Ikke bestått.
There it stood. Black and white. Two weeks earlier than I expected.
I had just logged on to the Bergenstest's website to check on the exact date I could get the test results for the two language tests, but it was there. Already.
I didn't pass.
Somewhat ironic, considering just hours before I had posted May 14th's blog post "Hoping it's the last one. . . ", an almost cocky report of how easy the test was. I had specifically written it for any student out there, nervously awaiting November's oral Bergenstest, feeling they were unprepared, not knowing what to expect. "Don't worry! It was easy!"
That's a big part of my shock, quite frankly. How could I be so off-base? How could I have misjudged my performance so wrong? Am I really that bad when I speak Norwegian? I was stunned.
One of my first instincts was to go back and remove that blog and erase my Facebook link to the blog, mostly to spare myself the embarrassment of being so convinced I was going to pass (remember this: "they didn't even test me with the 4th graph test!!") to now having to announce I didn't pass. But. . . welcome to my roller-coaster life. One more high followed by one more slamming low against the valley floor. Now to wait til May 28th for the next up or down. The written test results.
Uff, Emily! I am so sorry to read this. You write, "How could I be so off-base" and honestly, I feel this *constantly*. I am still, after almost 8 years, misjudging everything here! In fact, that was going to be my blogpost for the day, but it got too personal and I was feeling to sad about it. (This is certain to not cheer you up, so I will stop now!)
ReplyDeleteI think you jinxed yourself and just had a bad day. Show 'em what you're made of and keep at it until you succeed. I know you can!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement Jono!
DeleteHello Emily,
ReplyDeleteI found you through Jena's blog...
I'm from New Jersey, married to a Norwegian and have been living here for over twenty years now. It took me SIX long years to pass the Bergenstest. I felt so stupid, children were being born every year and learning Norwegian before me!
I finally passed, but I still talk with an accent and make plenty of mistakes. So hang in there... Oh and by the way, I did recently make a list of all the things I don't like about Norway on my blog, but I felt bad afterwards.
I found your blog, but have you erased your "thing I don't like" entry? ;) Sometimes it's nice to wallow in other people's misery, too. Makes me feel not so alone.
DeleteThanks for the encouragement!
I'm sorry you didn't pass Emily. You are a trooper for trying. It's amazing to think that you and I started learning norwegian at the same time but you are sooooooo much more advanced than me. Stick at it, you will get there in the end. I think we have both found that things here in Norway take soooooo much longer than we ever imagined they would! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the writing results. Hang in there Emily!
ReplyDeleteWell Lisa, I think the fact that I DIDN"T pass means we're probably pretty equal! You're getting much more practice speaking with your barnehage job, and I bet you are coming along very nicely.
ReplyDeleteThat said. . . if we ever have a chance to meet up, we're definitely speaking English!!
Ahh nei! Emily, I've been catching up on your posts here and am super sorry to read this one. I was SO hoping you had passed the entire test so you could move on with your studies ASAP. I know how devastating it is to be told your language skills aren't good enough---believe me, I know! :-( That totally blows, man. But you're speaking norsk every day at work now, so you'll be getting better and better and better and will soon be able to ace that damn test. Here's to trying...again. Oh, and that whole roller coaster thing---I'm thinking we just need to get used to that, since it doesn't seem to stop. Thinking of you. xxoo
ReplyDeleteHi Emily. I've been on your blog reading before, but now I feel the need to post. All I can say is STÅ PÅ. I decided that I wanted to go to college in Norway at the beginning of this year and had started studying only a month or two before that. I signed up for the test in Washington DC and drove there from WI to take it after having learned my first norsk word less than half a year earlier. Boy was that nerve-wracking. I found out I passed after over a month of nerve-wracking waiting. I think it's absolutely ridiculous that you can't do what you want because of an ikke bestått. I'm sure you can speak and understand better than I because you live in Norway and have a job there. I believe you would be more worthy than I to work in your field of interest. Anyways, never give up. One good thing for you is that you get another chance to take the test in a few months living in Norway. There is only 1 test per year in the USA. I'm scared to go to University now because I haven't been there before, and I think it will be very difficult at first. There are so many different dialects and I don't even know where I will be going to school, so I cannot practice accordingly. You see what I'm saying? Good luck and I look forward to reading more of your posts. Wish I could be there to practice with you!
ReplyDeleteHi Emily, I have been reading your blog before ( since I had my norsk prøve 3).
ReplyDeleteI think your blogg is very sensational and warm and you gave me a great information about both ( norsk prøve 3 and bergen test ) which i am preparing my self to these days .Excuse my poor language I am not an English native person .;) Thank you very much.