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Swedish Language and History Classes







Are you taking a trip to Sweden? Or maybe you want to keep up your Swedish language skills you
learned earlier. Whatever your motivation, you are invited to take Swedish language classes.
Classes are offered year round, including beginning, intermediate and advanced Swedish. Costs vary.
Average class size is eight to 12 students.
During the coronavirus pandemic, most classes are online only. E-mail for information and video links.
Fill out a registration form and return it to Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109.
One of our instructors, Laura Wideburg, literally wrote the book for once-a-week language students. In fact, she's written six of them. They're the textbooks for several of our classes—get yours today!
During the coronavirus pandemic, most classes are online only. E-mail for information and video links.
Fill out a registration form and return it to Swedish Club, 1920 Dexter Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109.
One of our instructors, Laura Wideburg, literally wrote the book for once-a-week language students. In fact, she's written six of them. They're the textbooks for several of our classes—get yours today!
- Beginning I–IV: Start with no Swedish at all and work through Swedish: The Basics and Swedish: More Basics. Pronunciation, basic grammar, basic conversation, etc. At the end of the year, students should know about 1,500 words/phrases and how to use them in sentences. IV is offered in summer to review and fill the gap between classes.
- Intermediate I–III: Work through Swedish: Beyond the Basics. Review and build on Swedish vocabulary, grammar and conversation. Beginning and Intermediate add up to a year of college-level studies and a vocabulary of 3,000–4,000 words.
- Advanced: Bring your Swedish to 5,000 words with Becoming Fluent Step One, Step Two and Step Three.
- Expert: Various levels. C is the highest level for the most fluent.
Winter 2023 Schedule |
Students: Download class materials here |
Saturday SeminarsLanguage: Swedish PronunciationOnline; 30-student limit Saturday, Jan. 28, 10:30 a.m.–12 noon Instructor: Laura A. Wideburg, Ph.D. An in-depth review of Swedish pronunciation. Perhaps you’ve just started learning Swedish or perhaps you are an Intermediate or Advanced learner who would like a brush-up. Maybe you sing in a Swedish choir and need to know how to pronounce those lovely verses properly. You will leave this seminar with a better grasp of pronunciation of Swedish! $25 | |
Culture: What Makes the Swedish Language Swedish? Online; 30-student limit Saturday, Feb. 11, 10:30 a.m.–12 noon Instructor: Laura A. Wideburg, Ph.D. Curious about the Swedish language in history? When did the Swedish language start? How is it different from Old Norse? How did the language develop over the centuries? Why do we say that Swedish is a cousin of the English language? In this seminar, we’re not learning Swedish—we’re learning about Swedish! Fun facts galore! $25 | |
ClassesCulture: Poverty Sweden (Fattigsverige)Online; 30-student limit Mondays, Jan. 9–Mar. 6, 5:30–7 p.m. Instructor: Laura A. Wideburg, Ph.D. Texts: Handouts provided by instructor Taught in English After the Great Power era, Sweden fell into desperate poverty. Sweden’s military was in tatters after the death of Charles XII. Plague and famine stalked the land. Once the law forbidding emigration was lifted, up to a million Swedes left Sweden for the United States, hoping for better land and a better life. Once workers began striking and a massacre ensued, Sweden was ready to try a different path—one that brought the country out of poverty and into the modern era. $95 | |
Conversation: Beginning to Intermediate
Online Thursdays, Jan. 12–Mar. 9, 6:45–7:45 p.m. Instructor: Jack Rogalla Have a desire to learn to speak Swedish with confidence? This class will practice basic questions and answers and give you the chance to practice what you’re learning. Concurrent enrollment in Beginning or Intermediate classes helpful. $95 members; $124 general public | |
