I've finally figured it out. For some months now I've noticed a strange and significant change in my Swedish ability depending on who I'm talking to. Naturally, I assumed it was due to different regional dialects but couldn't quite figure it still didn't really make sense. Why could I understand some people from up north but not others? Why could I understand my rugby teammates and my classmates but not my corridormates? And finally, why did I feel more motivated to speak Swedish with some people and others not at all? Now, after months of pondering, i have solved the mystery... I simply don't respond well to being treated as if I'm mentally challenged.

I made this earth-shattering link just today as I asked my corridormates if they wanted anything from the store. One girl responded, "Yes, I'd like some chocolate ice cream. In Swedish it is choklad...Shi-yok-lad." The second girl asked for a liter of milk and some rice crackers. When I asked what kind of milk (i.e. what percent fat) she said, "M-e-l-l-o-n M-j-o-l-k...It means 'medium milk' and it's the blue box. And rice crackers, r-i-s k-a-k-o-r."

Yes, I realize that they are only trying to be helpful and have only the best intentions but when people talk to me like that, i lose all motivation to attempt speaking Swedish with them. Do they really think that I haven't learned the words for 'chocolate' or how to buy milk in the 9 months that I've been living in Sweden?! And, I must say, it is not all of my corridormates who do this, some are very good about it...but now just being here saps the will-power out of me.

I spent all day Saturday with my rugby team and I have to say, I was pleased with my level of understanding, even my eavesdropping ablilities. True, I'm not terribly happy with my speaking abilities but I understand what's going on most of the time. (I think my speaking is not as good as I'd like it to be mainly because I'm not much of a talker in English let alone in Swedish. I hate talking for talking's sake.) They were patient and they didn't talk down to me so I felt comfortable enough to make mistakes and not worry that they will be held against me. I wish I'd met them sooner though, because my Swedish has improved by leaps and bounds just since meeting them. Not only in social situations but the coaches speak Swedish and only when I don't understand do they explain it in English. I have noticed that I now rarely need them to explain unless it is super complicated and most of those times the other girls tell me they didn't understand either even though they speak Swedish.

So, the moral of the story is, if you know someone who is trying to lean your language, please don't talk down to them. Talk to them like you would anybody else. If you ARE someone who is trying to learn another language and people are treating you as if you've had one too many blows to the head, try responding in kind. I think I'm going to start speaking English in slow motion and see what comes of it. Right now I'm going to go s-t-u-d-y.