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[kecko]

Anyone applied to Norwegian universities? I'm applying, but the ad states that four copies of "up to ten" publications should be sent... this is a LOT of paper! How many should I send? What is usual? (Humanities)

[fishfolk]

Well, I can't really say for Norway, but in Denmark they give a similar number for what I would call a "tenure"-like review.  At the same time, my colleagues have told me the most important is the quality of the top 3-4.

If it was me, I would only send the really exceptional pieces (3-4) and offer to send additional writing pieces if they so desired.

Norway is beautiful and it would be a nice place to work.  Also, FYI, if you don't speak Norwegian, they'll have an expectation that you learn within 2 years.

Good luck!

[abuflletcher]

Also, FYI, if you don't speak Norwegian, they'll have an expectation that you learn within 2 years.

I'm curious about this.  What degree of fluency would they be expecting after two years?  Would one be expected to be able to lecture in Norwegian or just to have casual conversations and be able to manage day to day tasks.

As someone who has spent several decades as an expat in "local language optional" sort of places, I'm wondering what sort of language expectations exist (for English speakers) in  other parts of the world.  BTW, I spend a couple of weeks traveling in Norway and was amazed at how much Norwegian (at least in its written form) I could understand based on knowlegde of German and English. 

[euro_ir_nerd]

Dutch and Danish universities usually have the same two-year deadline to learn the language to a degree that you can give lectures and hold seminars in the local tongue. German universities require the same level of proficiency right away. Swiss ones are all over the map: some want English plus either French or German, some want all three of them and maybe some of the southern cities would like some Italian, too.

[abuflletcher]

This seems reasonable and fair.  But as someone who has had the experience of trying to lecture in a foreign language (Spanish) that's at a whole different level from being conversationally fluent in a language.  I've published in Spanish but lecturing is a whole different ball of wax.  Maybe if I were the type of lecturer who just reads a prepared script it could work but....

Anyway, I'm always really impressed by anyone who works on a daily basis in a language other than their native tongue.

[northernacademic]

In Sweden the number of publications requested also varies, but often is limited to a small selection. Fishfolk’s suggestion seems very sensible.

As to abufletcher’s comments regarding instruction in a second language, you should place yourself in the shoes of someone who is a non-native speaker of English who comes to a US or UK institution to work (I don't mean this as a personal comment, but stems from 'second language issues' I have encountered in the US and seen in some Americans abroad). The expectation is of course that they will conduct their teaching and research in English. Many master this level of language acquisition successfully, others not. If you are fairly adept at languages, have some basic knowledge of the language (this can even be via English and German when applied to picking up Norwegian), and put some real effort into using it to the greatest extent you can from the beginning – no matter how limited your language is or how small you feel in the beginning not being able to fully express yourself as you do in English (I think this last point is what sinks most people) – then it is certainly possible to be able to conduct lectures in a second language within two years.

Dutch, Danish and German universities may have language requirements of academic positions (although from colleagues I know that this can be a case that you must demonstrate that you can and not necessarily that have to do it), but Sweden does not, and in the few job announcements that I have read from Norway I have not seen it stated that there was a language requirement. But this could be something that comes up at a later stage. Whether there is a formal requirement to conduct lectures in the native language or not, it is absolutely essential from all other practical standpoints to master the native language – such as in department meetings and coffee breaks. Too much important information would be missed without knowing the native language. That said, with the transitions entailed by the Bologna process most or all advanced courses in Sweden, for example, would be given in English – or the department must be prepared to give advanced courses in English if there is a non-Swedish speaker attending (which is one of the key points of the Bologna process, to increase academic mobility). At the advanced level most texts are in English anyways.

On a personal note, I lecture both ways – in English and Swedish – and I choose based on the material, the types of students, etc. But I more often choose English, not from the standpoint of my comfort level, but that as the only native English speaker (never mind the only non-Scandinavian) in the programs in which I teach, the preponderance of information that is published in English and the greatly increased international contact (not least among EU countries), it is to the students’ advantage to strengthen their English. English is also a core requirement, along with Swedish and Math, for entry to university. However, in such cases I always start in Swedish to let students know they are not themselves required to speak English and any questions they have I will answer in Swedish. Yes, I lecture better in English and I always will, it is my native language – although I probably lecture best when I mix both languages (and nowadays maybe even express myself generally better in a mixture, but that is another issue).

But now I have digressed far away from the original thread …

[gaenselisl]

I would make sure what the language requirement is. I can't imagine learning a foreign language from scratch to the level that I can lecture! I think it always makes sense to learn the language in the country where you live to be able to talk to your neighbors and integrate - and it's fun to learn a new language and try it out. But lecturing requires a level of fluency that I wouldn't have in such a short time.

[northernacademic]

Yes, learning from total scratch would be hard, but as long as you have a base to work from it is possible and here I have seen many people become essentially fluent in less than year based on previous knowledge of two other languages - this when they are not studying Swedish as their subject of interest. It also differs based on what subject is taught and how 'teaching' is defined. Sciences are possibly easier, I believe, because terminology is more precise and conciseness is preferred rather than in the humanities and social sciences (I have a background in all three areas). Secondly, lecturing is not the only form of teaching and in much of Scandinavia - in the sciences - lecturing does not occupy even close to half of the teaching that is done. Much of more a focus is placed on acquiring more practical experience (labs, fieldwork, field excursions, etc.) rather than the greater theoretically oriented education at American universities, which is due to a modular course structure rather than a parallel course structure. (I am not saying this is better or worse, just the way it is).

Two years in a country is a great deal of time to develop proficiecy in that country's language (though I will keep this comment to 'from a western language to a western language'), and if proficiency isn't acquired in that period it will not happen. I base this conclusion on a decade of observation and do not mean this in an arrogant way, but because the habit of speaking English with co-workers and students becomes too established and that pattern does not get brokent.