Course Syllabus
Danish Language and Culture Through Personal Storytelling |
| Semester & Location: |
Fall 2025 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
| Major Disciplines: |
Language, Anthropology, Creative Writing |
| Related Disciplines |
Education, Literature, History |
| Prerequisite(s): |
None |
| Faculty Members: |
Ditte Marie Egebjerg-Rantzau |
| Time & Place: |
Monday and Thursday, 13.15-14.35 Location TBA |
Course Description
This course is an integrated language and culture course with a major focus on making sense of your study abroad experience through the method of personal storytelling. Studying abroad is a unique opportunity to undergo processes of inner transformation, if you make space for contemplation and deep reflection. This course will offer such a space, as we explore your new location abroad and the stories and values that have shaped our way of life.
We will co-create a supportive learning community rooted in mutual trust which will allow us to honestly reflect on meaning-making questions that inspire us. In our reflections, we will draw upon excerpts of writing by some of the finest Danish storytellers, but you will also be invited to engage in conversations with Danes during school visits, communal dinners and city walks to gain a more nuanced understanding of the stories and values that underpin everyday life in Denmark.
The language learning in the course will emphasize spoken everyday Danish, reading comprehension, and simple grammar, which will allow you to interact in basic ways with your local surroundings. The functional approach is evident both in classroom interactions, hands-on exercises, and experiential learning through field studies around Copenhagen and environs.
As this is an integrated language and culture course, we explore how culture is reflected in language through expressions, concepts, and keywords. By openly and critically studying values, symbols, and dominant and marginalized narratives in Danish culture and history we will begin to understand how these continue to shape identities today. With Denmark as your case study, you will also develop your general ability to understand and study other cultures from an intercultural perspective.
Learning Objectives
- to acquire the ability to speak, read, and understand Danish on a basic level
- to gain an understanding of connections between language and culture
- to increase students’ level of self-awareness and enhance their capacities to engage in mutually committed communities
- to explore dominant values and narratives that underpin our societies and then enable students to consciously choose the values and narratives they want to embody
- to foster a mindset of lifelong learning guided by curiosity and creative grit
Faculty
Cand. mag. in Nordic Literature and French, Vice Consul at the Royal Danish Consulate of Ethiopia (2000). Educator at Novo Nordisk and Mærsk (-2006). With DIS since 2006, full time faculty since 2010. Certified in True Storytelling 2023, Certified in The Inner MBA Program 2025. Areas of specialization: storytelling, postcolonial studies, social change and civic education.
Readings
Gilliam, Laura: " The Decent Citizens - Lessons on Moral Superiority and the Immorality of Wealth in a Class of Privileged Youth". In: Gilliam, Laura and Gulløv, Eva: "Children of the Welfare State - Civilizing Practices in Schools, Childcare and Families". 2017.
Hall, John A., Korsgaard, Ove and Pedersen, Ove K. (eds.): Building the Nation: N.F.S. Grundtvig and Danish National Identity, McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2015.
hooks, bell: “Teaching to Transgress – Education as the Practice of Freedom”, Routledge, New York 1994
Jaffe-Walter, Reva: "Imagining the Nation: Danish Citizens and Muslim Others". In: "Coercive Concern: Nationalism, Liberalism, and the Schooling of Muslim Others". Stanford University Press 2016.
Lidegaard, Bo: "Prologue 1849-1901". In: A Short History of Denmark in the 20th Century", Gyldendal 2009.
Nash, Robert and Jang, Hennifer J. J.: “Preparing Students for Life Beyond College – A Meaning-Centered Vision for Holistic Teaching and Learning”, Routledge, New York, 2015.
powel, john a. and Menendian, Stephen: “Belonging without Othering – How We Save Ourselves and the World”. Stanford University Press, California 2024
Viray, Sydnee and Nash, Robert J: “Our Stories Matter. Liberating the Voices of Marginalized Students Through Scholarly Personal Narrative Writing, Peter Lang, New York, 2013
Literary fiction (excerpts):
Absalonsen, Kalanguak: "K", Copenhagen, 2024
Andersen, Hans Christian: "Complete Fairy Tales" (edition TBA)
Dinesen, Isak: "Out Of Africa" (edition TBA)
Ditlevsen, Tove: "The Copenhagen Trilogy" (edition TBA)
Field Studies
Intercultural interactions are key to this class, and you will get a chance to engage in cultural discussions with young Danes during field studies and in class workshops.
Additionally, we will use Copenhagen as our class room during some of our class activities and assignments.
Guest Lecturers
Guest speakers will offer minority perspectives on Danish culture and social issues. The sessions led by guest speakers will be interactive and focused on personal storytelling as a powerful tool to gain agency for minority voices.
Approach to Teaching
This course will draw upon collaborative pedagogical approaches practiced in the Danish Folk High Schools. We will take our point of departure in Nicolai Grundtvig's concept of education as a pathway to joy of life.
Students will be invited to make sense of their study abroad experience through personal storytelling - both in small storytelling circles and in written assignments. The approach to storytelling is inspired by indigenous storytelling practices and the research on 'Scholarly Personal Narrative Writing' by Robert J. Nash and Sydnee Viray.
DIS Accommodations Statement
Your learning experience in this class is important to me. If you have approved academic accommodations with DIS, please make sure I receive your DIS accommodations letter within two weeks from the start of classes. If you can think of other ways I can support your learning, please don't hesitate to talk to me. If you have any further questions about your academic accommodations, contact Academic Support academicsupport@dis.dk
Evaluation and Expectations for Students
The teaching style of our class is very interactive and rooted in a sense of mutual trust and responsibility. You are expected to prepare for each class by doing the assigned homework and to come to class motivated to engage wholeheartedly.
Our approach to learning Danish and exploring personal storytelling will require that students are ready to adopt a mindset of curiosity and personal integrity, but also to maintain a generous, understanding and open attitude towards fellow students.
For a three credit course like this, DIS generally expect students to work an average of six hours per week outside of class per three hours in class. The six hours include the time students spend on assignments, tests, exams, field studies and seminar nights related to the class.
Grading
| Assignment |
Percent |
| Engaged Participation |
30% |
|
Cultural Assignments |
35% |
|
Online Worksheets* |
10% |
|
Oral Exam |
25% |
* Online Worksheets for chapter 1-5 are part of the final grading and can be accessed in the "DLC: Resources, Worksheets, audio and video files, and exam guidelines" Canvas course. We encourage to complete the worksheets throughout the semester as they correspond to the chapters in the text book. The final deadline to complete the worksheets is the same as the oral exam deadline midnight - see Canvas calendar for details.
Academic Regulations
Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|