July 08, 2009

Beginner #29 – Greetings and Goodbyes, Part 3

A simple dialogue introducing some of the common greetings and salutations. Part 3 of 8 episodes. This simple story is available in other languages at LingQ. You can use these versions to provide a direct translation.

Difficulty: Beginner
Category: Basic Swedish
Duration:  00:30

Click here to see the full transcript of this podcast.

Click here to listen to Greetings and Goodbyes, Part 3.

July 05, 2009

#18 André & Anders – Swedish Cinema – (Intermediate)

Ingmar Bergman, Greta Garbo and Ingrid Bergman were the first Swedes to make it big on the silver screen early in the last century. The legacy and legend of these true jetset personalities continue to fascinate. André and Anders provide a brief resumé of Swedish cinema, from the olden days up until newly hatched starlet Malin Åkerman’s recent success in Hollywood.

Ingemar Bergman, Greta Garbo och Ingrid Bergman var de första svenskarna att slå igenom stort på (eller bakom) bioduken. Arvet från och legenden om dessa verkliga jetsetpersonligheter fortsätter att fascinera. André och Anders erbjuder en kort resumé över svensk film, från den gamla goda tiden till den nykläckta stjärnan Malin Åkermans nyvunna framgångar i Hollywood.

Difficulty: Intermediate
Category:  Entertainment
Duration:  11:29

Click here to see the full transcript of this podcast.

Click here to listen to Swedish Cinema.

July 01, 2009

Beginner #28 – Greetings and Goodbyes, Part 2

A simple dialogue introducing some of the common greetings and salutations. Part 2 of 8 episodes. This simple story is available in other languages at LingQ. You can use these versions to provide a direct translation.

Difficulty: Beginner
Category: Basic Swedish
Duration:  00:29

Click here to see the full transcript of this podcast.

Click here to listen to Greetings and Goodbyes, Part 2.

June 24, 2009

Beginner #27 – Greetings and Goodbyes, Part 1

A simple dialogue introducing some of the common greetings and salutations. Part 1 of 8 episodes. This simple story is available in other languages at LingQ. You can use these versions to provide a direct translation.

Difficulty: Beginner
Category: Basic Swedish
Duration:  00:44

Click here to see the full transcript of this podcast.

Click here to listen to Greetings and Goodbyes, Part 1.

June 19, 2009

#17 André & Anders – The Swedish Pop Wonder – (Intermediate)

Since the glory days of pop group ABBA, and the days of the perhaps not so glorious, yet important, pop group Ace of Base, Sweden has come to develop into one of the world’s leading nations when it comes to music export. For its size, it has an impressive arsenal of professional and internationally recognized music producers and song writers, giving the world hit after smashing hit. André and Anders discuss the Swedish pop wonder.

Sedan ABBA’s gyldene dagar, och sedan den kanske inte så gyldene, men ack så viktiga, popgruppen Ace of Base, har Sverige kommit att utvecklas till ett av de ledande länderna i världen när det gäller musikexport. För sin storlek har det en imponerande arsenal av professionella och internationellt erkända producenter och låtskrivare som tillhandahåller världen med hit efter hit. André och Anders diskuterar det svenska musikundret.

Difficulty: Intermediate
Category:  Music
Duration:  11:53

Click here to see the full transcript of this podcast.

Click here to listen to The Swedish Pop Wonder.

June 12, 2009

#16 André & Anders – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

These first and beautiful summer months are in Sweden a time of many traditional celebrations. This week, André and Anders talk about Midsummer, the ancient celebration of the longest day of the year. One might perhaps want to call it the bigger and better brother of the celebration of Valborg, discussed a few weeks ago. Better indeed, with regards to its dedication to food. Herring and strawberries crown this annual great party.

