Course Syllabus

Danish Language and Culture I-II

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dannebrog.jpg

In Denmark I was born, this is my home

There my root is, from there my world starts;

Oh Danish language, you're the voice of my mother

You reach my heart so sweetly blessed.

Hans Christian Andersen, 1850

 

Semester & Location:

Spring 2020 - DIS Copenhagen

Type & Credits:

Elective Course - 6 credits

Faculty Member:

Catharina Rosendal, catharina.rosendal@dis.dk 

Program Director:

Andreas Brøgger

Assistant Program Director:

Sanne Rasmussen, sra@dis.dk 

Time & Place:

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 13:15 - 14:35 in V23-401

 

Description of Course

This course is an intensive 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

Catharina Rosendal is M.A. Language and Communication, CBS. Studies in French at the Université de Paris, Sorbonne, France. M.S.L.T. (Master’s program in Second Language Teaching) from Aarhus University. DIS professor of “Danish language and Culture” since 2015. Speaks 7 languages. Author and doing voluntary work for immigrants and refugees. In addition to teaching Danish Language and Culture, she has a background in international marketing from Carlsberg, the pharmaceutical industry and international advertising agencies.

 

Readings

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

Andersen, Hans Christian, The Little Mermaid, Andersen's Fairy Tales, Wordsworth, 1993

Andersen, Hans Christian, The Ugly Duckling, Andersen's Fairy Tales, Wordsworth, 1993

Andersen, Victor, Denmark – An Overview, Factsheet Denmark, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2010

Carlsen, Jørgen, The Folk High School – Freedom and the Living Conversation, Learning in Denmark, The Danish Cultural Institute Copenhagen 1997

Grundtvig, N.F.S., Far higher mountains are in other lands found, Easter Flower! What would you here? Syddansk Universitetsforlag 2013

Jespersen, Knud J.V., The church and the Welfare State, A History of Denmark 2004/2011

Kingsley, Patrick, Work Well, Play Well, How to be Danish, Short Books 2012

Kierkegaard, Søren, Either Or, Penguin Books, 1992/2004

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

Stræde, Therkel, October 1943, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1993

Tinggaard Svendsen, Gert, From Ice Age to Welfare, Trust, Aarhus Universitet 2014

Online Sources

Andersen, Hans Christian, Denmark My Native Landhttp://andersen.sdu.dk/rundtom/borge/danmark_e.html

De Mylius, Johan, Hans Christian Andersen – A Short Biographical Introduction, H.C. Andersen Centret, andersen.sdu.dk/liv/biografi/index_e.htm

Holberg, Ludvig, Erasmus Montanus, Comedies by Holberg, Project Gutenberg, http://digital.library.upenn.edu/webbin/gutbook/lookup?num=5749

Leynaud, Danish Prisonhttp://www.nopenguins.com/danish-open-prison

Renee, A Brief Explanation of the Controversial Film Movement Dogme http://nofilmschool.com/2014/02/explanation-of-the-controversial-film-movement-dogme-95-by-co-creator-lars-von-trier

Reiter et. al, Denmark doesn’t treat its prisoners https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/02/02/denmark-doesnt-treat-its-prisoners-like-prisoners-and-its-good-for-everyone/

 

Field Studies

January 29th, 08:30 – 12:30

March 4th, 08:30 – 12:30

March 11th, 13:00 - 17:00

April 1st, 13:00 - 17:00

Evening Field Study to be announced 18:00 - 22:00

 

Course Resources

Audio Files and Online Worksheets

In the Canvas courses Danish Language Resources and Danish Language Resources Level II you will find audio files and online worksheets that you can use to practice vocabulary, phrases, pronunciation, and grammar throughout the semester. In your textbooks DIS DANSK I and DIS DANSK II, 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

Through the semester there will be different quizzes, worksheets, presentations and assignments that will be graded and will be part of the overall evaluation of your work and participation in class.

Besides presence, the engaged participation grade (20%) includes quizzes, worksheets, daily level of preparation, interest in class discussions, field studies and the use of Danish in class.

Furthermore, the cultural assignment consists of 2 different assignments:

Assignment 1: Historical and cultural observations of Copenhagen

Assignment 2: Analytical Essay

 

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:

Date Details Due