Course Syllabus

Swedish Language & Culture I-II

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Semester & Location:

Fall 2018 Stockholm

Type & Credits:

Elective Course - 6 credits

Program Director

Anders Broegger

Assistant Program Director:

Anna Sommers - 

anna.sommer@dis.dk

Time & Place:

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays, 11.40 - 13.00, 1E - 509

 

Description of Course

This course is an integrated language and culture course. We will study different aspects of Swedish culture and we will operate with a complex view on culture through various representations. The focus will be on dominant national narratives, values, and symbolism, which we will approach from both a historical and contemporary perspective.

When studying Swedish language, we will employ a functional approach. The course will focus on spoken everyday Swedish, reading comprehension and grammar.

The course will explore how culture is reflected in language. By analyzing keywords and concepts and applying appropriate etiquette, you will learn how to navigate a foreign culture.

An important component of the course will be your own observations and critical analysis.

Learning Objectives

  • Acquire a higher level of cultural awareness
  • Acquire knowledge and overall understanding of Swedish history, culture and society
  • Be able to speak, read and understand Swedish on an intermediate level
  • Get an understanding of the connection between language and culture

Faculty

Your instructor is Djina Wilk. M.A. in Germanic Languages and Literature, Washington University of St. Louis, graduation year 2007. Also Swedish official teaching qualification (subject: languages) from Stockholm University and Stockholm Lärarhögskola, graduation year 2009. Former Education Manager and also teacher in English at Komvux, Folkuniversitetet, Stockholm. Also member of the board at Folkuniversitetet Stockholm. Have been teaching Swedish as a foreign language since 2004, for example at Internationella Skolorna Düsseldorf, Germany and also Folkuniversitetet, Stockholm.Current self-employed at Bee Swedish, a private language business, since February 2016. With DIS since 2016.  

Readings

Language part:

Rivstart textbok A1+ A2 and Rivstart övningsbok A1 + A2 

 

Cultural part:

Booth, Michael, Chapter 1  Sweden, The Almost Nearly Perfect People, Vintage, 2015, p. 293-299

 

Brodin, Björn and Pikkarainen, Heidi. Discrimination of the Sami – the rights of the Sami from a discrimination perspective, 2008 (online publication) Retrieved from:

https://www.do.se/contentassets/5ad9f5ea04bf4aedb943cf84e1562240/rapport-discrimination-sami.pdf

 

Carr Werner, Lisa and Robinowitz Christina Johansson,  Chapter 5 The Individual and The Group: Self Sufficiency and Solidarity, Modern-Day Vikings - a Practical Guide to Interacting with Swedes, Intercultural Press, 2001, p. 57-70

 

Carr Werner, Lisa and Robinowitz Christina Johansson,  Chapter 7 Jantelagen: Who Do You Think You Are?, Modern-Day Vikings - a Practical Guide to Interacting with Swedes, Intercultural Press, 2001, p. 81-95

 

Daun, Åke, Independence, Swedish Mentality, Pennsylvania State University Press, 1996, p. 56-69

 

Everdahl, Göran, The History of The Land of Lagom, The Swedish way of Lagom, Norstedts, 2018 p. 15-25.

 

Hofstede, Gert (2011), Dimensionalizing Cultures: The Hofstede Model in Context. (online publication) Retrieved from: https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/orpc/vol2/iss1/8/

Friedman Ekholm Kajsa, From nation state to multiculturalism: on change in Sweden at the turn of the Millenium, The Swedish Success Story, Preses Nams, 2004, p. 227-240.

 

Hebblethwaite Cordelia, “Sweden's 'gender-neutral' pre-school”, BBC News, July 8th 2011

 

Johansson, Rune, The Construction of Swedishness, The Swedish Success Story, Preses Nams, 2004, p. 109-120

 

Kramsch, Claire, The Relationship of Language and Culture, Language and Culture, Oxford University Press, 1998

 

Schöplin, Gerhard, The Functions of Myths and a Taxonomy of Myths, Myths and Nationhood, Routledge, 1997, p. 19-35

 

Swahn Jan Öjvin, Svenska traditioner (excerpts), Ordaförlaget, 2014

 

Tagliabue John, “Swedish School’s Big Lesson Begins With Dropping Personal Pronouns”, New York Times, November 13th,  2012

 

