Course Syllabus
Swedish Language & Culture I-II |
 |
Photo credits: Sara de Basly/imagebank.sweden.se
| Semester & Location |
Spring 2024 - DIS Stockholm |
| Type & Credits |
Elective Course - 6 credits |
| Major Disciplines |
Anthropology, Language |
| Faculty |
Djina Wilk (current students please use the Canvas Inbox) |
| Academic Support | |
| Time & Place: |
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays, 11.40 - 13.00, D-411 |
Course Description
This course is an integrated language and culture course which serves as the ideal entry point for your studies abroad in Sweden. Offering an introduction to the Swedish language while also exploring important themes in Swedish 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 Swedish, 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 Stockholm and environs.
An important component of the course is your own observations of Swedish 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 Swedish culture and history we will begin to understand how these continue to shape identities today. With Sweden 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 Swedish culture and society
- Ability to speak, read, and understand Swedish on a lower intermediate level
- Gain an understanding of connections between language and culture
- Enhance intercultural awareness and critical reflection
- Develop a sense of belonging
Faculty
Your instructor is Djina Wilk (djina.wilk@disstockholm.se)
Course material
Language part:
DIS SVENSKA (2020). In house publication.
Rivstart A1 + A2 (Natur & Kultur)
Culture part:
Akinmande Åkerström, Lola (2017). Lagom - the Swedish Secret of Living Well. Headline Home. [selected pages]
Beery, Thomas (2013) Nordic in nature: friluftsliv and
environmental connectedness, Environmental Education Research, 19:1, 94-117
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.
Derrier, Benoit and Savage, Maddy (2021). How To Tackle The Swedish Winter. BBC Reel.
Derrier, Benoit and Savage, Maddy (2021). Why Sweden is Proud to have the World´s Highest Taxes. BBC Reel.
Edwards, Catherine (2018) What’s Behind the Rising Inequality in Sweden’s Schools, and Can It Be Fixed? ”The Local, Published 22 Aug. 2018.
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.
Milewski, John (ed.) (2018). Sweden: The World´s “First Feminist Governent”. Video interview produced and published by Woodrow Wilson Center.
Porzucki, Nina (2018) The Three-letter Word That Rocked a Nation. Public Radio International. Originally aired 27 March 2018.
Savage, M. (2019, October 9). Jantelagen: Why Swedes won’t talk about wealth. BBC. Online publication.
Swahn Jan Öjvin( 2014) Swedish Traditions. Ordaförlaget. [selected chapters]
Other cultural material:
Selected programs from Swedish public service, both TV and radio.
Selected Swedish movies such as Sameblod and Astrid
Field Studies & Cultural excursions
The class has two full-day mandatory field studies (on Wednesdays), as well as three optional cultural excursions (during weekends). The purpose of the field studies and the cultural excursions is to use Stockholm’s cultural resources and Stockholm city as our extended DIS classroom. Material covered during the field studies will be included in assignments and classrooms discussions. The cultural excursions connects more to visual or audio impressions of specific aspects of Sweden and Swedish society.
Field study 1: Wednesday, February 14, 9.00-17.00: TBA
- Field study 2: Wednesday, 20: 09.00-17.00: TBA
- Optional cultural excursion/event 1: Friday, January 20, 14.30-15.30: Fika mingel with Swedish senior high school students at Oktav.
- Optional cultural excursion/event 2: Sunday, January 28th, 14:00-15.30: A visit to Nordiska museet, Sweden’s largest museum of cultural history and stories about the life and people of the Nordic region.
- Optional cultural excursion/event 3: Saturday, February 24th, afternoon: Escape the grey February weather for a time and enjoy the movie "Stockholm Bloodbath" a Swedish cinema.
- Optional cultural excursion/event 4: Saturday, April 20th, evening time, starting from 18.00: Stockholm culture night
- Optional cultural excursion/event 5: Saturday, April 27th, 14.00-16.00: Guided tour and visit at Drottningholm caste, a UNESCO heritage site in Sweden.
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 Danes.
-
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.
Grading
| Assignment |
Percent |
Deadline |
| Engaged Participation |
25 % |
Throughout the course |
|
Midterm (online) |
10 % |
29 February |
|
|
35 % |
Suburban project: 19 March Swedish cultural presentation: 26 April Cultural essay: 9 May |
|
Final Exams |
30 % |
Written exam (online): 3 May Oral exam: 7 May |
Engaged participation
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 participate actively on all four field studies during the semester. Further detailed guideline will be provided in class.
Midterm
You are expected to write a Midterm exam in Swedish language. The Written midterm will test your language skills in the chapters in DIS Svenska dealt with in the first part of the semester. Further detailed guidelines will be provided in class.
Cultural assignments
You are expected to present on a suburb in Stockholm (in English). You are also expected to give a presentation about a famous Swede (in Swedish). Lastly, you are expected to write one academic paper in regard to Swedish culture and Swedish society (in English). The topics for this cultural essay is related to topics dealt with in regard to cultural part of the course Further detailed guidelines will be provided in class.
Finals
You are expected to write a Final exam in Swedish language. This Final written exam (10 %) will test your language skills gained from the whole semester but with emphasis on the last couple of chapters dealt with in class. Further detailed guidelines will be provided in class.
As a part of the Finals, you are also expected to complete an oral Final exam in Swedish language (20 %). This Final oral exam will test your language skills gained from the whole semester but with emphasis on the last couple of chapters dealt with in class. Further detailed guidelines will be provided in class.
Late Papers / Assignments
All late submissions will be reduced by half a letter grade for each day late unless you have communicated with me before the deadline and have received permission to submit your work late.
Electronic Technologies
Laptops/tablets/iPads/phones are not permitted to be open and in-use during class unless we are working on specified tasks. Mobile phones must be silenced during class. If you need your device for note-taking, let's talk.
Academic Regulations
DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their own work and correctly credit all work or thought taken from others. Academic dishonesty will result in a final course grade of F and may result in dismissal. Your home institutions will be notified. DIS reserves the right to require that written student assignments be submitted electronically for scanning by plagiarism detection software. Please speak with me if you have any questions.
Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|