Course Syllabus

                         

Course Description

This course offers an integrated approach to Danish language and culture, grounded in embodied and mindful learning. Through movement, play, conversation, and reflection, we explore what it is like to live and study in Denmark. The course aims to mobilize your mental and physical awareness,, to empower you, and deepen your understanding of self.  

We will encounter Danish culture through walks, visits, discussions, interactive language practice, and conversations with locals. Engaging in games, creative exercises, shared meals, and physical activities will help us challenge and nourish our bodies and minds. Often outdoor, these activities will make use of the varied urban landscape, but all practices will be accessible to everybody — and every body. It will strengthen your sense of place and sense of belonging while studying abroad.

We also read and discuss Danish literature and philosophy — from classic to contemporary — to challenge our way of thinking, and perhaps our life choices. We engage with themes such as trust, happiness, despair, authenticity, conformity and attention span.

Language learning will take a joyful and interactive approach, focusing on spoken, everyday Danish and providing enough applied repetition for your body to remember it. You will be using the Danish language in your daily life — shopping, small talking, asking questions —gaining the tools and the courage to actually speak Danish. You will, once and for all be able to let go of any silly idea you might  have that 'you are not good at languages'. 

 

Learning Objectives  

• Acquire knowledge and immersion in in Danish culture and society
• Ability to speak, read, and understand Danish on a basic, useful level
• Understanding of connections between language, culture and self
• Enhance intercultural awareness, self awareness and critical reflection
• Develop a sense of belonging

Grading

Assignment	Percent
Engaged Participation	30%
Cultural Assignments	35%
Online Worksheets*	10%
Oral Exam	25 %
Total	100 %

* 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 DIS Dansk I. The final deadline to complete the worksheets is the same as the oral exam deadline - see Canvas calendar for details.

 

Faculty

Jacob Cold

Jacob has 20 years of experience as a teacher at university, folk high school and high school.  He also writes travel pieces for Denmark's largest newspaper, Politiken. He has been with DIS since 2017. 

Jacob has an MA in English & Drama from King's College London & Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and a BA in Comparative Literature & Social Anthropology, University of Copenhagen. 

Please contact Jacob via canvas inbox. He appears under 'People' alongside students.  As a secondary option - preferably only for after course contact - use email: jacob.cold@dis.dk 

 

Syllabus

Extracts from the following works are assigned as homework. Other sources used include texts that appear in the files section, podcasts, film, tv,  journalism, songs and more.

Andersen, Hans Christian: The Complete Fairy Tales and Stories, First Anchor Books, 1983 

Bregman, Rutger: Human Kind - A Hopeful History, Bloomsbury, London 2020

Brinkmann, Svend: The Joy of Missing Out, Polity Press 2019.

Carlsen, Jørgen: The Folk High School , The Danish Cultural Institute, Århus, 1997

Ibsen, Henrik: A Doll's House and Other Plays, Penguin, London, 1965

Jensen, Carsten: Welfare,  Princeton University Press 2024  

Jespersen, Knud J. V: A History of Denmark, Palgrave Macmillan, 2011

Lewis, Benny: Fluent in three months - How anyone at any age can learn to speak any language from anywhere in the world, Harper Collins, New York, 2014. 

Løgstrup, K.E: The Ethical Demand, University of Notre Dame Press, 1997 

Mai Anne-Marie & Bredsdorf, Thomas: 100 Danish poems. Museum Tusculanum Press & University of Washington Press, Copenhagen & Seattle, 2011

Kierkegaard, Søren: The Essential Søren Kierkegaard (edited by Hong & Hong), Princeton University Press 2023.

Korneliussen, Niviak. Last Night in Nuuk, Grove Press/Black Cat, 2019.

Lidegaard, Bo: 'A Short History of Denmark in the 20th Century', Gyldendal, 2009

Partanen, Anu: *The Nordic Theory of Everything', Duckworth, 2018, Richmond.

Steensgaard, Pernille: Copenhagen: People and Places' Gyldendal, Copenhagen, 2015 

 

Field Studies  

Field Studies are experiential encounters with Danish culture and chances to get out of the classroom. Two values should guide your approach to field studies: courage and curiosity. They may involve excursions to important cultural highlights, visits to Danish institutions, practical tasks employing the Danish language and much more.  Field studies typically involve high school visits, historical walks  & practical interactions with Danes.

Course Resources

Audio Files and Online Worksheets

In the Canvas course Danish Language Resources, you will find audio files and online worksheets that you can use to practice vocabulary, phrases, pronunciation, and grammar throughout the semester. In your textbook DIS DANSK I, the texts with complementary audio files are marked with a headphone symbol. 

Online Dictionary: Ordbogen.com

DIS has a subscription to Ordbogen, a Danish-English/English-Danish online dictionary. Go to http://www.ordbogen.com/ and follow the instructions that you have received directly from Ordbogen.com.

Approach to Teaching and Expectations of the Students

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 commitment. It is also a lot of fun. The ambition is to create a classroom culture in which everyone feels at ease and to make you use Danish outside the classroom daily.

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.

 

Grading is based on the rubrics found in the Canvas course Danish Language Resources.