The Story Steps Method is a natural and effective way to learn a new language through fun and engaging stories. At the heart of the method is a simple idea backed by science: we learn best when we understand what we’re reading. That’s why every story in the series is designed to be just right for the learner’s level—challenging enough to encourage progress, but never overwhelming. The language is clear, the sentences are simple, and key words appear often to make them easy to remember.

Instead of teaching vocabulary and grammar in isolation, Story Steps uses contextual repetition. Words and phrases are introduced naturally through the story and reappear many times across chapters and books. This helps you remember them without needing to memorize. Over time, you begin to recognize patterns in the language—how sentences are built, how verbs change, how questions are formed—all without needing to study grammar rules directly.

But Story Steps isn’t just about language. It’s also about connection. The stories are about people in Norway facing everyday challenges and joys, as well as about Norwegian culture. Readers encounter recurring characters, visit familiar places, and experience moments that are typical of Norway, feel real, and are emotionally engaging. This emotional connection and insight into Norwegian culture make learning more enjoyable and memorable.

In short, the Story Steps Method is more than just reading. It’s a journey—story by story—into a new language and a new way of understanding the world.

CEFR Levels – Pick the Right Level for You

The grading of the Story Steps readers follows the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The CEFR, as it’s abbreviated, is an internationally recognized system used to describe and measure a person’s language proficiency, from absolute beginner to advanced.

  • Foundations (A0) – Can understand and repeat very simple words and phrases with support.
  • Beginner (A1) – Can understand and use basic phrases and expressions.
  • Elementary (A2) – Can communicate in simple, everyday situations.
  • Intermediate (B1) – Can handle most daily conversations and describe experiences.
  • Upper Intermediate (B2) – Can express ideas clearly and understand complex texts.
  • Advanced (C1) – Can use the language effectively and fluently in most settings.
  • Mastery (C2) – Can understand almost everything and express themselves precisely and naturally.

You should aim for picking a level where you understand almost all of the text. If the material is too difficult, you risk feeling overwhelmed. And if you pick a text that is too easy, you might feel bored. Either way, you risk stopping your language journey.

How to Use Our Readers

Once you have chosen the right level, we recommend doing the following routine:

  • Read the texts several times. Every time you get exposed to the words and grammar, you build fluency and confidence in Norwegian.
  • Focus on understanding. Don’t stop to translate everything, focus on understanding the main plot. You can do this by guessing the meaning of most words and only checking the few words that you don’t understand and that seem key.
  • Listen to the audio. After you have read the texts several times (or before reading) you can listen to the texts on Spotify. Start by trying to understand. Then, move on to shadowing, which involves reading the text aloud at the same time as the audio. This will help you practice your pronunciation and oral fluency.   
  • Learn the words and expressions. If you consistently read and listen, let’s say for 10-20 minutes a day, you will eventually build up your vocabulary in Norwegian. However, if you want to accelerate your progress, we’ve also prepared ready-to-use vocabulary stacks in Quizlet.
  • Have fun and enjoy. Most importantly, enjoy the process! If learning feels fun and rewarding, you’re much more likely to stick with it—and that’s the key to success.

We hope you will enjoy learning with Story Steps. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at info at storysteps.com if you spot any errors or have suggestions on how to improve the reader.

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