For pupils with another mother tongue, it can be challenging to follow the teaching at the same time as learning to master the Norwegian language. If your knowledge of Norwegian is limited, you have the right to special language education (strengthened and adapted language education).

Special language education applies first and foremost to

• special education in Norwegian (strengthened education in Norwegian),
  but you may also be offered
• mother tongue education (education in your mother tongue),
• bilingual subject teaching (teaching of other subjects in your own language).

The school must chart your needs

• The school must chart your knowledge of Norwegian before it is decided whether you can be given special language education.
• The school shall also chart your knowledge of Norwegian during your education to decide when you can switch over to the regular teaching.

The right to special language education applies in other words until you are good enough in Norwegian to follow the regular teaching.

Special education in Norwegian

If you need strengthened education in Norwegian, there are three alternatives:

1. You can follow the subject curriculum in basic Norwegian for language minorities

• This curriculum is not linked to your age but to your level
• You are not given a grade if you follow this curriculum.
• You follow this curriculum until you can switch over to the regular curriculum in Norwegian.

2. You can follow the subject curriculum in Norwegian for language minorities with a short period of residency in Norway

• A short period of residency means less than six years.
  
• This subject curriculum can be used at all three levels.
• You are given a final assessment grade and take examinations with this subject curriculum.

3. You can follow the regular subject curriculum in Norwegian with adaptations (adapted to you)

When you have or have had strengthened Norwegian education, you are exempted from education and assessment in writing the secondary language form of Norwegian.

Mother tongue education

You can also be offered to strengthen your language skills in your own mother tongue

• The subject curriculum in mother tongue education for language minorities takes your level, not your age, as its starting point.
• Mother tongue education means that you are to improve your reading and writing skills in your own language, so that your mother tongue can be a support when you are going to learn Norwegian.
• This education may be given at another school.*

Bilingual teaching

You can also be offered bilingual teaching in other subjects

• The teaching in the subject (for instance social studies or natural science) takes place both in Norwegian and in your mother tongue.
• In this way, it will be possible for you to get explanations in a language you understand.
• Bilingual teaching can be used in all subjects.
• This teaching shall be given at your own school.*

* If there are no teachers who can provide mother tongue education and/or bilingual teaching in other subjects, you are to be offered other education that is adapted to your needs.