Course Syllabus

 

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:	Fall 2021 - DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:	Elective Course - 3 credits
Prerequisite:	None
Course Instructor	Catharina Rosendal - catharina.rosendal@dis.dk
Program Director:	Andreas Brøgger - abr@dis.dk
Assistant Program Director	Anna Sommer anna.sommer@dis.dk
Time & Place:	N7-C21 Tuesdays & Fridays, 10:05 - 11:25

 

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.
• Be able to speak, read and understand Danish on a basic level
• Get 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, 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 Culture, A History of Denmark 2004/2011

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

Kingsley, Patrick, The Immigrant’s Dilemma, How to be Danish, Short Books 2012

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 20^th 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 Land, http://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 Prison, http://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

October 6, 13:00 - 17:00

December 1, 08:30 – 12:30

 

Audio files

On Canvas, you can find audio files that you can use to practice vocabulary, phrases, and pronunciation. In the textbook DIS DANSK, they are marked with a little headphone symbol. The audio files can be found on Canvas under Danish Language Resources, Modules.

 

Ordbogen.com

DIS has a subscription to Ordbogen, a Danish-English/English-Danish online dictionary. Go to http://www.ordbogen.com/Links to an external site. and follow the instructions you will receive by email 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%

The grades are based on the rubrics found in Canvas under Danish Language Resources, Modules.

 

Academic Regulations  

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on: 

• Course Enrollment and Grading  
• Academic Expectations and Honor Code 

 

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