Försommaren är i Sverige en tid för många traditionella firanden. Den här veckan pratar André och Anders om den urgamla traditionen midsommar, firandet av årets längsta dag. Man skulle kanske kunna kalla midsommar den större och bättre brodern till Valborg som diskuterades för några veckor sedan. Bättre, helt klart, när det gäller maten. Sill och jordgubbar kröner denna årliga jättefest.

Difficulty: Intermediate
Category:  Culture
Duration:  10:37

Click here to see the full transcript of this podcast.

Click here to listen to A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

June 06, 2009

#15 André & Anders – Right or Wrong? – (Intermediate)

In the early 1990’s Sweden was hard hit by a storm of right wing extremism finding its way through the country. It had a more polished, sophisticated and seemingly harmless presentation than ever before, attracting in addition to its usual teen angst strata, people not explicitly identifying themselves as racists. Today, as a new decade approaches, does Sweden need to buckle up for yet another such storm? André and Anders discuss the new polished façade of previously openly racist party Sverigedemokraterna and worries about a second coming of right wing extremism in Sweden and the rest of the European Union.

I början på 90-talet slogs Sverige av en storm av högerextremism. En mer polerad, sofistikerad och till synes harmlös presentation attraherade väljare som inte tidigare kunnat tänka sig att rösta på sådana krafter. Behöver dagens Sverige ännu en gång förbereda sig för en sådan storm? André och Anders diskuterar den nya polerade fasaden hos det tidigare öppet rasistiska partiet Sverigedemokraterna och oroar sig över en ny våg av högerextremism i Sverige och i resten av EU.

Difficulty: Intermediate
Category:  Politics
Duration:  10:30

Click here to see the full transcript of this podcast.

Click here to listen to Right or Wrong.

May 29, 2009

#14 André & Anders – A Layman’s Humble Perspective on Integrity – (Intermediate)

André and Anders try humbly to get involved in domestic politics, discussing three recent developments in legislation, all somehow relating to individual freedom and integrity; The IPRED-law, the FRA-law and the trial against the individuals behind torrent-site Pirate Bay. In short, a layman’s perspective on integrity.(André och Anders försöker sig på inrikespolitik när de diskuterar tre relaterade händelser i Sverige; införandet av Ipred-lagen, FRA-lagen samt rättegången mot Pirate Bay. Kort sagt, en lekmans trevande perspektiv på integritet.)

Difficulty: Intermediate
Category:  Politics
Duration:  19:45

Click here to see the full transcript of this podcast.

Click here to listen to A Layman’s Humble Perspective on Integrity.

May 17, 2009

#13 André & Anders – IKEA, as Swedish as it gets – (Intermediate)

André and Anders talk about their hometown of Älmhult where global furniture giant IKEA saw its beginnings in the 1940’s. Even though IKEA today is one of the biggest furniture companies in the world, Älmhult remains a small and tightly knit community.(André och Anders pratar om sitt barndomshem, Älmhult. Här började en gång i tiden det som skulle komma att bli ett av världens största möbelföretag, IKEA. Idag är Älmhult fortfarande en liten och gemytlig liten ort.)

Difficulty: Intermediate
Category:  Places
Duration:  10:32

Click here to see the full transcript of this podcast.

Click here to listen to IKEA - as Swedish as it gets.

May 07, 2009

#12 André & Anders – The Celebration of Valborg – (Intermediate)

André and Anders talk about the Swedish tradition of Valborg. Celebrated annually on the last day of April it signifies the end of winter and arrival of spring. People gather to eat, drink and socialize. This year, André went to Lund to join in on the traditional student festivities that take place in the park. Anders stayed in Malmö with friends for a BBQ.(André och Anders pratar om Valborg. Varje år, den sista april, firar svenskarna vårens ankomst med mat, dryck och umgänge. Detta året åkte André till Lund för att delta i studentfestligheterna i stadsparken medan Anders stannade i Malmö för grillning.)

Difficulty: Intermediate
Category:  Culture
Duration:  10:21

Click here to see the full transcript of this podcast.

Click here to listen to The Celebration of Valborg.

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