Conversation: Expert
Online Fridays, Jan. 13–Mar. 10, noon to 1 p.m. Instructor: Catharina Lundin Come practice your spoken Swedish! Topics vary by student interest and current events. Laughs guaranteed in a welcoming atmosphere! Requirement: Enrollment in or completion of Advanced III or equivalent. $95 members; $124 general public | |
Beginning Swedish I
Online; 18-student limit Thursdays, Jan. 12–Mar. 9 5:30–7 p.m. Instructor: Laura A Wideburg, Ph.D. Text: Swedish: The Basics by Laura A. Wideburg (please purchase before class begins) Start with the basics! In this class we start with the basic word Tack and its variations. We cover the family as we move through nouns and present-tense verbs. At the end of the class, we practice ordering a sandwich and a slice of princess cake (prinsesstårta). Covers the text Swedish: The Basics from the beginning to Chapter 3. The book is used throughout the first-year series. $114 members; $144 general public | |
Beginning Swedish II Section 1 In person Mondays, Jan. 9–Mar. 6 7:45–9:15 p.m. Instructor: Britt Fletcher Section 2 Online Thursdays, Jan. 12–Mar. 9, 5–6:30 p.m. Instructor: Jack Rogalla Text: Swedish: The Basics by Laura A. Wideburg (please purchase before class begins) Continue your journey with the Swedish language! This class is the second in the first-year series and covers Chapters 4–6 of the Basics. We look at Swedish nature, shopping and travel within Sweden, while adding more vocabulary and phrases as we learn standard verbs, adjectives and in order to describe people and things and time expressions. $114 members; $144 general public | |
Intermediate II Section 1 Online Tuesdays, Jan. 10–Mar. 7, 5:30–7 p.m. Instructor: Laura A. Wideburg, Ph.D. Section 2 Online Tuesdays, Jan. 10–Mar. 7, 7–8:30 p.m. Instructor: Catharina Lundin Text: Swedish: Beyond the Basics by Laura A. Wideburg (please purchase before class begins) Keep going with Swedish! The second-year series brings you from the basic 1,000-word vocabulary up to 3,400 words and increased comprehension of written and spoken Swedish. The text is used throughout the second year series. $114 members; $144 general public | |
Advanced II Section 1 Online Mondays, Jan. 9–Mar. 6, 5–6:30 p.m. Instructor: Catharina Lundin Text: Mål 1 Läsebok (please purchase before class begins) and Övingsbok Section 2 Online Tuesdays, Jan. 10–Mar. 7, 7:15–8:45 p.m. Instructor: Laura A. Wideburg, Ph.D. Text: Swedish: Becoming Fluent, Step 2 (please purchase before class begins) Take your Swedish to the next level! We are using the second book in the Advanced series to add more vocabulary, more conversation, more practice as your fluency improves. From 3,000 to 5,000-plus words and increased fluency through discussing major life events in the advanced series. The text is read from beginning to end. The following quarter will use the last book in the Advanced series. $114 members; $144 general public | |
Expert A Online Tuesdays, Jan. 10–Mar. 7, 5–6:30 p.m. Instructor: Catharina Lundin Text: TBD Keep going with Swedish! For those who have completed the Advanced series or two years of college Swedish. You’ll be reading some easy Swedish as well as review grammar concepts and practice speaking. The easiest Expert level in our Expert series. $114 members; $144 general public | |
Expert B—Second Level Section 1 In person Tuesdays, Jan. 10–Mar. 7, 6–7:30 p.m. Instructor: Britt Fletcher Text: TBD Section 2 Online; 15-student limit Fridays, Jan. 13–Mar. 10, 10 –11:30 a.m. Instructor: Catharina Lundin Text: TBD Developing vocabulary to increase fluency while reading a combination of stories and factual texts will help you become fluent in your Swedish! Completed three years of Swedish at the Club or two years college-level Swedish required. This class is taught mostly in Swedish! $114 members; $144 general public | |
