Course Syllabus

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Swedish Language and Culture - Intermediate A

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Semester & Location:

Fall 2019 - DIS Stockholm
Type & Credits:

Elective Course - 3 credits
Faculty

Djina Wilk
Program Director:

Andreas Brøgger
Assistant Program Director:

Anna Sommer - anna.sommer@dis.dk 
Time & Place:

Tuesday/Friday 1.15 pm -2.35 pm

IE-508

Language and Culture

The SLC Intermediate course is an integrated language and culture course.

 

Course Description & Learning objectives

We build on language acquired in previous language courses and through experience and continue working intensively with the spoken everyday language and more complex written texts. Literature, newspaper articles, TV series, movies, music, politics, and cultural issues are discussed in class. Furthermore, your personal experience while living in Sweden is one of the cornerstones of the class. The aim is to help you gain the experience of being an active participant in the Swedish society rather than just a tourist passing by.

 

Description of Course

This class will work on your linguistic and communicative skills on an intermediate level. It is an integrated language and culture course, and it gives you the opportunity to reflect upon and document intercultural competences gained while studying abroad at DIS. Studying a foreign language while living in the nation has a cultural dimension, and it will automatically make you a more perceptive student. Instead of being just a tourist going about daily life in Stockholm, this course offers the tools to understand the deeper meaning behind every “normal” action. The course makes you develop a critical and analytical understanding of your own as well as of the Swedish culture, and it seeks to explore Swedish history, literature, film, art as well as the burning issues of today – enriching your experience and making you a qualified discussion partner for your Swedish family and friends.

 

Learning Objectives (and not language objectives)

  • Achieve intermediate linguistic and pragmatic skills
  • Get an understanding of the connection between language and culture
  •  Acquire a higher level of cultural awareness
  • Become able to describe, explain and discuss in a rich and functional Swedish with grammatical accuracy and with confidence while applying the proper cultural sensitivities relevant to Swedish society
  • Write a coherent text about a specific topic and be able to analyze, argue and put into perspective in a varied language
  • The capacity to express oneself on a range of topics in Swedish

 

Faculty

Your instructor is Djina Wilk.

Background: M.A. in Germanic Languages and Literature, Washington University of St. Louis. Also Swedish official teaching qualification (subject: languages) from Stockholm University and Stockholm Lärarhögskolan.  Former Education Manager and teacher in English at Komvux, Folkuniversitetet, Stockholm. Has been teaching Swedish as a foreign language since 2004, for example at Internationella Skolorna Düsseldorf, Germany, at Folkuniversitetet, Stockholm and also at Washington University in St. Louis, USA.  With DIS since 2016.

 

Readings/media

Language part: 

Lindemalm, Karl & Scherrer Levy Paula (2016)  Rivstart B1 + B2 textbok, Natur & Kultur.

Lindemalm, Karl & Scherrer Levy Paula (2016)  Rivstart B1 + B2 övningsbok, Natur & Kultur.

 

Cultural part (readings are subject to change throughout the course)

Anderson, Benedict (2016) Imagined Communities - Reflections on the Origin and the Spread of Nationalism. Verso, pp. 5-7

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

Castineira, Angel (2011) Imagined Nations: Personal Identity, National Identity and the Places of Memory. Kingston (Canada): Queen's University. pp. 50-63

Crouch, David (2017) Is Sweden´s Feminist Propaganda Working? BBC News. Published 17 January 2017.

Dages Nyheter 

Edwards, Catherine (2018) What’s Behind the Rising Inequality in Sweden’s Schools, and Can It Be Fixed? ”The Local, Published 22 Aug. 2018. 

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

Fukuyama, Francis (2018) Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment. Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, pp. 124-139.

Gatehouse, Gabriel (2018) Sweden: Truth, lies and manipulated narratives? BBC Newsnight. Originally aired on 22 august 2018.

Johansson Robinowitz Christina and Carr, Lisa Werner (2001). Modern-Day Vikings - A Practical Guide to Interacting with the Swedes. Intercultural Press, pp. 17-28 + 81-95

Jämställdshetsmyndigheten

Klartext

Kramsch, Claire (1998) Language and Cultural Identity. Language and Culture. Oxford University Press. pp. 65-77.

Kramsch, Claire (1998) The Relationship between Language and Culture. Language and Culture. Oxford University Press. pp. 3-14.

Kungahuset

Lindström, Fredrik (2006) Världens modernaste land. SVT. Originally aired in October 2006.

Naturvårdsverket

Nordstrom, Byron J (2002), The History of Sweden. Greenwood Press. [select chapters]

O´Kane, Josh (2018) The Other Stockholm Syndrome. The Globe and Mail. Published 12 January 2018

Porzucki, Nina (2018) The Three-letter Word That Rocked a Nation. Public Radio International. Originally aired 27 March 2018. 

