Course Syllabus
Danish Language and Culture I section 129 |
 |
| Semester & Location: |
Spring 2020 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
| Course Instructor: |
Camilla Kirchhoff, camilla.kirchhoff@dis.dk |
|
Program Director: |
Andreas Brøgger |
|
Assistant Program Director: |
Sanne Rasmussen, sra@dis.dk |
| Time & Place: |
Tuesday & Friday 10:05 – 11:25 I F24-203 |
Description of Course
This course is an integrated language and culture course. We study various aspects of Danish culture and operate with a complex view on culture through a range of 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 the Danish language, we will employ a functional approach. The course will focus on spoken everyday Danish, reading comprehension, and basic grammar.
The course will explore how culture is reflected in language. By analyzing keywords and concepts and applying appropriate etiquette, you learn how to navigate in a foreign culture.
An important component of the course is your own observations of the Danish society as well as critical analysis of the presented materials.
Learning Objectives
- Acquire a higher level of cultural awareness
- Acquire knowledge and overall understanding of Danish history, culture, and society
- Ability to speak, read, and understand Danish on a basic level
- Gain an understanding of the connection between language and culture
Faculty
Camilla Kirchhoff, Cand.mag. in Danish from University of Copenhagen, 2007, Master of Danish as Second Language, 2014, and cellist from Royal Academy of Music Aarhus, 1988. Editor at Society for Danish Language and Literature 2009-10. Teacher in Danish language and culture at Copenhagen Language Center 2010-2015, and in music at Hvidovre School of Music 2000-. Teaches 3 Danish Language and Culture classes at DIS. With DIS since 2015.
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.
Required readings
Textbook: DIS DANSK I
Alexander, J. Sandahl, Authenticity, The Danish way of Parenting, Ehrhorn Hummer 2014
Andersen, Hans Christian, Denmark My Native Land, http://andersen.sdu.dk/rundtom/borge/danmark_e.html
Andersen, Hans Christian, The Ugly Duckling and The Little Mermaid, The Complete Fairy Tales and Stories, First Anchor Books Edition 1983
Carlsen, Jørgen, The Folk High School – Freedom and Living Conversation and The Plain Life – Danish Culture and Mentality, Learning in Denmark, The Danish Cultural Institute of Copenhagen 1997
De Mylius, Johan, Hans Christian Andersen – A Short Biographical Introduction, H.C. Andersen Centret, andersen.sdu.dk/liv/biografi/index_e.htm
Grundtvig, N.F.S., Far higher mountains are in other lands found, Easter Flower! What would you here? Syddansk Universitetsforlag 2013
Jackson, Jane, Culture and the primary socialization process, Introducing Language and Intercultural Communication, Routledge 2014
Jenkins, Richard, Everyday social democracy, Being Danish: Paradoxes of Identity in Everyday Life. Museum Tusculanum 2012.
Kingsley, Patrick, Work Well, Play Well, How to be Danish, Short Books 2012
Kærgård, Niels, Social Cohesion and the transformation from ethnic to multicultural society: The Case of Denmark, Ethnicities, Sage 2010
Lidegaard, Bo, Prologue 1849-1901, A Short History of Denmark in the 20th Century, Gyldendal 2009
Malthe-Bruun, Kim, Last Letters, Modern Danish Authors, SPC 1946
Reiter et. al, Denmark doesn’t treat its prisoners as prisoners, https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/02/02/denmark-doesnt-treat-its-prisoners-like-prisoners-and-its-good-for-everyone/
Stræde, Therkel, October 1943, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1993
Sønderby, Knud Celebration Day at Rebild, Danish Foreign Office Journal 1961
Tinggaard Svendsen, Gert, From Ice Age to Welfare, Trust, Aarhus Universitet 2014
Zuckerman, Phil, Introduction, Society without God, New York University 2008
Online sources
Grundtvig: Interview with Clay Warren, author of an extensive biography about Grundtvig: The School for Life: N.F.S. Grundtvig on the Education for the People (https://www.amazon.com/School-Life-Grundtvig-Education-English/dp/8771240020) Folk High Schools, Adult Education, and the Philosophy of Nikolaj Grundtvig
Kids Gone Wild: Documentary produced by Journeyman Pictures, a leading independent supplier of award winning stories. The Danish School Where Children Play With Knives
JAILBIRD: Documentary by Kelsey Pudloski, writer and video producer for BuzzBuzz News. JAILBIRD
Trust: Trust and Safety in Denmark
What is a Folk High School? : What is a Folk High School?
Field Studies
We have three Field Studies in this class. The purpose of the Field Studies is to use Copenhagen as our extended DIS classroom. (For details see study plan).
- Field Study 1: Historical visit to Dragør, Wednesday, March 4.
- Field study 2: Visit to a Danish Gymnasium, Wednesday, April 15.
- Evening Field Study: Cultural Event. Visit to The Lab Station, Wednesday April 1.
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 a lot of commitment. 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 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.
Evaluation
Through the semester there will be different worksheets and assignments that will be part of the overall evaluation of your work and participation in class.
Besides presence, the participation grade (20%) includes worksheets, an oral recording, daily level of preparation, interest in class discussions, field studies and the use of Danish language in class.
Furthermore, the cultural assignment grade (40%) covers 2 different assignments which will be graded separately:
- Assignment 1 (10%): Historical and cultural observations of Copenhagen (group assignment due January 31)
- Assignment 2 (30%): An essay on a special aspect of Danish culture (individual assignment due April 21)
Formal Guidelines for Cultural Assignments
You should use minimum two texts read in class and additionally, you need to use two relevant texts that you have not read in class. Each assignment should be 1500 words (300 words per page = 5 pages).
Remember to include your name and section number.
Formatting:
- Font: Arial
- Font size: 12
- Line spacing: 1,5 lines
Grading
| Assignment |
Percent |
| Engaged Participation |
20% |
|
Cultural Assignments |
40% |
| Written Exam |
20% |
| Oral Exam |
20% |
Grading is based on the rubrics found in the Canvas course Danish Language Resources.
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
Course Summary:
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