There are countless ways to learn Norwegian. And if you’re reading this on a computer or a phone, you have Norwegian resources right at your fingertips. While choosing one learning method is alright, it’s best to diversify your approach to get experience with the language in all its forms. And if you like learning by listening, Norwegian podcasts might be the ideal supplement.
Podcasts can be useful in a few different ways. You might just put one on in the background to get some exposure to the language, or you might take a more concerted approach by using them to learn grammar and vocab. If your main roadblock has been finding shows to listen to, we’re here to help. We collected some of our favorite Norwegian podcasts for various levels of learners.
Beginner Norwegian Podcasts
Life In Norway Show
The Life in Norway Show isn’t about the Norwegian language, per se, but Norwegian culture in general. But if you’re learning the language, chances are you’ll want to know about these topics, too. The show is entirely in English, and it covers a range of topics, from Viking ship archaeology to raising kids in the country. If you need a break from learning Norwegian, this show is a good way to supplement your knowledge.
One Minute Norwegian
CoffeeBreak Languages has been making podcasts for learning various languages for a long time. As the name implies, the point is that you’re able to get a language lesson in the time it takes you to take a coffee break. If even that sounds like a bit of a time commitment, though, you can start with the One Minute Norwegian series, which gives you the tiniest bites of language learning. If you haven’t had much experience listening to Norwegian, this is a good place to begin.
Intermediate Norwegian Podcasts
Practice Norwegian
Practice Norwegian creates content for learners of all levels, but it’s best to not start it until after you’ve got at least a little learning already under your belt. The podcast breaks down tough grammatical topics through basic lessons and storytelling. Unlike podcasts that get chronologically more difficult, you’ll want to check the titles for each episode to see whether it’s a beginner, intermediate or advanced lesson. You can find most of the episodes wherever you listen to podcasts, and there’s also a Practice Norwegian Patreon page. There, you can support the show and get access to extra episodes, videos and, for higher-level supporters, even a video chat with the creators.
Relax With Slow Norwegian
There’s one sure-fire way to make listening comprehension a little bit easier: take it slow. Relax with Slow Norwegian reads you stories and songs, many of which you can follow along with. It should be noted that this podcast is an ASMR podcast, meaning there is a lot of whispering and soft noises. This may or may not be your thing, but if it is, this is a great way to combine your love of ASMR with your love of language learning!
Advanced Norwegian Podcasts
Lær Norsk Nå!
Lær Norsk Nå! (“Learn Norwegian Now!”) is a show about the Norwegian language and all its dialects. This show is technically for intermediate learners, but you’ll want to have the basics down before you get started on this one (there’s no English help). The episodes cover different, engaging topics, including history, art, science and culture. There are also transcripts of the episode, which you can follow along with if you need to.
Forklart
Once you get pretty good at Norwegian, there’s a whole world of podcasts out there. Not quite as many as in English, but other languages are catching up. One of many options is Forklart (“Explained”), which is a daily, 15-minute show that takes one big topic in the news and breaks it down. Often times it will be an international topic, so you don’t need to know everything about Norway’s politics to understand it. There’s value in getting perspective from the news in other languages, though, because you never know when English monolinguals are only getting part of a larger story.