Expert Swedish C—Highest Level Section 1 In person Mondays, Jan. 9–Mar. 6 6–7:30 p.m. Instructor: Britt Fletcher Text: TBD Section 2 Online Mondays, Jan. 9–Mar. 6, 7–8:30 p.m. Instructor: Catharina Lundin Text: TBD För dig som redan kan flytande svenska men vill förbättra dina kunskaper! This class is at the top of our language pyramid for those who want to delve into Swedish at a high level of conversation and reading. A Swedish book is read during these nine weeks. På svenska, förstås! This class is taught entirely in Swedish. $114 members; $144 general public |
Fall 2022 Schedule |
Students: Download class materials here |
Saturday SeminarsCulture: The Swedish ElectionOnline; 30-student limit Saturday, Oct. 8, 10:30 a.m.–12 noon Instructor: Laura A. Wideburg, Ph.D. Sweden has been faced with many challenges this past year. What will the results of the Swedish election on Sept. 11, 2022, mean for the future of Sweden? Following the pandemic and the Ukraine war, what policies are going to change for the Swedish population? $25 | |
Language: Swedish Pronunciation Online; 30-student limit Saturday, Oct. 22, 10:30 a.m.–12 noon Instructor: Laura A. Wideburg, Ph.D. An in-depth review of Swedish vowel pronunciation. Perhaps you’ve just started learning Swedish, or perhaps you are an Intermediate or Advanced learner who would like a brush-up. Maybe you sing in a Swedish choir and need to know how to pronounce those lovely verses properly. You will leave this seminar with a better grasp of pronunciation of the Swedish vowel system! $25 | |
Culture ClassSweden as a Great Power StateOnline; 30-student limit Mondays, Oct. 3–Nov. 7, 5:30–7 p.m. Instructor: Laura A. Wideburg, Ph.D. Texts: Handouts provided by instructor Taught in English Sweden was a major player in European politics, and even attempted a colony in North America, during the reigns of Gustav II Adolph and the legendary Queen Christina. Sweden leapt into the Thirty Years’ War on behalf of the Protestant Powers and shored up the Lutheran faith in Scandinavia. In the end, though, Carl XII and his army fell to the Tsar of Russia, Peter the Great, at the battle of Poltava (in modern Ukraine) and two centuries of Sweden as a great power came to an end. $95 | |
Conversation: Beginning to Intermediate Online; 15-student limit Thursdays, Oct. 6–Dec. 8, 6:45–7:45 p.m. (no class Nov. 24) Instructor: Jack Rogalla Have a desire to learn to speak Swedish with confidence? This class will cover basic questions and answers and give you the chance to practice what you’re learning. Concurrent enrollment in Beginning or Intermediate classes helpful. $95 members, $124 general public | |
Conversation: Intermediate to Advanced Online; 15-student limit Mondays, Oct. 3–Nov. 28, 7:15–8:15 p.m. Instructor: Laura A. Wideburg, Ph.D. Come practice your spoken Swedish! Topics vary by student interest and current events. Laughs guaranteed in a welcoming atmosphere! Requirements for Intermediate Level: Enrollment in or completion of Beginning Swedish III or equivalent. $95 members, $124 general public | |
Conversation: Expert Online; 12-student limit Fridays, Oct. 7–Dec. 9, 12 noon to 1 p.m. (no class Nov. 25) Instructor: Catharina Lundin Come practice your spoken Swedish! Topics vary by student interest and current events. Laughs guaranteed in a welcoming atmosphere! Requirements for Expert Level: Enrollment in or completion of Advanced Swedish III or equivalent. $95 members, $124 general public | |
Beginning Swedish I
Section 1 In person Mondays, Oct. 3–Nov. 28, 7:45–9 p.m. Instructor: Britt Fletcher Section 2 Online; 18-student limit Thursdays, Oct. 6–Dec. 8, 5–6:30 p.m. (no class Nov. 24) Instructor: Jack Rogalla Text: Swedish: The Basics by Laura A. Wideburg (please purchase before class begins) Start with the basics! In this class we start with the basic word Tack and its variations. We cover the family as we move through nouns and present tense verbs. At the end of the class, we practice ordering a sandwich and a slice of princess cake (prinsesstårta). Covers the text Swedish: The Basics from the beginning to Chapter 3. The book is used throughout the first-year series. $114 members, $144 general public | |
