Course Syllabus

Swedish Language and Culture - Intermediate

Semester & Location:	Fall 2021 - DIS Stockholm
Type & Credits:	Elective Course - 3 credits
Major Disciplines:	Anthropology, Language
Prerequisite(s):	One course in a Scandinavian Language at university level or must be able to speak/write a Scandinavian Language
Faculty	Djina Wilk
Program Director:	Andreas Brøgger
Assistant Program Director:	Anna Sommer - anna.sommer@dis.dk
Time & Place:	Monday/Thursday 10.05 am -11.25 am 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 a previous semester or 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
• Acquire a higher level of cultural awareness
• Achieve a good pronunciation
• 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
• Get an understanding of the connection between language and culture

 

When studying Swedish language, we will have a functional and communicative approach. The course will focus on enhancing your spoken Swedish and improving your reading and listening skills by building on your vocabulary. 

The course will also explore how culture is reflected in language. By analyzing  and learning keywords and concepts and applying appropriate etiquette, you will learn how to navigate a foreign culture.

 

Reading list

Language part: 

Lindemalm, Karl & Scherrer Levy Paula, Rivstart A1 + A2 textbok, Rivstart A1 + A2 övningsbok, Natur & Kultur, 2016.

Readings (cultural part):

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, pp. 18-26

Castineira, Angel (2011) Imagined Nations: Personal Identity, National Identity and the Places of Memory. Kingston (Canada): Queen's University. pp. 43-53.

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

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

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.

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

Radio Sweden

 (Links to an external site.)

Sametinget

 (Links to an external site.)

 (Sami Parliament)

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

Sweden.se

 (Links to an external site.)

Swedish Environmental Protection agency

 (Links to an external site.)

Swedish Gender Equality Agency

 (Links to an external site.)

 

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:

- Create and use opportunities to meet people outside DIS either through language exchange or activity groups relating to your interests. Meetup is a great way to both get information about language exchange groups and other groups.

- Welma - a culture guide for Stockholm (note: in Swedish - is a great source when it comes to different events and happenings.

- If you like sports, sign up for some of the Stockholm University´s sport activities or sign up for Ssideline  city running club

- If you like art, visit some of the art exhibits by students from Konstfack, the Royal Art college.

 - Use the opportunity to go to free museums. Stockholms has several museums that are free and also, museums that have free entrance and extended opening times Tuesday evenings.

- Watch Swedish movies with English subtitles on Netflix or Swedish programmes with Swedish subtitles on Swedish TV

 .- Turn off your iPod on trains and buses and try to listen to what is being said around you . Listen to Swedish news in Swedish either on Radio Sweden or SVT Play. 

- Make a daily habit of using 3 new words each day by using them in different sentences or phrases. Create a goal of trying to use new words on a regular basis in order to activate your Swedish vocabulary

 - Observe signs and advertising in Swedish as you see these when moving around in the city.

 

Field Studies

The class has two mandatory field studies, as well optional cultural excursions. The purpose of the field studies and the cultural excursion is to use Stockholm’s cultural resources as our extended DIS classroom. Material covered during the field studies will be included in assignments and classrooms discussions.. Missing a Field Study will impact your participation grade.

-

 Wednesday September 22, 12.45-16.30: Skansen

- Wednesday November 10, 08.30-12.30: TBA

- Optional Cultural Excursions: TBA

 

Approach to Teaching

Expectations of the Students

The teaching style of this class is interactive. You are expected to actively participate in class discussion, to have done the readings and other homework, and come to class with notes, questions and relevant observations.

Learning a language is hard word 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 Swedish sounds and words.

Engaged participation is an integrated part of the 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 Swedish or discussing the connection between language and culture it is important to meet the level of preparation required to be an active participant.

 

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.

• Get organized! Notice all due dates assignment, set aside time to prepare for tests, papers etc., especially at the end of the semester.

• Prepare for class! Studying a language is like taking care of a new and vulnerable plant, it needs constant attention, water and sunshine in order to grow.

Participate! Practice your language in a “safe” environment and get relevant feedback, this is essential in improving. Sharing your thoughts and ideas in class is one of the best tools for developing your analytical skills.

 

Evaluation

Grading

 

Assignment	Percent
Engaged Participation	20%
Cultural Assignments	30%
Midterm	20%
Finals	30%

 

Engaged participation (20%)

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

 

Midterm (20%)

You are expected to write a Midterm exam in Swedish language. Further detailed guideline will be provided in class

 

Cultural assignments (30%)

You are expected to write one academic paper of 1500 words in regard to culture. The topics for this cultural essay is related to the last topics dealt with in regard to culture. During the semester you are also expected to give one 10-minute presentations about a cultural aspect of free choice. Further detailed guidelines will be provided in class.

 

Finals (30%)

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 2 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 2 chapters dealt with in class. Further detailed guideline will be provided in class.

 

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 

 

Formal guidelines:

Minimum use of two class texts/sources to which there are clear references.

Minimum use of two relevant texts chosen by student.

1500  - 1800 words (300 words pr. page = 5 pages)

Font and font size: Arial, 12

Line spacing: 1, 5

Name, Class Section number and teacher´s name in the left  upper corner.

Please note that late submission means that you will loose 5 points per day. However if you need an extension, please reach out in advance.

 

Policy on classroom etiquette - laptops, cellphones and food in class

DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - https://disabroad.org/