Many students have phrased their dissatisfaction with Swedish For Immigrants, the free Swedish course offered to all those who stay in Sweden for more than one year. The International Desk plans to meet up with the municipality to speak about improvements.
As Lund University’s introductory Swedish courses are only open for exchange students, degree-seeking students are referred already at Arrival Day to SFI: a tax paid course on beginners-level taught all through Sweden. But far from all students are happy with the provided course and many drop out prematurely. Their disappointed stories could be heard at, for example, the International Day in November and Lundagård’s Breakfast last week.
Marjorie Spangler, vice president of the Social Science Student Union, who has contacts with many students, tells that problems already start with the application procedure for SFI.
”Just getting the personal number, which you need to apply, can take a lot of time.”
For this reason, some students only get into SFI after having stayed in Sweden for months already.
Another frequent comment is the structure of the classes. At the lowest level, no lectures are held, but students are supposed to work individually at their own speed. As Marjorie Spangler’s experienced it, this is not very motivating.
“The teacher in the class of one of my friends said: ‘You would be better off going to a bar to improve your Swedish than by reading this book here.”
Students regularly drop out or, even if they reach the higher levels of the course, have the impression that they don’t learn very much, according to Marjorie Spangler.
Not all voices are completely negative about SFI. Australian sociology student Sorcha McGee describes the course as ”solid”.
She remarks, however, that some basic understanding of grammar and language is implied:
”For example German speakers found this a lot easier than me.” Says Sorcha McGee.
Both she and Marjorie Spangler suggest classes that differentiate between one’s ability to learn Swedish easily.
Apart from that, Marjorie Spangler would like to see the University being involved in SFI.
“The best would be if they could organize language courses for degree-students as well, but at least more cooperation between SFI and the University would be beneficial. It would for example help if the courses would take place in University buildings on times that suit students.”
According to her, courses currently often take place outside Lund’s center at times that are not always convenient for students.
Daniel Gunnarsson, the Master Program Coordinator of Lund University, is aware of the problems with SFI.
“We know of this problem and we are working on it. Next month, we will meet with the municipality’s contact person for the University to talk about improvements. But after all, we are not responsible for SFI, so the only thing we can do is pointing out the problem.”
Lundagård has tried to reach the municipality’s representative to the University Susanna Hansson without receiving an answer.
text: Paula Dubbink and Jens Hansen
