, å ena sidan) and insert at least eight of them into rewritten paragraphs
Paraphrase five dense source sentences into plain Swedish to train inference and summary skills
Write one 250-word argumentative text with a clear thesis, two supporting reasons, and a counterargument
Your checkpoint
One 250-word argumentative text with a self-scored checklist covering thesis, connectors, and counterargument
Reading & Writing
Complete six timed reading sets (20 minutes each) and log the error type for every wrong answer
Rewrite two of your own paragraphs for formal register, removing spoken forms and tightening sentence length
Practice inferring meaning of unknown compounds from their parts across 20 examples
Self-edit one text using a fixed checklist: agreement, word order in subordinate clauses, verb tense consistency
Your checkpoint
An error log of 30 reading mistakes classified by cause, plus one fully self-edited 300-word text
Listening & Speaking
Listen to 15 minutes of authentic Swedish radio daily and write a three-sentence summary from memory only
Identify the main point and two supporting details in five short audio clips without pausing
Record a two-minute monologue on a personal topic and transcribe it to spot grammar slips
Practice shadowing one 90-second clip until your rhythm and stress match the original
Your checkpoint
A listening log of seven daily summaries plus one shadowing recording compared to the source
Listening & Speaking
Take notes in Swedish while listening to a five-minute lecture, then reconstruct the structure from notes alone
Distinguish speaker attitude and hedging (kanske, troligen, å andra sidan) in ten short exchanges
Hold a five-minute unprepared conversation or self-recording on an abstract topic using at least three discourse markers
Practice repairing breakdowns: rephrase a message three ways when a listener signals confusion
Your checkpoint
A five-minute recorded monologue with a self-assessment rubric scored on fluency, range, accuracy, and coherence
Reading & Listening
Pair reading and listening on the same news story, then compare what each modality emphasized
Answer eight inference questions where the answer is implied but not stated
Practice catching numbers, names, and dates in fast speech across ten clips
Summarize one 800-word text in exactly 100 words
Your checkpoint
One 100-word summary scored against the source for coverage and accuracy
Writing & Speaking
Write one full timed essay under exam conditions and revise it the next day with fresh eyes
Deliver a three-minute prepared talk with an outline only, no full script
Practice linking spoken ideas with signposting phrases so a listener can follow your structure
Reduce filler and hesitation by re-recording the same talk twice and comparing
Your checkpoint
One timed essay plus two recordings of the same talk with a counted reduction in fillers
Reading & Writing & Listening & Speaking
Run two full mock exams under strict timing and score each section honestly
Review only your top ten recurring errors from weeks 1-7 and drill them
Do one final mixed session rotating reading, listening, writing, and speaking in exam order
Write a short personal checklist of strategies to use in the first five minutes of each section
Your checkpoint
Two scored mock exams with a one-page strategy checklist for exam day
Milestones
Week 2: You can skim an unfamiliar 700-word Swedish text and state its main idea in one sentence within four minutes
Week 4: You understand the main point and two details of an unpaused authentic clip, and your recorded monologue runs two minutes with understandable structure
Week 6: Your reading error log shows fewer inference errors than in week 3, and your 100-word summary covers the source's key claims
Week 8: Both mock exams are completed within time, with section scores recorded and your top ten error patterns listed for final review