Quotes from Students

I was nervous before this program about if I would find the content interesting enough and if I would find any friends along the way and now, I’m thinking that I had nothing to worry about. - UW Study Abroad (UWSA) student 2025

I did it! I lived in two different countries in a span of one month. I got to learn a new metro system, try different foods, talk with different people, and walk new streets. I saw forests and lakes that I had never crossed before. I got to go shopping in new stores. I got to experience different festivals and hear different perspectives. - UWSA student 2025

Not only did I learn so much from the curriculum about art and activism in the region, but I was pushed to learn a ton about myself and how I’d like to navigate the world. Being pushed into the somewhat uncomfortable situation of not knowing how to get around a city or about the customs and the language, although scary at first, helped me develop a deeper sense of independence as well as confidence and comfort in myself. - UWSA student 2025

Our assignments and activities have made me think a lot more about my life and my country. I feel like I have discovered a lot more about myself and I know for sure I want to study abroad again in the future. - UWSA student 2025

This program has taught me that the most profound learning happens not only in

classrooms or museums but in the spaces between: in conversations with strangers, in quiet

moments of reflection, in small conversations with artists, and in learning to remain vulnerable to

new experiences even when uncomfortable. - UWSA student 2025

 This program helped me understand how Sweden views itself and other countries, especially how it conceptualizes its position in colonialism and how it views free speech and how it balances individual versus collective goals. - UWSA student 2024

I learned about and experienced Swedish and Finnish culture, got a new perspective on what being an activist means, understood more about art, and had an amazing adventure! -UWSA student 2024

This was my first time in Sweden, as well as Europe in general, and since I came into this program with minimal knowledge on the history, current struggles, and culture of Scandinavia, I've felt like I learn so much. - UWSA student 2024

This program has opened me up to so much. From types of art, ways of thinking about art, and making art, to mindfulness exercises and new ways of appreciating my positionality…. - UWSA student 2024

I've definitely become more confident and independent throughout this program. I've also gotten comfortable being alone, solo-traveling, and meeting new people, among many other things, and I feel like I now have a better understanding of myself. - UWSA student 2024

Classes are always fun and engaging! 

Thank you for everything!!! You are truly one of the best (if not the best) instructor I’ve had at UW. Your energy and love for the subject helps students learn so much.

Everyday I learned something new. 

Everyday Kim challenged us which I think is really important when learning a language. 

This class was a highlight of my 2020 pandemic year. I appreciate that I was challenged and that Kim was encouraging as we navigated language acquisition in a virtual setting! 

I think the variety in types of class lessons from lectures to group work to talking with Swedes was really helpful. 

I appreciated the varied learning activities, from making videos, to reading books, to writing, to speaking with native speaker! 

I felt comfortable making mistakes, which was really helpful. I tried my best, of course, but it was understood that I wasn’t going to do everything perfectly and that was okay! 

Kim really cares for us- keep that compassion! We notice and appreciate it. 

This language course uses multiple methods for teaching/understanding Swedish. We listen, write, speak, watch media relevant to current events in Sweden, work in groups, and have the opportunity to do Nordic-related community events in Seattle. This dynamic combination of events, opportunities, written, oral and group work ensures that all students have at least one channel through which to deeply absorb the material. It is highly interactive. 

My Swedish has made massive improvements and i’ve learned more about language as a whole.

The greatest asset to the class, in my opinion, was the instructor herself. She is very welcoming and actively helpful, and she makes it fun. 

Kim’s enthusiasm and understanding of the diversity of skills sets between students was exceptional .