Course Syllabus
Danish Language and CultureClass 101
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| Semester & Location: |
Spring 2024 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
| Prerequisite: |
None |
| Faculty Members: |
https://disabroad.org/copenhagen/semester/courses/danish-language-and-culture-courses/ |
| Time & Place: |
Room: F24-202 Time: Monday and Thursday from 10:05 am - 11:25 am. |
Faculty
Christina Knudsen is cand.mag. (University of Southern Denmark). Major in French, minor in Spanish. Teaches four Danish Language and Culture classes and has been with DIS since 2006.
Mail: ckn@dis.dk
Course Description
This course is an integrated language and culture course which serves as the ideal entry point for your studies abroad in Denmark. Offering an introduction to the Danish language while also exploring important themes in Danish culture and society, this course will help you navigate and understand your new environment. It will strengthen your sense of place and sense of belonging while studying abroad.
In terms of language learning, the emphasis is on spoken everyday Danish, reading comprehension, and basic grammar which allows you to interact in basic ways with your local surroundings. The functional approach is evident both in classroom interactions, hands-on exercises, and experiential learning through field studies around Copenhagen and environs.
An important component of the course is your own observations of Danish society as you are studying abroad. In this integrated language and culture course we explore how culture is reflected in language through expressions, concepts, and keywords. By openly and critically studying values, symbols, and dominant and marginalized narratives in Danish culture and history we will begin to understand how these continue to shape identities today. With Denmark as your case study, you will develop your ability to understand and study other cultures from an intercultural perspective.
Learning Objectives
- Acquire knowledge and understanding of Danish culture and society
- Ability to speak, read, and understand Danish on a basic level
- Gain an understanding of connections between language and culture
- Enhance intercultural awareness and critical reflection
- Develop a sense of belonging
Grading
| Assignment |
Percent |
| Engaged Participation |
30% |
|
Cultural Assignments |
35% |
|
Online Worksheets* |
10% |
|
Oral Exam |
25% |
-
Online Worksheets for chapter 1-6 are part of the final grading and can be accessed in the "DLC: Resources, Worksheets, audio and video files, and exam guidelines" Canvas course. We encourage to complete the worksheets throughout the semester as they correspond to the chapters in the text book. The final deadline to complete the worksheets is Friday Mai 3 at midnight - the day after the oral exam. See Canvas calendar for details.
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
When learning a new language, mistakes are inevitable, so forget about perfectionism for a while and get in the game. Aim at having fun with learning new vowels and new sounds, keep trying and eventually, you will be able to start shaping phrases and pick up some of the language spoken around you. Remember, you are all in the same boat in the classroom and the more you let your creativity loose and “play” with the language, the better your learning outcome will be. Doing the assigned worksheets at home, going over dialogues, listening to podcasts and try to practice your Danish at every chance you get is crucial for the progression expected in this course and you are expected to meet prepared for each class.
When speaking Danish, you also need to know the cultural codes for when to say what. Again, have an open mind and pay attention outside class how people behave and what they say to you that will enhance your understanding of the cultural values. The assigned culture texts offers wide aspects of topics concerning Danish history, value system and contemporary society. When in class, I do not just go over what is on the assigned text; I take it elsewhere, offer additional information and ask you to discuss and opinionate on issues concerning life in Denmark. It is therefore of utmost importance that you require the basic knowledge of the topics through reading the assigned texts thoroughly, take notes, reflect on differences and similarities compared to you own culture and bring comments and thoughts to class in order for all of us to have good talks and discussions and create an inspiring and vibrant classroom.
Readings
-Adriansen Inge: "National Symbols in the Kingdom of Denmark 1830-2000", Museum Tusculanums Forlag, 2003.
-Andersen Hans Christian: "Clumsy Hans". H.C. Andersen Centret: http://www.andersen.sdu.dk/vaerk/hersholt/ClumsyHans.html
-Andersen, Hans Christian: “The Ugly Duckling”. A translation of Hans Christian Andersens “Den grimme ælling”. http://www.andersen.sdu.dk/vaerk/hersholt/TheUglyDuckling_e.html
-Birk, Anne Okkels: Open prisons - will they last? http://anneokkels.dk/wp-content/uploads/Birk_OpenPrisons_NSfK2011.pdf
-Calderon Justin: Christiania: What happened to Denmark's hippie paradise in Copenhagen? | CNN August 10, 2019.
-Carlsen, Jørgen: “The Folk High School – Freedom and the Living Conversation”, Learning in Denmark, The Danish Cultural Institue Copenhagen, 1997.
-Carlsen, Jørgen: "The plain Life – Danish Culture and Mentality", Learning in Denmark, The Danish Cultural Institue Copenhagen, 1997.
