The stress of culture shock is not understood by others who are not suffering it. When the English had the British Empire, the men would undertake a full culture and language course for 3 months full time before going to live abroad in a country from native speakers. It is a shame this is not standard for all people as this would prevent so much emotional angst for the whole family, as well as explaining our emotional turmoil as a foreigner in a new land to our local partner, as understanding our culture for them. Language takes up to 2 years to learn fluently (watch any baby) and cannot be learnt just by a couple of hours a week evening class other than for holiday use, but needs at least an hour each day by an audio course as well. The Michel Thomas Method lets you pick up a new language naturally as when we were babies we first learnt the language by listening and watching facial and hand gestures that went with the words. This could be used to support your language speaking and writing course, during a lunch break perhaps. This is from English into Norwegian. What is also not understood is that speaking a language needs an understanding of how we use our mouths to make the sounds of letters and words can be very different between languages. For example, there are many letter sounds in Greek that either do not exist at all in northern European languages or are pronounced in an opposite way, such as for R where the tongue does not go down in the mouth but goes up to give the Spanish trill. These basics are often missed in language classes, which language teachers need to appreciate. Each language also has its own rhythms, like a melody, to get into. Ignore the faux pas from not knowing a language fluently, because we learn from our mistakes not when everything is going smoothly. Each individual will integrate and learn local language at a their own pace and the irritation stage needs careful destress / nurturing as actually culture shock is the name of a mental illness progressing through psychiatric stress and more often than not could end up in clinical depression, so prevention by preparation before going abroad as a whole family and taking it easy in bite sized chunks when abroad is vital for personal wellbeing.

If you looking for work in norway use NAV.no I am not sure aboute schools, its some expat school in Oslo I am a single male now, as my children are grown up and my wife passed away. At the moment I am teaching English at a public school in Southern Thailand, but after 25 years of teaching English and German around the world and in North America, I want to spend a few years in Europe, preferably in Norway. I have three questions: How can one get a teaching job in Norway at a language school? Does it pay enough to live a decent life without being a big spender? Do they have bachelor apartments (not studios) at a recenable rent? I am not picky and would not only consider Oslo. Can anyone be nice and help me out with answers? Kim jhlingua4u@yahoo.com

Great to read such a positive report and attitude to living abroad. All too often people seem to wallow in self pity instead of grasping the opportunities in front of them and making the most of their lives. :-)

Hey ! I am comin to Oslo in June for an intrensive Norwegian Lanuage class. Where can I find the cheapest accomodation in OSLO? My courses will take place in the centrum but dont mind commuting for an hour one way. What are my chances of finding a Physician job after passing the Bergen test. I'm not so bad a languages, kinda fluent in french and swedish so Im hinking that 6 months of intensive classes plus my super extrovert genes makes it asier for me to meet new people. Charles,