“Hi, my name is Patrick and I’m from England. I live in Stockholm with my wife — she’s from Gävle. I studied Swedish at Folkuniversitetet and I have A1 and A2. I can speak a little Swedish and understand a bit more — when my wife talks on the phone, for example. I’m a freelance copywriter and I work with companies from England, but I think I’ll be able to work with more Swedish companies if I can speak more Swedish. Thanks!”
Now, in 2026, Patrick has been taking lessons on and off for almost five years, with breaks for parental leave among other things. Today Patrick is at a B2 level and can use Swedish effortlessly in all everyday situations, such as communicating with teachers at his child’s preschool and during doctor’s visits. He reads Swedish daily newspapers and listens to Swedish radio.
Professionally, improved Swedish skills and a deeper understanding of Swedish culture have been significant. In recent years, through his company KentNordic, Patrick has written copy and content for major Swedish companies such as Skanska and Trelleborg. He writes their texts in English but uses Swedish when communicating with the client.
