Course Syllabus
Danish Language and Culture 160 |
 |
| Semester & Location: |
Spring 2024 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
| Prerequisite: |
None |
| Course Instructor: |
Camilla Kirchhoff - camilla.kirchhoff@dis.dk |
| Time & Place: |
Monday & Thursday 10:05 – 11:25 I V23-400 |
Description of Course
This course is an integrated language and culture course with a major focus on learning Danish through music, rhythm, and song. Music has proven highly beneficial to second language acquisition as pronunciation and vocabulary is learned in playful ways through repetition and engagement. At the same time, lyrics and rhymes are rich sources of information about cultural values, beliefs, customs, relations, and national narratives as well as cultural differences.
The class is based on a high degree of experiential learning by using musical elements and the city as our classroom. We will approach Danish culture from both a historical and contemporary perspective.
When studying the Danish language, we will employ a communicative, functional approach, so you will be able to use the language actively on a basic level, thereby giving you a valuable basic for intercultural encounters during the study abroad experience. Through rhythm and song, the course will focus on everyday Danish, reading comprehension, and basic grammar. The course will explore how culture is reflected in language through lyrics and other sources. 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.
Major Discipline(s): Anthropology, Language, Music
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
Faculty
Camilla Kirchhoff, Master Degree of Danish and Nordic Literature from University of Copenhagen, 2007, Master Degree of Danish as Second Language, 2014. Master Degree as cellist from Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, 1988. Cellist in several Scandinavian orchestras, e.g. Danish National Symphony Orchestra and The Royal Danish Orchestra 1988-2001, and cello teacher at Hvidovre School of Music 2000-2021. Editor at Society for Danish Language and Literature 2009-10 and publisher of 101 Essays af Knud Sønderby (coming 2023). Teacher in Danish language and culture at Copenhagen Language Center, 2010-2015, and at DIS since 2015. Furthermore, teaching classes in History of Music and performing as a cellist.
Podcasts
On Canvas, you can find podcasts that you can use to practice vocabulary, phrases, and pronunciation. In the textbook Danish at DIS - A Sense of Belonging, they are marked with a little headphone symbol and a QR code. The podcasts can also be found on Canvas in the course: "DLC: Resources, Worksheets, audio and video files, and exam guidelines".
Worksheets
Online Worksheets for chapter 1-5 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 Danish at DIS - A Sense of Belonging.
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 you will receive by email from Ordbogen.com.
Required readings
Textbook: Danish at DIS - A Sense of Belonging
Alexander, J. Sandahl, Authenticity, The Danish way of Parenting, Ehrhorn Hummer 2014
Andersen, Benny, Selected Poems, Translated by Alexander Taylor, Princeton University Press, 1975
Andersen, Hans Christian, Denmark My Native Land, http://andersen.sdu.dk/rundtom/borge/danmark_e.html
Andersen, Hans Christian, Clumsy Hans and The Ugly Duckling, The Complete Fairy Tales and Stories, First Anchor Books Edition 1983
Carlsen, Jørgen, The Folk High School – Freedom and Living Conversation and The Plain Life – Danish Culture and Mentality, Learning in Denmark, The Danish Cultural Institute of Copenhagen 1997
De Mylius, Johan, Hans Christian Andersen – A Short Biographical Introduction, H.C. Andersen Centret, andersen.sdu.dk/liv/biografi/index_e.htm
Kingsley, Patrick, Work Well, Play Well, How to be Danish, Short Books 2012
Kærgård, Niels, Social Cohesion and the transformation from ethnic to multicultural society: The Case of Denmark, Ethnicities, Sage 2010
Lidegaard, Bo, Prologue 1849-1901, A Short History of Denmark in the 20th Century, Gyldendal 2009
Tinggaard Svendsen, Gert, From Ice Age to Welfare, Trust, Aarhus Universitet 2014
Zuckerman, Phil, Introduction, Society without God, New York University 2008
Danish Songs
Andersen, Benny, Hilsen til forårssolen, music by Poul Dissing, 1981
Andersen, Hans Christian, I Danmark er jeg født, 1850, music by Sebastian, 1985
Bergstedt, Harald, Solen er så rød mor, 1915, music by Carl Nielsen, 1924
Grundtvig, N.F.S., Er lyset for de lærde blot, 1831, music by Erling Lindgren, 1984
Hald, Jon, ABC-sangen, 2000
Hænning, Gitte/Richard, Cliff, Ønsk mig tillykke, 1968
Linnet, Anne, Sigurd, 1980
Rode, Helge, Der er ingenting i verden så stille som sne, 1896, music by Povl Hamburger, 1937
Traditional Fastelavn er mit navn
Winding, Alberte, Lyse nætter, music by Aske Bentzon, 1991
Online sources
Grundtvig: Interview with Clay Warren, author of an extensive biography about Grundtvig: The School for Life: N.F.S. Grundtvig on the Education for the People (https://www.amazon.com/School-Life-Grundtvig-Education-English/dp/8771240020) Folk High Schools, Adult Education, and the Philosophy of Nikolaj Grundtvig
Kids Gone Wild: Documentary produced by Journeyman Pictures, a leading independent supplier of award winning stories. The Danish School Where Children Play With Knives
JAILBIRD: Documentary by Kelsey Pudloski, writer and video producer for BuzzBuzz News. JAILBIRD
Mchangama, Moussa: Videopresentation, September
Moussa Mchangama: Video presentation, September 2020
Trust: Trust and Safety in Denmark
What is a Folk High School? : What is a Folk High School?
Field Studies
We have three Field Studies in this class. The purpose of the Field Studies is to use Copenhagen as our extended DIS classroom. (For details see study plan).
- Field Study 1: Choir workshop at Sundby Church
- Field study 2: Meeting and singing with High School students
- Evening Field Study: Visit to Tivoli Gardens
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, songs 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 video uploads, worksheets, presentations and assignments that will be part of the overall evaluation of your work and participation in class.
Besides presence, the participation grade (30%) includes daily level of preparation, interest in class discussions, field studies and the use of Danish language in class and small video/text uploads and presentations.
Furthermore, you will have 2 different assignments:
Cultural Assignment 1 (10%): Historical and cultural observations of Copenhagen (group assignment)
Cultural Assignment 2 (25%): An essay on a special aspect of Danish culture (individual assignment)
Grading |
| Assignment |
Percent |
| Engaged Participation |
30% |
|
Cultural Assignments |
35% |
| Online Worksheets* |
10% |
| Oral Exam |
25% |
* Online Worksheets for chapter 1-5 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 Danish at DIS - A Sense of Belonging. The final deadline to complete the worksheets is the same as the oral exam deadline - see Canvas calendar for details.
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 |
|---|---|---|