Sametinget

Skodo, Admir (2018) Sweden: By Turns Welcoming and Restrictive in its Immigration Policy. MIgration Policy Institute. 

Svenska Dagbladet

Swahn Jan Öjvin( 2014) Svenska traditioner. Ordaförlaget. [select chapters]

Woolridge, Adrian (2013) The Next Supermodel. The Economist. Published 2 February 2013. pp.125-139.

 

Continue learning outside the classroom

 While living and studying in Sweden, you can immerse yourself in the Swedish language and culture in a variety of ways. Try these:

Field Studies

The class has two field studies, as well optional cultural excursions. The purpose of the field studies and the cultural excursions is to use Stockholm’s cultural resources and Stockholm city as our extended DIS classroom. Material covered during the field studies will be included in assignments and classrooms discussions. 

- Field study 1: Wednesday September 18th, 08.45-12.00. Stockholm City Hall

- Alternative field study: Thursday October 24. 18.30-20.30.  Vist to one of Stockholm´s few independent cinemas and screening of a Swedish documentary about gender equality.

- Optional cultural excursion: Thursday November 7th , 17.51-20.21. Swedish theatre based on the Swedish book and the Swedish movie "Låt den rätte komma in". 

- Field study 2: Wednesday December 4th, 13.00-16.30: TBA

- Optional cultural excursion: Sunday December 8, 16.30-18.30. Swedish Christmas concert in Berwaldhallen.

 

Approach to Teaching

The culture part of course will include interactive lectures, classroom discussions, field studies and culture excursions. There is a focus on processing observations and sharing information.  The language part will include different classroom exercises with the purpose of learning and reviewing vocabulary and activating the language. 

 

Expectations of the Students

Active participation - one of the key components of your grade and one of the most pleasurable aspects of an engaging course - requires preparation. I expect you to have completed the assigned reading(s)/listenings/media viewing(s) before each class and to come with notes, thoughts, and questions. Readings, announcements, details, updates, the course schedule, and communications with one another are on Canvas. Download the Canvas app to your phones and turn on notifications so you stay up-to-date. You are responsible for checking Canvas daily.

Please do the following:

1. Submit assignments on time.
2. Complete all assigned readings/media viewings prior to the designated class.
3. 23 classroom sessions will go by fast and times flies! Be punctual and attend all classes (also including field studies), prepared and ready to contribute. Missing classes without a legitimate excuse or showing up to class not prepared will result in a lower participation grade.
4. Bring a notebook and pen/cil to class for taking notes. Only use laptops when instructed for specific activities. Please switch off your mobile phone during class and resist the urge to text. Please speak with me if you need your device for note-taking. 

 

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 Swedes and other people that you meet during the semester.

  • Get organized. Notice all due dates assignment, set aside time to prepare for tests, papers etc., throughout the whole semester. 

  • Prepare well for class. Studying a language is like taking any kind of training. In order to develop, you need to practice as much as possible and study on a regular basis. Also, take many notes while doing the readings.

  • Participate. Practice your language in a “safe” environment and get relevant feedback, this is essential in improving. So, try to use as much Swedish as possible during the language part of the course. Also,sharing your thoughts and ideas in class is one of the best tools for developing your analytical skills.

 

 

Grading and Assignments

 

Assignment

Percent
Engaged Participation

25%

 

Cultural Assignments

35%

 

Midterms

15%

Finals

25%

 

Engaged participation (25%)

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 participate actively on all four field studies during the semester. Further detailed guideline will be provided in class.

 

Midterms (15%)

You are expected to write a Midterm wriiten exam in Swedish language. Further detailed guideline will be provided in class and posted here on Canvas.

Cultural assignments (35%)

You are expected to write one academic paper (in Swedish) of around 1200 words in regard to culture. The topics for this cultural essay is related to any aspect in regard to  the culture part. During the semester you are also expected to give one 10-minute presentations (in Swedish) about a cultural aspect of free choice. Further detailed guidelines will be provided in class.

 

Finals (25%)

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 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 chapters dealt with in class. Further detailed guideline will be provided in class.

 

Late Papers / Assignments

All late submissions will be reduced by half a letter grade for each day late unless you have communicated with me before the deadline and have received permission to submit your work late. 

 

Electronic Technologies

Laptops/tablets/iPads/phones are not permitted to be open and in-use during class unless we are working on specified tasks. Mobile phones must be silenced during class. If you need your device for note-taking, let's talk. 

 

Academic Regulations  

DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their own work and correctly credit all work or thought taken from others. Academic dishonesty will result in a final course grade of F and may result in dismissal. Your home institutions will be notified. DIS reserves the right to require that written student assignments be submitted electronically for scanning by plagiarism detection software. Please speak with me if you have any questions.

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website for additional information. There you will find details on:

 

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due