-Daley, Suzanne: “Danes rethink a Welfare State Ample to Fault”. New York Times, April, 2013.
-Jenkins, Richard: “Where the Crows turn: Darkest Jutland”, Being Danish: Paradoxes of Identity in Everyday Life, Museum Tusculanum Press 2012
-Jenkins, Richard, "Everyday social democracy", Being Danish: Paradoxes of Identity in Everyday Life, Museum Tusculanum Press 2012
-Jespersen, Knud J.V.: "The Danish Model of the Welfare State", A History of Denmark, Palgrave, 2004
-Jespersen, Knud J.V.: "Danes – A tribe or a nation", A History of Denmark, Palgrave, 2004
-Lidegaard, Bo: “Prologue”, A short history of Denmark in the 20th century, Gyldendal 2009
-Mikkelsen, Birger, "Copenhagen became a capital"in Mikkelsen, Birger, Elisabeth Bjørn-Petersen, and Lars Kjaedegaard. Christian Iv: A Pictorial Biography. (Elisinore [Denmark: Nordisk Forlag, 1987.) 87-106
-Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark: "Factsheet Denmark History", 2003.
-Mogensen Michael: "October 1943 - The Rescue of the Danish Jews" Denmark and the Holocast, Institute for International studies, 2003.
-Mylius, de Johan: "H.C. Andersen A short Biographical Introduction", The Hans Christian Andersen Centre, SDU, 2016., Department for the Study of Culture at the (http://andersen.sdu.dk/liv/biografi/index_e.html
-Nielsen Anette, Enevoldsen Jørn Henrik , Pedersen Jones Samuel : Country Portrait Denmark, socialnet, 02.06.2020 - Country Portrait Denmark | socialnet.de
-Reiter, Keramet, Sexton, Lori and Sumner, Jennifer: “Denmark doesn´t treat its prisoners like prisoners - and it´s good for everyone”, Washington Post, February 2016.
- Redohl Sarah: "Royalty in the land of equality", The International, July 2, 2021
-Svendsen Gert Tinggaard: "Trust", Aarhus Universitetsforlag, April 2014.
-The Holocaust: A Learning Site for Students: "Rescue in Denmark". https://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007740 (Links to an external site.)
-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
-Pontoppidan Henrik: “Eagles Flight”, An Anthology of Scandinavian Literature, p.70-74, Collier Books, New york, Collier-Macmillian, Ltd, London.
Required documentaries/films/podcasts:
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark's CNN interview part 1/3:
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark's CNN interview part 1/3
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark's CNN interview part 2/3:
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark CNN interview part 2/3
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark's CNN interview part 3/3:
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark's CNN interview part 3/3
All About the Enlightenment The Age of Reason:
All About the Enlightenment The Age of Reason
Folk High Schools, Adult Education, and the Philosophy of Nikolaj Grundtvig - Reason tv:
Folk High Schools, Adult Education, and the Philosophy of Nikolaj Grundtvig
Kelsey Pudloski, Kruti Joshi and Julen Hernandez of the DMJX Fall 2012 International TV semester: Jailbird.
Let’s Talk About Denmark: Does Danish welfare make you lazy? på Apple Podcasts
Operation Carthage | Destroy The Shellhouse | Mosquito Raids in Copenhagen - YouTube
The danger of a single story | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, TED 2009:
The danger of a single story | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
What is Culture and why does it matter? PHILO-notes:
What is Culture and Why does it Matter? - YouTube
Field Studies
Field Study 1: January 31 (1 pm - 5 pm):
The movie: "A Royal Affair" will be shown in class, followed by a guided tour in the Royal chambers of Christiansborg. Objectives: To gain an insight as to how radically the Danish Monarchy has changed and developed over time as well as to how the thinking and ideas of the Enlightenment were introduced and spread in Denmark during the 18th century.
Field Study 2: April 3 (8:30 am - 12:30 pm):
We will visit a Danish Gymnasium (Gymnasium: 3 years education for students approximately 17-19 years old. The Gymnasium allows entrance to higher education)
Objectives: To discuss and share class topics (from our Danish classes as well as from their English classes). You will get the chance to interact with young Danes and to gain an insight of the life and conditions of Danish students when it comes to finances, grades, living conditions, future plans, life ambitions etc. etc. Furthermore we will discuss the influence of Grundtvig´s views on education and personal and intellectual development in today's schooling in Denmark.
Cultural/social Event. TBA
Podcasts
Scan the QR-code in the binder and you will go directly to the podcast on Canvas, where you can listen to pronunciation of vocabulary and phrases. You can also find them at Canvas, just above the worksheets.
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.
The grades are based on the rubrics found in Canvas Danish Language Resources, "Modules".
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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