Woolridge, Adrian “The Next Supermodel”, The Economist, February 2nd 2013

 

 Field Studies

  • Wednesday August 29th, 9.00-12.30: A Guided Tour at The Royal Castle. Focus: Power and Presentations of Power. The Journey from a Power State with a Dictatorship to a Modern Democratic Constitutional Monarchy
  • Wednesday September 19th, 13.00-17.00: For our second field study we will get to know the indigenous people of Scandinavia, the Sami people. Sami is a part of Sweden and Swedish culture but has, as many other indigenous people around the world, been targets of racism and discrimination. During the field study we will get a guided tour of the Sami exhibition at Nordiska Museum and learn more about the Sami culture and Sami past and Sami today. 
  • Wednesday October 3rd, 13.00-17.00: A Visit to Ärvinge Secondary School. Focus: Swedish Education System and Everyday Life of a Swedish Student Today.
  • Wednesday November 7th, 9-12.30: A Visit to one of the Northern Suburbs, Tensta and a Museum Flat about the Million Program from 1960s. Focus: The Million Program in 1960s and the Climate in the Suburbs

Approach to Teaching & Expectations of the Students

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

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

Engaged participation is an integrated part of the 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 Swedish or discussing the connection between language and culture it is important to meet the level of preparation required to be an active participant.

Evaluation

How to get a good grade:

  • Get involved! Use your Swedish, meaning the language as well as your historical and cultural knowledge outside the classroom - the more the better. The more you know the more you see and experience.

  • Use the knowledge and insight obtained in class through readings, lectures and discussions to enrich your study abroad experience and to start fun, thought-provoking and interesting discussions with Danes.

  • Get organized! Notice all due dates assignment, set aside time to prepare for tests, papers etc., especially at the end of the semester.

  • Prepare for class! Studying a language is like taking care of a new and vulnerable plant, it needs constant attention, water and sunshine in order to grow.

  • Participate! Practice your language in a “safe” environment and get relevant feedback, this is essential in improving. Sharing your thoughts and ideas in class is one of the best tools for developing your analytical skills.

Grading

Assignment

Percent

Engaged Participation 

20 %

Midterms

20 %

Cultural Assignments

30 %

Final Exams

30 %

 

Engaged participation (20%)

You are expected to be well-prepared for class and to be very engaged in the classrooms discussions and exercises, both in regard to language and culture. Also, you are expected to actively particapte actively on all four field studies during the semester. Further detailed guideline will be provided in class.

 

Midterms (20%)

You are expected to write a Midterm exam in Swedish language.The Written midterm will test your language skills in the first 6 chapters dealt with in the first part of the semester. Further detailed guideline will be provided in class

As a prt of the Midterm, you are also expected to complete an oral Midterm exam in Swedish language. The Oral midterm will test your language skills in the first 6 chapters dealt with in the first part of the semester. Further detailed guideline will be provided in class.

 

Cultural assigments (30%)

You are expected to write one academic paper of 1500 words in regard to culture. The topics for this cultural essay is related to the last topics dealt with in regard to culture. During the semester you are also expected to give two 10-minute presentations about a cultural aspect of free choice. Further detailed guidelines will be provided in class.

 

Finals (30%)

You are expected to write a Final exam in Swedish language. This Final written exam will test your language skills gained from the whole semester but with emphasis on the last 2 chapters dealt with in class. Further detailed guideline will be provided in class.

As a part of the Finals, you are also expected to complete an oral Final exam in Swedish language. This Final written exam will test your language skills gained from the whole semester but with emphasis on the last 2 chapters dealt with in class. Further detailed guideline will be provided in class.

 

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

 

Policy on papers

Students are expected to follow the formalia and the formal guidelines or the course papers.

Formal guidelines:

Minimum use of two class texts/sources to which there are clear references.

Minimum use of two relevant texts chosen by student.

1500 words (300 words pr. page = 5 pages)

Font and font size: Arial, 12

Line spacing: 1, 5

Name, Class Section number and teacher´s name in the left  upper corner.

Please note that late papers will not be accepted.

 

Policy on classroom etiquette

Students may only use laptops in the classroom for taking notes or for tasks that are relevant for the classroom discussions and the course work. By using the laptop for any other purposes on a lesson, the participation for that lesson will lowered. Cellphones should be on mute and are not to be used in the classroom.

DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISaborad.org (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due