Professional language – a central part of talent retention
Many international professionals in Sweden get by using only English. Others learn beginner’s Swedish, meaning they can’t use the local language for professional purposes. However, to be able to advance in their careers and integrate into Swedish society, your international co-workers need to learn advanced Swedish. If your organisation can facilitate Swedish learning for your international talent, you are more likely to retain them and let them grow and develop professionally.
LYS has the experience and expertise for creating learning material and courses in professional Swedish, in printed and digital form. We have created several textbooks, and adapted skills validation material to an audience of Swedish learners.
Our clients include Swedenergy (Energiföretagen Sverige), Architects in Sweden (Sveriges Arkitekter), Sobona – The Employers’ Organisation for Municipal Enterprises) Kommunala företagens arbetsgivarorganisation).
Textbooks
We create learning materials for different professional sectors.
Arkitektsvenska is a textbook in professional Swedish for architects, that LYS published in collaboration with Architects Sweden (Sveriges Arkitekter) in 2023.
Intercultural communication
We create learning material and training programs in intercultural communication with a clear professional focus, helping supervisors and employers communicate more successfully with international co-workers.
Ta kontakt is a cultural discussion guide, aimed at workplaces in the energy sector.
Skills validation
In collaboration with the Nordiskt valideringsforum and Sobona, we have reviewed and revised skills validation materials to make them more accessible for second-language speakers. As part of this project, we also created training videos for supervisors and employers to provide practical tips on how to handle situations where language proficiency may be insufficient.
Lectures and public speaking
LYS team members are popular public speakers at conferences and workshops. In an informative and entertaining manner, we share our insights in language and culture, and give concrete tools for better professional communication,
Our method
A teaching resource for professional Swedish is not something you create in your own office; instead, it must be based on how the language is actually used in workplaces. That’s why we always start with reality as it is—both in terms of how it looks and sounds on the job. Every project begins with several site visits, interviews, and shadowing, to understand the tasks involved and the language situations that need to be mastered in the workplace. We then map these language situations from a second-language perspective and create exercises based on our findings. This means that our teaching resources for occupational Swedish are much more than just terminology. Instead, they often focus on how to communicate with colleagues, customers, or clients, and in those situations, it’s about mastering common phrases and avoiding typical language errors that can cause misunderstandings.
For us personally, this approach provides a great bonus: we gain insight into other people’s everyday lives and have the opportunity to try different tasks in various professions. We are curious and always eager to learn more, which is why we are constantly looking for new partners so that we can learn more about new industries, professions, and work methods.
Sofi travels in a two-compartment truck and empties bins to learn more about the work as a co-driver. This is part of our work with Professional Swedish for recycling and waste management.
Emil keeps track of different types of waste to learn more about the work at a recycling center. This is part of our work with professional Swedish in recycling and waste management for Sobona 2024.
Many organisations provide their international employees with vocabulary lists and translated terminology. Such can, naturally, be useful, but they rarely lead to improved professional Swedish, in use. A learner needs to develop other language skills, in order to make themselves understood, understand others, and to use their professional expertise. Individual words are not the biggest challenge for this. Instead, everyday communication in the office, plant, or kitchen. Our learning materials and textbooks focus on authentic communication, that is, spoken and written language as it is being used in the workplace, in contact with colleagues, clients, subcontractors, and providers.
We analyse the language patterns for the relevant professions and create a high-quality learning material, according to the needs of your sector.
If you would like to know more about how we can help you, please send us an email at redaktion@lysforlag.com to book a meeting.
- The usual language courses, such as Sfi, teaches general language, but not the type of language used in your sector.
- What communication patterns are there in your workplace?
- What phrases and expressions are used on an everyday basis?
- What instructions, manuals, and documents do co-workers need to read and understand? What forms do they need to complete?
- What vocabulary is essential for health and safety?
Previous projects
Professional Swedish for property maintenance
Yrkessvenska fastighet is a teaching resource for Swedish as a second language, developed for those starting a job in property maintanance or already practicing or working in the field. The material is aimed at levels A2–B1 and has a clear practical focus, with exercises related to cleaning, waste management, and basic property maintenance.
The book contains a variety of exercises where you can practice different language situations within the industry. A strong emphasis is placed on pronunciation and listening comprehension to ensure you can communicate with both colleagues and tenants without misunderstandings. The book also includes many words and phrases, as well as simpler grammatical and semantic exercises with clear professional relevance.
The book has been produced on behalf of Sobona, the Employers’ Organization for Municipal Companies, and is distributed free of charge. The book can be downloaded here.
Yrkessvenska återvinning och avfallshantering
Yrkessvenska återvinning och avfallshantering is a learning resource for Swedish as a second language, developed for those entering the waste management industry or already practicing or working in the field. The material is aimed at level B1 and has a clear practical focus, with exercises designed for work at a recycling station or as a co-driver in a waste collection truck.
The book includes a comprehensive pronunciation chapter where you can practice pronouncing and stressing many materials, substances, and waste fractions correctly. It also provides exercises for common phrases used in communication with customers and colleagues. The focus is on oral communication, and the book is supplemented with listening exercises.
The book has been produced on behalf of Sobona, the Employers’ Organization for Municipal Companies, and is distributed free of charge. The book can be downloaded here.
Arkitektsvenska is a textbook in Swedish as a second language, designed for international architects learning Swedish. It covers a wide range of specialistens, including landscape architecture, interior architecture, and urban design. The book can be used for classroom teaching or self studies.
The book includes more than 1,00 words and phrases that are commonly found in the everyday life of a professional architect. These are accompanied with texts, writing exercises, oral exercises, listening comprehension, grammar exercises, and vocabulary training. Focus is on vocabulary, pronunciation and listening comprehension, but the book also includes information and perspectives on Swedish architecture and culture, providing another dimension to professional language.
As a member of Sveriges Arkitekter, you can order a free copy of the printed book. Everyone else can download the book as a pdf, from arkitekt.se/arkitektsvenska. Don’t miss our podcast episode on architects’ language: Hur pratar en arkitekt?
Energisvenska: Lärobok i svenska för utländska energiexperter
Läroboken Energisvenska – lärobok i svenska för utländska energiexperter
is highly anticipated. Many workplaces in the energy sector employ staff with Swedish as a second language, and this book is aimed at them. It includes a wide range of exercises based on vocabulary from the member companies of Energiföretagen Sverige.
The book provides the opportunity to practice words and phrases commonly used in the energy industry. The starting point is everyday spoken language in the workplace and the situations that arise on the job.
The book is based on the professional roles in some of today’s most in-demand occupations: distribution electricians, operations technicians, and operations managers. The goal of the book is to capture the language used in the workplace, but of course, the reader also gets a glimpse into the roles themselves.
This book is designed for those who already have some knowledge of Swedish, having completed, for example, SFI (Swedish for Immigrants). In SFI, one learns the basics of the language, but to quickly integrate into the tasks at an energy company, Energyswedish can be a great help. The second edition of the book was published in 2023.
Read more on Energiföretagen’s website.
Energi i klassrummet is a study material created for Sfi. It has a professional focus but is designed for learners who are not employed. It gives a general introduction to language situations in workplaces, such as dress code, fika, consensus, mentorshop, networking, phone calls, personal qualities, prejudice, and meeting culture. The material includes exercises to practise all skills: listening, speaking, readin, and writing.
Learn more on the website of Energiföretagen.
