Course Syllabus

Course Description

This course is an integrated language and culture course that serves as the ideal entry point for your studies abroad in Denmark. Offering a continuation of your level in Danish while also exploring important themes in Danish culture and society, this course will help you navigate and understand your new environment. It will strengthen your sense of place and sense of belonging while studying abroad. 

In terms of language learning, the emphasis is on both spoken and written Danish, reading comprehension, and basic grammar which allows you to interact 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 its environs. 

 An important component of the course is your own observations of Danish society as you are studying abroad. In this 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 develop your ability to understand and study other cultures from an intercultural perspective.

Learning Objectives

• Acquire knowledge and understanding of Danish culture and society
• Ability to speak, read, and understand more Danish
• Gain an understanding of the connections between language and culture
• Enhance intercultural awareness and critical reflection
• Develop a sense of belonging

Faculty

Charlotte Bjerre Beuck, cand. phil. from University of Aarhus (Czech Language and Culture and European Studies). Teaches multiple classes of Danish Language and Culture. With DIS since 2005.

• Contact via Canvas Inbox 
• Office hours will be scheduled with students individually

Readings and other resources

Required language material

• Textbook: Puls 3, Alfabeta, 2017
• Black, Mika Sun: Den Lille, Alfabeta, 2016

Readings 

• Anderson, Benedict: “Introduction”, in: Imagined Communities, Verso 1991
• Billig, Michael: “National Identities in the World of Nations”, in: Banal Nationalism, Sage Publications 1995.
• Dam, Lotte: "The dialectics between language and culture", in: Globe: A Journal of Language, Culture and Communication, 4: 39-51, 2016.
• Damsholt, Tine: "Hand of King and voice of people: Grundtvig on Democracy and the responsibility of the Self. In: Building the Nation. N.F.S. Grundtvig and Danish National Identity. ed. / John A. Hall; Ove Korsgaard; Ove K. Pedersen. Montreal, Quebec : McGill-Queen's University Press, 2015. p. 151-168.
• Risager, Karen: "The Concept of Culture - An Introduction" in: Language and Culture, Multilingual Matters 2006.
• Stjernfelt, Frederik: "To little Culture - Too much Culture: The strange coexistence of two opposite notions of culture" in: The Culture of Politics, Economics and Social Relations (ed. Michael Bøss). Aarhus Universitetsforlag, 2016. p. 88-101.

Online Dictionary: Ordbogen

Via DIS you have access to the Danish-English/English-Danish online dictionary called Ordbogen. You can link directly from the resource page Danish at DIS - Worksheets, Media and Guidelines https://canvas.disabroad.org/courses/578 . You can also access through the app DIS Navigate under Tools > Academic Tools, or you can use this link directly and just log in via your DIS account (if you add the link to your phone as a weblink you get easy access from everywhere): https://go.openathens.net/redirector/dis.dk?url=https%3A%2F%2Fordbogen.com%0A 

Continue learning outside the classroom

You are expected to continue learning outside of the classroom. Keep informed about what is going on in Denmark - it is expected that you will read the Danish news in English (and in Danish), gain a basic knowledge of Danish political and societal structures, and explore Danish culture on your own through movies, TV-shows, literature, and various cultural events offered in Denmark.

Field Studies/Social Events

• Academic Field Study 1: Wednesday, February 11, 13-17
• Academic Field Study 2: Wednesday, April 8, 8.30-12.30
• Social Field Study: The Royal Danish Ballet, March 5, 20:00-21:45 

Approach to Teaching

The teaching style of this class is interactive. You are expected to actively participate in class discussions, to have done the readings and other homework, and come to class with notes, questions and relevant observations.

The ambition is to create a classroom culture in which everyone feels at ease and wants to contribute at all times.

Engaged participation is an integrated part of class and will be a large part of the course evaluation. Participating in class discussion requires a high level of preparation and a voluntary contribution of knowledge and ideas. In addition, when speaking Danish or discussing the connection between language and culture it is important to meet the level of preparation required to be an active participant.

Grading Components

Active Participation in class discussions and assignments (30%): You are required to participate actively throughout the semester in both language activities and cultural discussions. Please note that attendance at all classes and field studies is required and expected and is not credited as active participation.

Cultural assignment 1 - a presentation (15%): Students are individually responsible for introducing and presenting a cultural subject valuable for the class discussion.

Cultural assignment 2 - a paper (20%): A academic paper in which students engage with a topic related to the cultural component of the course.

Written exercises (10%): Written exercises training practical grammatical language skills in order to support the spoken language.

Oral Exam (25%): You will perform a short presentation in Danish followed by a conversation with your instructor.