A Sense of Belonging

Semester & Location:	Spring 2026 - DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:	Elective Course - 3 credits
Major Disciplines:	Major disciplines: Anthropology, Language Related Discipline(s): Food studies, Sustainability
Faculty Members:	Victoria Petersen Amargós (current students please use the Canvas Inbox)
Time & Place:	Tuesdays and Fridays 8:30-9:50. Classroom: V10 A43

 

Course Description

This course is an integrated language and culture course with a major focus on learning Danish through the exploration of food, taste, and sustainability in Denmark.

Local food and traditions are a rich source of information about cultural values, beliefs, and relations, often permeated by national narratives and symbols. Exploring practices around food in Denmark, we will be able to make observations on Danish society while using our senses and curiosity. 

An important component of the course is also to discuss various aspects of food sustainability: How does sustainability manifest itself in the Danish food scene and even in the Danish language? How is Danish society addressing food waste? What are sustainable innovative ways that Denmark deals with food consumption and production?

When studying the Danish language, we employ a communicative and functional approach, emphasizing spoken everyday Danish, reading comprehension, and basic grammar. Learning Danish in this course will allow you to interact in basic ways with your local surroundings, strengthening your sense of belonging while studying abroad.

With Denmark and Danish food cultures as your case study, you will develop your general ability to understand and study other cultures from an intercultural perspective.

Learning Objectives

• Acquire an understanding of Danish food culture and sustainability.
• Ability to speak, read, and understand Danish on a basic level.
• Understand how food and sustainability can enhance nation building.
• Understand Danish mentality through food education, production and consumption.
• Acquire a higher level of cultural awareness.
• Gain an understanding of the connection between language and culture.
• Acquire knowledge and overall understanding of Danish history, culture. and society

Faculty

Victoria Petersen Amargós. M.A. (Cross-Cultural Studies, University of Copenhagen, 2021). B.A. (Linguistics, University of Copenhagen, 2018). Project Manager (Danish Board of Technology (Now: Democracy X), Hvidovre, 2020-2022). With DIS since 2024.

Readings

All Culture Segment pdf files are available through the Canvas Calendar posts for each session and in the files folder. Danish homework will be posted after each class for the coming class in the calendar, please be sure to check for any updates. 

• Anderson, Benedict (2016) Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism. Chapter: 1 & 2
• Cohen, Mathilde (2024) “Food Identity”. Journal of Food. Law & Policy, vol. 20, number 2.
• Eriksen, Thomas Hylland. (2001). Small Places, Large Issues: An Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology. 2nd ed. London: Pluto Press. Chapter: introduction_Comparison and Context.
• Karrebæk, Martha Sif (2012). "What's in your lunch box today?": Health, respectability, and ethnicity in the primary classroom. Journal of Linguistic Anthropology, 22(1), 1-22
• Kythor, Ellen (2024) Introduction to Nordic Cultures. UCL Press. Chapter: Stereotypes in and of Scandinavia.

Links to supplemental news articles, podcasts and videos are available in Canvas Calendar posts. 

Field Studies

In this class, there will be 3 experiential Field Studies, two during the day and one at night. Please check calendar for more information. 

 

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.

Learning a language is hard work and requires a lot of commitment and preparation. The ambition is to create a classroom culture in which everyone feels at ease trying to pronounce the unfamiliar Danish sounds and words.

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 and independent contribution of knowledge and ideas.

Students are not allowed to use a laptop or smartphone in class. Considerations will, of course, be taken if you have special needs for a computer for note-taking. Please speak to the Office of Academic Support to request accommodations.

PLEASE NOTE: Occasional small food samples will be offered in class to support learning, but full meals will not be provided and tastings will not occur regularly. Not all tastings will be able to accommodate dietary restrictions.

 

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

 

Grading

Assignment	Percent
Engaged Participation	30%
Cultural Assignments (1+2)	35%
Online Worksheets*	10%
Oral Exam	25 %
Total	100 %

 

*Online Worksheets are part of the final grading and can be accessed in the "Danish at DIS" Canvas course. Please see Guidelines and assessment criteria for worksheets.

 

Academic Regulations 

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:

• Course Enrollment and Grading
• Academic Expectations and Honor Code

 
* Please note, that this syllabus is subject to change

DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org