Drink drank drunk: pub-based Swedish lessons for migrants

Language learners have long-known about alcohol's tongue-loosening properties. Many students have found that a pint or two can help magically lift nerves about mixing up tenses and speak the language - seemingly - like native speakers.

One recent migrant to Sweden - well-acquainted with booze's after effects - decided to set up a Sprakkrogen - or "language pub" - for newly-arrived refugees and migrants.

It's a place newcomers to the country can kick back, down a cold one, and get to grips with the intricacies of the Swedish language.

Abdel Rahman al-Hennawy - originally from Egypt - started to hold meetings for new arrivals to the Nordic nation in pubs and bars last December. He had found traditional methods of language-learning tedious and rigid and believed language pubs could hold the answer.

"The idea behind the initiative came up when I realised there was a serious need to make language cafes more exciting to attract more young Swedes to come and volunteer their time and help integrate refugees and migrants," Hennawy told The New Arab.

The 27-year-old launched the project in his free time and is given a helping hand by Sebastian van Uytven from Belgium and Sophia Lange from Germany, who both take care of attendees and social media.

"It also encourages expats and refugees to come and speak Swedish in a fun, laid-back environment," he added.

	The Sprakkrogen meets every weekend in Gothenburg [Facebook]

So far the project seems to be a quite a success and this weekend the Sprakkrogen will hold its 13th meeting in Sweden's second-largest city Gothenburg.

"At first I tried to learn the language through the internet and other methods but in the end, you really need to practice in a real-life setting," said Mohammad al-Refaie, a Syrian refugee who arrived in the country a year ago from war-torn Damascus.

"The meetings have broken down the wall and let me learn Swedish while meeting lots of new people and familiarising myself with the local culture," the 28-year-old added.

The weekly boozy get-togethers have also been a hit with locals who would normally not want to spend their free time teaching Swedish. But teaching their native language in a pub is a different matter.

"If I were to volunteer at a standard language centre it wouldn't feel natural because the teacher-student dynamic would prevent us from becoming friends," said Ylva Berglund who has volunteered to help language learners.

"At the meetings we all have an equal relationship. The initiative has even attracted Swedes who would never interact with non-locals if it weren't for the meetings. It has helped get them get rid of a lot of stereotypes," she added.

But don't just take it from them, one study showed that after a shot of liquor American university students were better able to pronounce Thai - a language they knew nothing about - than their sober counterparts. Skal to that!