Course Syllabus
Danish Language and Culture section 125 for Child Development and Diversity Students |
 |
| Semester & Location: |
Spring 2020 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
| Faculty Member: |
Ditte Marie Egebjerg-Rantzau |
|
Program Director: |
Andreas Brøgger |
|
Assistant Program Director: |
Sanne Rasmussen, sra@dis.dk |
| Time & Place: |
Tuesday & Friday, 8.30-9.50, V23-401 |
Description of Course
This course is an integrated language and culture course. We will study different aspects of Danish 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 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 will be your own observations and critical analysis.
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
Ditte Marie Egebjerg-Rantzau, cand. mag. in Nordic Literature and French, University of Copenhagen 2001. BA studies in French Literature, Paul Valéry University, Montpellier, France. Vice Consul at the Royal Danish Consulate of Ethiopia 1999-2000. Educator in Danish Language and Culture at Mærsk, Novo Nordisk and other Danish Companies 2001-2006. With DIS since 2006. Other courses taught by Ditte Marie Egebjerg-Rantzau: Active Citizenship (SU1), Arctic Orientalism (SU2) and Postcolonial Europe.
Contact: deg@dis.dk
Readings
Agar, Michael: “Can You Take It Anywhere”?, International Journal Of Qualitative Methods 5 (2) June 2006.
Andersen, Astrid Nonbo: "We have reconquered the Islands. Figurations in Public Memories of Slavery and Colonialism In Denmark 1948-2012", Int J Polit Cult Soc 2013
Billig, Michael: “Introduction” and “Nations and Languages”, Banal Nationalism, Sage Publications 1995
Castinera, Angel: “Imagined Nations: Personal Identity, National Identity, and the Places of Memory. In: “Contemporary Majority Nationalism”, Edited by: Gagnon, Lecours and Nootens. McGill-Queen’s University Press 2011.
Hervik, Peter: "Racialization in the Nordic Countries. An Introduction. In: "Racialization, Racism, and Anti-racism in the Nordic Countries", Edited by; Hervik, Palgrave Macmillan, 2019
Jenkins, Richard: ”Everyday social democracy”, Being Danish: Paradoxes of Identity in Everyday Life, Museum Tusculanum Press 2012
Jespersen, Knud J. V.: “The Danes – A Tribe or a Nation?”, In: “A History of Denmark”, Palgrave Macmillan 2011.
Korsgaard, Ove: "Grundtvig's Philosophy of Enlightenment and Education. In: Broadbridge, Edward, Jonas, Uffe and Warren, Clay: The School for Life: N.F.S. Grundtvig on Education for the People. Aarhus University Press, 2011.
Kramsch, Claire: ”The relationship of language and culture”, Language and culture, Oxford University Press, 1998
Online readings
Trolle Linnet, Jeppe: ”Money can’t buy me hygge”, Academia.edu: http://www.academia.edu/714349/Money_cant_buy_me_hygge_Danish_middle-class_consumption_egalitarianism_and_the_sanctity_of_inner_space
Field Studies
This class aims at offering students insights in Danish language and culture which is hard to do unless you interact with Danes. Intercultural interactions are key to this class, and you will get a chance to engage in cultural discussions with young Danes during both field studies of this class.
As an extra field study for this class, will get to experience ballet at the Royal Danish Theatre. Danish Ballet is one of the oldest ballet companies in the world, dating back to the creation of the Royal Theatre in 1748 and is renowned for its classics as well as its modern performances.
Course Resources
Audio Files and Online Worksheets
In the Canvas course Danish Language Resources CDD, 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 CDD, 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 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
Participating actively in this class is crucial. As you will learn, active engagement is at the core of Danish education. Moreover, students are expected to take responsibility for their own learning to an extent that might challenge American students. As a student in Danish language and culture, you will therefore be expected to take that challenge and engage actively, also when class activities do not directly earn you any academic credits.
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.
Active participation entails engaging in both the language and culture component of class as well as completing all online assignments. To excel in this class also requires that you engage actively outside class: Observe cultural norms and values, note Danish expressions and engage in discussions about cultural, social and political issues with Danes that you meet. You are expected to share these insights in class whenever relevant, or alternatively contribute to discussion threads on Canvas.
Grading
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
| 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:
| Date | Details | Due |
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