About the Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Norway established its first embassy in Washington, DC., on October 31, 1905. Strong historical ties link Norway and the United States. Between 1825 and 1940, more than one-third of Norway's population emigrated to America. Allies ever since, the two nations fought together in World War II and were co-founders of both the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Today, the Embassy in Washington is Norway's largest, with a staff of approximately 50, including representatives from a number of Norwegian ministries.
About the Consulate General in New York
The Norwegian Consulate General in New York works to promote Norwegian art, design, culture and business interests in the U.S. Our office is the hub for Schengen visa applications on the North and South American continents. We also provide consular services for 25 states on the east coast of the U.S. Established in 1906, our office is the largest and oldest Norwegian Consulate General in the US.
About the Consulate General in San Francisco
Norway has been represented by a consulate in San Francisco since 1906, and by a consulate general since 1938, all the while looking after the interests of Norwegian citizens and businesses in its area of jurisdiction.
FAQs
10 Tips on how to speak English fluently
- Practice listening and speaking. ...
- 2. Make a plan and stick to it. ...
- Become pronunciation obsessed. ...
- Learn from native English speakers. ...
- Don't be afraid to make mistakes.
So, English is made of Old English, Danish, Norse, and French, and has been changed by Latin, Greek, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Dutch and Spanish, along with some words from other languages. English grammar has also changed, becoming simpler and less Germanic.
How old is the current English language? ›
Most scholars date Modern English to about the year 1450. It spread widely in England due to the expanded volume of printed materials, including the works of Shakespeare, beginning in the late 1500s, and the King James Bible, first published in 1611.
What is the most similar language to English? ›
Dutch, Frisian, and German stand as the nearest kin to English, with Frisian holding the strongest resemblance. The syntax, lexicon, and phonetics of both Frisian and English demonstrate their shared lineage.
How to speak like an American? ›
10 Tips to learn American accent pronunciation
- Learn the sounds of English.
- Learn schwa (the neutral vowel sound)
- Be able to distinguish the sounds L and R.
- Use a dictionary.
- Make a list of words.
- Watch video lessons.
- Record yourself.
- Speak phrases and sentences.
Look while you listen
Take advantage of playing each one, but don't just listen—look! Watch how the speakers form the words with their mouths and emulate them. This is a good tip for watching your favourite films in English, too. If you're looking for some intense practice, try the Pronunciation Lab in our school.
What is the hardest language to learn? ›
1. Mandarin Chinese. Interestingly, the hardest language to learn is also the most widely spoken native language in the world. Mandarin Chinese is challenging for a number of reasons.
Which is older, English or German? ›
There is no direct line from Standard German, which you probably refer to, to English. Old English or Ænglisc, the ancestor of Modern English, is a thousand years older than Standard German.
What is the easiest language to learn? ›
Languages that are related to English and easy to learn include most Germanic languages (Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, and German) and Romance languages (Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, and Romanian). Apart from this, knowing a language related to the target language can make it easier to learn!
Who first speaks English? ›
The origins of the English language lie – surprise, surprise – in today's England and the arrival of Anglo-Saxon tribes from Central Europe to the British Isles in 400 AD. Their language, now known as “Old English“, was soon adopted as the common language of this relatively remote corner of Europe.
The Germanic settlers in the British Isles initially spoke a number of different dialects, which would develop into a language that came to be called Anglo-Saxon.
What is the easiest accent to learn? ›
The easiest accents for English speakers to learn tend to be those that use the same language and linguistic rules, such as:
- American dialects like Boston, New Jersey, New York, Southern, and Transatlantic.
- Australian.
- British.
- Canadian.
- Irish.
- Scottish.
1. Frisian – most similar language to English phonetically. Frisian (the Netherlands' 2nd official language) is phonetically the closest language to Modern English and is mutually intelligible with Olde English. This isn't surprising since the Anglo-Saxons and the Frisians had recent common ancestors.
What do Italians call their language? ›
Italian (italiano, Italian: [itaˈljaːno], or lingua italiana, Italian: [ˈliŋɡwa itaˈljaːna]) is a Romance language of the Indo-European language family that evolved from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire.
How can I speak more clearly in English? ›
How to Speak Clearly
- Be relaxed and confident using relaxation exercises. You'll find them in the voice spa course.
- Use abdominal breathing for speech.
- Speak with pauses instead of filler words.
- Be concise.
- Use warmth & kindness. ...
- Use a varied intonation pattern.
- Use a full resonant voice.
How to improve your spoken English: 8 tips
- Speak, speak, speak. Let's start right off by saying that there isn't a magic pill for better speaking. ...
- Reflect on your conversations. ...
- Listen and read. ...
- Prepare cheat sheets. ...
- Pick up the phone. ...
- Record your voice. ...
- Learn phrases rather than single words. ...
- Have fun.
Studies show that imitation is one of the best ways to improve your language skills. Listening to others and repeating what they say and how they say it – even intonation, emotion and choice of words – is one of the most powerful and fun ways to make progress.
