I'm currently an osteopath working in the UK and my partner is norwegian and has just moved back to Norway and im looking to follow suit. I'm not having much luck with my applications to osteopathic clinics in oslo as it's not as big there as in the UK (my partner only had a few replies from clinics but luckily found somewhere). So currently im looking at potentially moving there and working in the service industry or unskilled work to help get a better grip on the language (would say I'm pretty basic, not great by any means). My question is, do you need to already have a good grasp of the language to even work in a shop or a bar? Also I would look to do an intensive course in norwegian whilst im there so any advice on that would be great.

I took a one-week "immersion" Berlitz course some years ago, and it was utterly useless. 2000 quid down the drain. Fortunately, my Norwegian grandchildren have bailed me out by learning English.****
**** An interesting question arises: did they bail me out or bale me out? One bales a boat out, but bails a man out of prison. I have chosen "bail", but am open to correction if someone will make a good case.

My son, an English-speaker with two small Norwegian children from a Norwegian mother, got himself a night-time job selling pizzas in a shop at the end of a ferry-run, a dozen years ago. The job enabled him to pick the language up together with his little family. You may be able to do the same, if you're willing to take a crap job. Good luck!

Thanks for your reply. I've heard similar stories about the Berlitz course so thanks for confirming.

I would argue that bail is the right term, mainly because bale just reminds me of a hay bale (plus the definition is to pack something into tight bundles).

That's interesting to hear about your son. I'm glad it worked out for him! It's a difficult one for me as I've done a 4 year degree with a specialist degree and have worked for 2 years now, just established myself and doing well. For me to go backwards to a job like that is risky, seeing as I'm not even sure I'll be able to work as an osteopath without setting myself up! (due to lack of private vacancies as an associate and no public healthcare work).

I've read a fair amount about expats in Norway (although not many people from the UK have moved there it seems) since I posted this a month ago and it just seems that it's more difficult for someone from the UK to move to Norway just because the young workforce are so good at English. Compared to 20 years ago when the standard wasn't as good. Supposedly the Norwegians are more wary of people from outside Norway in the job market and it's more about who you know, but i guess that could be said for anywhere.

I'm also astounded that I have only received one reply from one clinic in Oslo saying they aren't looking for anyone to work there at the minute. The rest of the clinics (around 30 I applied for) have not even bothered to reply after 6 weeks, very unprofessional. I really am eager to move there to stay with my girlfriend but it's so difficult. maybe it's one of those cases of moving there and forcing yourself to immerse yourself in the culture and get a job once I'm there? Once again a very risky strategy.

Sorry for the long reply, this may also help someone who is thinking of moving there also just to give them the heads up about things.

Just looking in from the France forum, and a few ideas to share.
I would assume that your partner has a very well paid job in Norway for you to be considering moving there and initially accepting unskilled/simple bar work, especially considering the professional level you've currently reached in UK.
In your shoes, I would continue as you are in UK and open an ongoing dialogue with your partner on whether they would consider a return to the UK to live in the short - medium term. If this was met with obvious refusals, imho although probably heart-breaking it may be serious time to look elsewhere.
In the distant past I've personaly met with a somewhat similar scenario when my employment took me overseas without my soulmate/partner at that time. In the case of failure to reach an acceptable compromise, although extremely difficult - indeed heart-wrenching, one can turn your back on the present and move forward to happier times with another partner. It certainly worked for me.

I think you're completely right and actually after discussion this is where we've headed. She's not willing to move away from her home country, I am willing but she's not willing to do long-distance whilst I learn the language/look for a job. Just one of those things in life, it's very heart wrenching indeed but there's no compromise, thanks for your reply anyway

Teachers of foreign languages are universally critical of Berlitz. There is no easy path, no "royal road" to acquisition of a foreign language. For most of us learning another language means hundreds and thousands of hours of hard work.

And even then you might fall short! My son, at a meeting of his employers' Board (he worked behind the scenes at the Oslo Opera House) was publicly praised by the Big Boss for his mastery of Norwegian. After ten years in the country, he was proud to have been assured that he spoke it like a native - from "somewhere up north", but still - a native. I asked his Norwegian daughter, then aged 12 or 13, how many marks out of ten she would give her father for his alleged mastery. She thought carefully and gave him a seven! And when he protested vigorously, she had another think and said, a bit grudgingly, "Well, maybe seven and a half."

So there you have it. There really is no "royal road"!