For the most part, Swedes are incredibly strong at speaking English. It is very rare that you ask someone to speak English and they can’t at least string together a few basic sentences here. 

When I first asked my coworker why this is, he told me that in their education system, English is as mandatory of a subject as Swedish is to them. They learn it from a young age, and are graded on it throughout the entirety of their early education. He also told me that when they take exams at the end of high school (in order to graduate and/or attend university) there is an English section, just like in America. Except in America, most of us speak English as our first language, so it is more of a standard practice. It amazes me that in other countries like Sweden, English is taught just as much as Swedish. 

I sometimes wish American schools did the same thing. While most of us take a few years of Spanish, French, or German, Swedish education allows students to branch away from English after taking it for a mandatory amount of time. Sometime in high school after practicing English since early childhood, Swedes are allowed to veer off of that language path and choose a new one to study. Oftentimes this leads Swedes to knowing the basics of 3+ languages before they even graduate high school. 

So when you go to grocery stores, retail shopping centers, coffee shops, or are taking public transportation, chances are the large majority of the people around you not only understand what you’re saying, but can confidently communicate things to you. This comes in handy quite a bit as I don’t know the Swedish language and would not be able to follow a conversation. 

I also think it is fascinating how quick Swedes can change from Swedish to English. That same coworker explained how he knows three languages fluently, and one more intermediately. When he is changing the language he speaks, he translates each word in his head beforehand. However, you would never know this from hearing him talk as he does it so quickly you don’t even realize he has to think about it. 

When my American coworker came to the office this July, he mentioned that he noticed I changed the way I phrase questions based on who I am talking to in the office. When I asked what he meant, he explained a phenomenon that I didn’t even know existed. He said that when I spoke to him (an English speaker) I placed emphasis on subjects and verbs, my voice increasing in tone towards the end of the sentence to imply it is a question. But, when I spoke to my Swedish colleagues, the emphasis was more rhythmic, with about every other word being emphasized. 

For example, to an American I would say “what are you talking about? But when I speak to my coworkers, I say “What are you talking about?” While small and not typically a big deal, the change is still there and displays a way in which I have started to adapt my communication tactics based on my cultural surroundings. The reason I started doing this is due to the fact that my coworkers sometimes could not understand me if I spoke too fast or emphasized the wrong places of a sentence. 

A similar way I started changing my communication style towards my French coworker, is that I split up contractions due to his speech pattern and the way he talked. So instead of saying things like “don’t, aren’t, and won’t,” I say “do not, are not, and will not.” This is, again, simply a way that my brain has adapted to make sure my coworkers fully understand what I am saying.

In terms of communication in the workplace, it is very similar to America. Work is delegated and there are routine check-ins every morning during the week and then Friday afternoon presentations. I honestly believe I got a job at a work office that runs much more similarly to an American workplace than a Swedish one. Our work hours are strict and consistent with few to no remote days, and for all of July we are in the office, whereas most Swedes take July off to travel or work remotely. 

While I am a bit sad to not be able to experience the “traditional” Swedish work environment to it’s fullest extent, I still am interacting with not only Swedish people everyday, but coworkers from all over the world as well. It is a privilege to be able to sit down and speak with so many wonderful people with so many different backgrounds.

Until next time!