Skip to main content

ASI hours

Check hours

Museum Store

Contact

612-871-4907
[email protected]

2600 Park Ave
Minneapolis, MN
55407

Get directions

Language Learning

Experience ASI / Programs / Language Programs
SwedishLanguageclass_LizStopka teaching

Lifelong learning in Swedish and Finnish

Hej, Hei, Bures! Welcome to ASI’s Language Programs. We offer virtual and in-person language classes across all levels of Swedish, and a smaller selection of other Nordic languages (Finnish, North Sámi, Icelandic). On this page, you will find information about our program structure, how to choose the right class for you, class materials, and more. View the calendar to see all of our current language class offerings.

Support for Language Programs at the American Swedish Institute is generously provided by Karin Swedenborg in memory of her parents, Ruth Westerlund Peterson and Walfrid H. Peterson.

Nytt! New for fall 2026

We are moving to a new program structure. Starting in fall term 2026, we will shift from three nine-week terms per academic year to two twelve-week terms with additional one-week breaks each term for seasonal holidays. Terms will start in September and February. Outside of our regular twelve-week terms, a selection of short-term expansion classes will be offered in January and in summer.

  • Fall 2026 term runs the weeks of September 14–December 7, 2026 (no class the week of November 23)
  • Winter 2027 short-term expansion classes offered
  • Spring 2027 term runs the weeks of February 1–April 26, 2027 (no class the week of March 22)
  • Summer 2027 short-term expansion classes offered May–August 2027

We hope this change will make the registration process less confusing for students, allow us to be more consistent in our Beginning Swedish offerings each term, and grant students and teachers more time with each other each term to cover more material and better build community.

Discover more resources for learning Swedish.

About ASI’s Language Programs

We are a community education language program offering 90-minute group classes that meet once a week for twelve-week sessions. The majority of our classes are offered online over Zoom, but we do have several classes that meet in-person at ASI. ASI is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and all of our class times are listed in Central Time.

Students have been learning Swedish at ASI in group classes since at least the 1950s and over the years we have added Finnish, North Sámi, and Icelandic options periodically. Since adding online classes in 2020, our student population has grown to around 300 students per term and stretches from the Twin Cities to over 35 states and countries (Canada, France, Sri Lanka, Sweden, to name a few).

In addition to our regular weekly language classes which meet in fall and spring, we also offer short-term expansion classes in January and in summer on a variety of topics such as music, grammar, conversation, history, literature, and more.

Each of our instructors has their own distinct teaching style and we encourage students to try classes with different teachers when possible, to find the style that suits them best. All teachers emphasize communication in our classes, so you will be speaking Swedish from day one!

If you are brand new to Swedish, or just know a little (from Duolingo or your Swedish sambo, for example) there are two class options to choose from:

New Beginning I Swedish classes using Rivstart A1/A2 

This option is great for students who are comfortable in a language classroom and want to commit to taking multiple terms of Swedish. The Rivstart textbooks are used in SFI (Swedish for immigrants) classes in Sweden and thus are written entirely in Swedish. Students also create an account on the Rivstart publisher’s website to access sound files, answer keys, and additional practice exercises that go along with the book. The books move at a quick pace and contain a lot of cultural information about Swedish society.

New Beginning I Swedish classes using Kort Kurs 1 (fall only)

This option is great for students who have not had much, if any, previous language learning experience. It is also a good option for students who just want a taste of Swedish to learn the basics, perhaps before an upcoming trip to Sweden, but do not necessarily want to commit to the full language class sequence. The class uses a digital course packet (included in the class fee) specifically developed by the instructor, Jean Hanslin, to move at a slower pace than the Rivstart A1/A2 textbooks which are written entirely in Swedish. After finishing Kort Kurs 1 which lays a great foundation of the basics, students can continue with Kort Kurs 2 which covers more foundational grammar by primarily focusing on verbs. Upon completion of Kort Kurs 1 or 2, students can choose to continue studying Swedish by joining a Rivstart A1/A2 class.