Intermediate Swedish I Section 1 Online; 15-student limit Oct. 4–Nov. 29, 5:30–7 p.m. Instructor: Laura A. Wideburg, Ph.D. Section 2 Online; 15-student limit Oct. 4–Nov. 29, 7–8:30 p.m. Instructor: Catharina Lundin Text: Swedish: Beyond the Basics by Laura A. Wideburg (please purchase before class begins) Moving forward with Swedish! The second-year series brings you from the basic 1,000-word vocabulary up to 3,400 words and increased comprehension of written and spoken Swedish. The text is used throughout the Intermediate series and is a continuation of Swedish: The Basics. (Requirement: Completed Beginning Swedish III or one semester college level). $114 members, $144 general public | |
Advanced Swedish I Section 1 Online; 15-student limit Mondays, Oct. 3–Nov. 28, 5–6:30 p.m. Instructor: Catharina Lundin Texts: Mål 1 Lärobok (Mål 1 Övningsbok optional) (please purchase before class begins) and an easy-to-read book, TBD Section 2 Online; 15-student limit Tuesdays, Oct. 4–Nov. 29, 7:15–8:45 p.m. Instructor: Laura A. Wideburg, Ph.D. Text: Swedish: Becoming Fluent, Step 1 (please purchase before class begins) Take your Swedish to the next level! We are using the first book in the Advanced series to add more vocabulary, more conversation, more practice as your fluency improves. The text is read from beginning to end. $114 members, $144 general public | |
Expert Swedish A—First-Level Online; 15-student limit Tuesdays, Oct. 4–Nov. 29, 5–6:30 p.m. Instructor: Catharina Lundin Texts: Mål 2 Lärobok (Mål 2 Övningsbok optional) (please purchase before class begins) plus an easy-to-read book, TBD Keep going with Swedish! For those who have completed the Advanced series or two years of college Swedish. You’ll be reading some easy Swedish as well as review grammar concepts and practice speaking. The easiest level in our Expert series. $114 members, $144 general public | |
Expert Swedish B—Second Level Section 1 In person Tuesdays, Oct. 4–Nov. 29, 6–7:30 p.m. Instructor: Britt Fletcher Text: TBD Section 2 Online; 15-student limit Fridays, Oct. 7–Dec. 19, 10–11:30 a.m. (no class Nov. 25) Instructor: Catharina Lundin Text: Swedish: Becoming Fluent, Step Two by Laura A. Wideburg (please purchase before class begins) and an easy-to-read book, TBD Developing vocabulary to increase fluency while reading a combination of stories and factual texts will help you become fluent in your Swedish! Requirement: Completed three years of Swedish at the Club or two years of college-level Swedish. This class is taught mostly in Swedish! $114 members, $144 general public | |
Expert Swedish C—Highest Level Expert Section 1 In person Mondays, Oct. 3–Nov. 28, 6–7:30 p.m. Instructor: Britt Fletcher Text: TBD Section 2 Online; 15-student limit Mondays, Oct. 4–Nov. 29, 7–8:30 p.m. Instructor: Catharina Lundin Text: Översten by Ola Larsmo (please purchase before class begins) För dig som redan kan flytande svenska men vill förbättra dina kunskaper! This class is at the top of our language pyramid for those who want to delve into Swedish at a high level of conversation and reading. A Swedish book is read during these nine weeks. På svenska, förstås! This class is taught entirely in Swedish. $114 members, $144 general public |
Meet Your Teachers

Laura A. Wideburg, Ph.D.
Laura
()
is the Club’s lead teacher in the Swedish language program. She will celebrate her 10th year at
the Club in June 2018. "The Swedish language is my passion," she says.
Laura has written a six-book series for the Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced classes at the Club. During 2017, she revised and updated the entire series. "My students have contributed to the books and the development of the classes," she says. "I teach to allow people to develop an interest not just in the language but also the culture and the way English and Swedish, as language cousins, developed over time." Laura has also taught a number of classes focusing on Swedish history, and selects a new theme for one history class every fall quarter.
