The Scandinavian Language Institute

SLI Classes

The Scandinavian Language Institute was founded in Seattle over 45 years ago in 1978 by Ed Egerdahl. As then, SLI continues to offer language instruction classes to the general public in various levels of Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish. In future, we hope to include Icelandic classes, as well.

Class levels include one or more of the following: Beginning, Know-A-Little (Continuing), Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert. These are scheduled each quarter throughout the school year:

Classes take place at various times, often in both daytime and evening. Nearly all classes meet online. In addition, our instructors offer a variety of specialty classes and book club opportunities.

More than just an educational facility, we offer many special services to both students and the general public including a marching group in the 17th of May parade in Ballard each year. Come join us! (You too, Swedes, Danes, and Icelanders!)

The Scandinavian Language Institute, a Washington State non-profit corporation and tax-exempt organization, is offering classes to students all across the US.

First Quarter: Sept/Oct - Nov/Dec

Second Quarter: Jan - Mar

Third Quarter: Mar/April - May/June

Some classes may be offered in the summer, as well, depending on the instructors' schedules.

SLI Instructors

Laura A Wideburg, Phd

Lead Swedish Instructor

Laura loves teaching the Swedish language, which she has done for almost 3 decades. She has written 7 books for adult learners of Swedish, which have been very popular among her students. She has also translated twenty books from Swedish to English, including novels by Inger Frimansson, Sara Lövestam and Helene Tursten. As her Ph. D. is in medieval Germanic literature and historical linguistics, she is well-qualified to teach culture classes on the history of Scandinavia and literary works in Old Icelandic, which she loves to share with her students.

Karin Filipsson, PhC

Swedish Instructor

Karin is a native Swede and instructor of Swedish at the Department of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Washington. Her PhD project explores postmigrant Scandinavian literature in relation to national, cultural memory. She was awarded the AASSC 2022 Marna Feldt Graduate Publication Award for “Shadows and Silences in Göran Rosenberg’s Memoir: Jewish Postmemory in the Swedish Welfare State” which was published in Scandinavian-Canadian Studies. She received the 2021 Aurora Borealis Award for “Welcome to my Body: Construction of Racialized Identity through the Transgressing of Boundaries in Jonas Hassen Khemiri’s work”. She is one of six fellows in the Joff Hanauer for Excellence in Western Civilization Graduate Fellowship at UW. She is also a literary translator; among her recent work is the English translation of Bianca Kronlöf’s book Letters to Men and Margit Silberstein’s Children of the Holocaust. She recently did a podcast interview with Swedish author Jonas Hassen Khemiri for the Scandinavian department’s podcast Crossing North.

Jack Rogalla

Swedish Instructor

Jack Rogalla's interest in Swedish began at a young age when family from Sweden came to visit him in Chicago. He grew up speaking a few phrases with family and went on to study Swedish at North Park University. He was given the opportunity to study in Jönköping, Sweden and reconnect with more relatives. He graduated with a BA in Scandinavian Studies in 2020 and has been teaching Swedish since 2021. He says learning the language has allowed him to experience a new culture, introduced him to a variety of literature and films, and made way for new friendships.

Melissa Lucas, Phd

Danish Instructor

Melissa comes from Michigan, but has lived in the Seattle area for over 20 years. She learned Danish in a "total-immersion" program in Denmark, later earning a PhD in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Washington. She also earned a master's degree in Speech Pathology, and another in Linguistics. As you might surmise, Melissa loves language and learning! She's also wild about teaching Danish and can't wait to help you move forward in your Danish-language quest! If you are interested in private lessons, check out her website here: www.letsdansk.com

Ed Egerdahl

Norwegian Instructor

(Self-Study Norwegian Video Program)

Ed graduated in 1977 from the Scandinavian Department of the University of Washington earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Norwegian Language and Literature, and Education. Ed has been teaching Norwegian language classes professionally at various locations in the Seattle area since 1978.

Tanja Eie

Norwegian Instructor

Tanja Eie is a first-generation Norwegian American who grew up bilingual Norwegian and English at home and has been teaching Norwegian for many years to students of various levels and backgrounds, including military personnel, college students and adult learners. She holds a master's degree in education and a Bachelor of Arts in History. Tanja visits Norway every year, and has done since childhood.

SLI Directors

Ed Egerdahl

Founder, Former Director, Norwegian Instructor

In 1978, Edward Egerdahl founded the Norwegian Language Learning Center, and has served as board president and director of the Scandinavian Language Institute since its incorporation in 1980.

Ed graduated in 1977 from the Scandinavian Department of the University of Washington earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Norwegian Language and Literature, and Education. Ed has been teaching Norwegian language classes professionally at various locations in the Seattle area since 1978.

Melissa Lucas
Incoming Director
Danish Instructor

Ed is handing the baton over to Melissa during the 2023-24 year. After teaching Danish at SLI for nearly 20 years, she is excited to see classes growing in number, new cultural classes developing, and more students joining in from across the country!

The Scandinavian Language Institute

SLI Classes

SLI Instructors

Ed graduated in 1977 from the Scandinavian Department of the University of Washington earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Norwegian Language and Literature, and Education. Ed has been teaching Norwegian language classes professionally at various locations in the Seattle area since 1978.

SLI Directors

Melissa Lucas
Incoming Director
Danish Instructor

Call us at (425) 773-5370

Write to: admin@scanlang.org

THE SCANDINAVIAN LANGUAGE INSTITUTE GLADLY WELCOMES STUDENTS OF ANY RACE, COLOR, SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND NATIONAL OR ETHNIC ORIGIN.

The Scandinavian Language Institute

SLI Classes

SLI Instructors

Ed graduated in 1977 from the Scandinavian Department of the University of Washington earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Norwegian Language and Literature, and Education. Ed has been teaching Norwegian language classes professionally at various locations in the Seattle area since 1978.

SLI Directors

Melissa Lucas Incoming Director Danish Instructor

Melissa Lucas
Incoming Director
Danish Instructor