If you are new to our program, not new to Swedish, please contact Liz Stopka, Language Programs Manager, at [email protected], for help finding the right class for you. In your email, please share what previous Swedish experience you have, any textbooks you have used, and anything else that might be helpful for Liz to know to help place you.

We try our absolute best to offer a given class at the same day and time each term, with the same teacher. In this way, students get to know each other while progressing through the material together and develop a warm community of language learners. Each class needs a minimum of five students to run. New Beginning I Swedish level classes take one term to complete. After that, each level takes between two-three terms to complete depending on the pace of the class.

New Beginning I Swedish level. For new beginners, these classes start on page one of the textbook.

Beginning II Swedish level. These classes cover the first half (through chapter 10) of the Rivstart A1/A2 textbook (A1 level).

Beginning III Swedish level. These classes cover the second half (through chapter 20) of the Rivstart A1/A2 textbook (A2 level).

Intermediate I Swedish level. These classes cover the first half (through chapter 9) of the Rivstart B1/B2 textbook (B1 level).

Intermediate II Swedish level. These classes cover the second half (through chapter 18) of the Rivstart B1/B2 textbook (B2 level).

Advanced Swedish level. These classes have completed the Rivstart A and B textbooks and are often reading Swedish literature, either lättläst (abridged) or full-length novels and nonfiction books. Occasionally, we offer a class using Rivstart B2/C1.

Swedish literature classes. These classes use Swedish literature as classroom texts; either lättläst (abridged) or full-length novels or nonfiction books. Check the class description to understand how advanced a given literature class is.

Finnish levels. These classes use the textbook series Suomen Mestari. New Beginning I Finnish classes start with the Suomen Mestari 1 textbook and are offered periodically dependent on instructor availability. Students progress through the series together into Suomen Mestari 2, 3. We also have occasional Advanced Finnish classes that read and discuss literature in Finnish.

For more information on the A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 levels, please click here.

Rivstart textbooks can be purchased from the ASI Museum Store in-person or can be shipped to distance students. Other materials including Swedish literature books can often be purchased from the ASI Museum Store or are otherwise noted in the class description. Call 612-870-3364 to place an order with the ASI Museum Store. Please be sure to have your instructor name and book title ready.

Adult language programs

Two women stand at a whiteboard. One writes on the board, while the other observes. Both hold books, and are dressed in blue sweaters. The book cover reads PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS and shows an image of a roller coaster.

Introductory language classes

One-time introductory Nordic language classes offered periodically throughout the year in Swedish, Finnish, North Sámi, and Icelandic.

Learn more
A stack of bird books topped with two bird figurines. The books include titles like Nordens Fåglar, Stokes Birds, and The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior. The figurines are colorful, one with a tall crest.

Language expansion classes

Short-term language expansion classes that meet in the summer and January term.

Learn more
Two people in an office setting, one sitting and reading a book, the other standing and pointing at the book. A map of Europe is on the wall behind them. They are both smiling and appear to be engaged in a discussion.

Semester-long language courses

12-week Swedish and Finnish courses that meet weekly during the academic year. 

Learn more

Youth language learning

  • Lilla Skolan

    A new program for Swedish-speaking children ages three to six, Lilla Skolan features story time, music, and a craft followed by free play.

  • Svenska Skolan

    Swedish language and culture program for kids ages 7–14 with instruction structured to meet the needs of children at all levels of Swedish familiarity.

All language & culture events

Events

Events Search and Views Navigation

Event Views Navigation

Today

Filters

Changing any of the form inputs will cause the list of events to refresh with the filtered results.

List of events in Photo View

Connect with us

Sign up for Klipp

Receive our digital newsletter containing all the latest from ASI.

 

Subscribe

Become a member

Experience everything ASI has to offer. Includes year-round free admission, a 10% store discount, and more!

Join ASI

Donate to ASI

Your gift ensures that ASI can continue to bring richness to the community and to you.

Donate