Laura has a Ph.D. in medieval German literature and historical linguistics from the UW. She has translated 20 books from Swedish to English and has seen 16 of them appear in print, of which a number received great reviews and awards. She is now focusing on her own writing. She lives in Seattle with her husband and two young adult children, as well as her two beloved cats.
Laura has written a six-book series for the Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced classes at the Club. During 2017, she revised and updated the entire series. "My students have contributed to the books and the development of the classes," she says. "I teach to allow people to develop an interest not just in the language but also the culture and the way English and Swedish, as language cousins, developed over time." Laura has also taught a number of classes focusing on Swedish history, and selects a new theme for one history class every fall quarter.
Laura has a Ph.D. in medieval German literature and historical linguistics from the UW. She has translated 20 books from Swedish to English and has seen 16 of them appear in print, of which a number received great reviews and awards. She is now focusing on her own writing. She lives in Seattle with her husband and two young adult children, as well as her two beloved cats.

Catharina Lundin, M.Sc., M.B.A.
Catharina
()
moved here in 2002 from Stockholm. She works as a teacher and
principal at the Swedish School
(Svenska Skolföreningen) for children on Sundays at the Club. She also teaches Swedish
online for Rosetta Stone. Previously she worked for Ericsson in Sweden.
"I really enjoy meeting new people and teaching them Swedish," says Catharina. "I have learned to teach at the Swedish School and at Rosetta, which focuses on speaking Swedish through immersion. In my classes we practice speaking Swedish, reading, grammar and other activities. We usually fikar the last day of class." Catharina lives in Sammamish with her husband, three children and a dog.
"I really enjoy meeting new people and teaching them Swedish," says Catharina. "I have learned to teach at the Swedish School and at Rosetta, which focuses on speaking Swedish through immersion. In my classes we practice speaking Swedish, reading, grammar and other activities. We usually fikar the last day of class." Catharina lives in Sammamish with her husband, three children and a dog.

Jack Rogalla
Jack
()
says that his interest in Swedish started at a young age, when
relatives from Sweden came to visit his family in Chicago. He grew
up speaking only a few phrases with his grandmother and aunts, but
began studying Swedish at North Park University, including a semester
in Jönköping, Sweden, where he reconnected with more relatives. He
holds a B.A. in Scandinavian studies, and reports that learning the
language has allowed him to experience a new culture, introduced him
to a variety of literature and films and made way for new friendships.
He hopes you can also find enjoyment and fulfillment in your journey
with Swedish.

Britt Fletcher
Britt
()
was born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden. She lives in Seattle.
She has taught her daughter Swedish from birth, and she was a librarian at the
Swedish School
(Svenska Skolföreningen) in Seattle
while her daughter attended this program for several years.
In her professional life she has been a program manager for a large IT company for many years.
Weaving Classes
Beginning Weaving Classes.
"From yarn to finished cloth." No prior experience necessary.
Learn from experienced weaver/instructor Lois Gaylord.
Series of five two-hour classes.
Blue card members $136; nonmembers $165. Class size is limited to four, due to social distancing.
You can use the Club’s looms. We have seven four-harness looms; three are table looms and four are floor looms. They're all from different manufacturers, and a couple of them are handmade. A big part of the class is learning how to set up the warp or "dress" a loom.
To register for the class, please call the Club at 206-283-1090 and prepay to reserve one of the looms. For 2022, the five-class series will be offered on the following schedule:
You can use the Club’s looms. We have seven four-harness looms; three are table looms and four are floor looms. They're all from different manufacturers, and a couple of them are handmade. A big part of the class is learning how to set up the warp or "dress" a loom.
To register for the class, please call the Club at 206-283-1090 and prepay to reserve one of the looms. For 2022, the five-class series will be offered on the following schedule:
Evenings
Jan. 10–Feb. 7
Feb. 28–Mar. 28
Apr. 4–May 2
Call the Club at 206-283-1090 for further information.