onlIne or In The ClASSrooM...whICh IS beST For you? By tina PedeRSen
learnIng danIsh
– a world wIde web of opportunItIes
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n tHEsE WWW times, more educational programmes are being offered as online courses – where the virtual classroom has replaced the traditional learning environment, where students meet at webinars instead of seminars, where the teacher–student relationship is maintained over skype, and where geographic location doesn’t matter. Danish courses are no exception to this trend. But before you log on to learn, there are a few things to consider. The social network
Motivation is one of several factors that can positively or negatively affect your languagelearning progress. if making new friends and acquaintances through your Danish course is something you consider a motivational factor, then a purely online course may not be the best choice. a regular course with other students, coffee breaks and social events hosted by the school will enhance your chances of establishing a network. and for many newcomers, doing this – making new friends in a new place – is the key to a good start in Denmark. another thing is the interaction between teacher and students in the classroom, which is just more personal
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DANISH FOR FOREIGNERS Danish Education 3 We offer Danish Education 3 which is designed for students with a solid academic background who can be expected to learn Danish quickly and efficiently.
when meeting in real life. it’s like starting a running routine – an obligation to turn up at a specific time and place is sometimes just the push you need to start! Flexibility – and some perseverance
if working long hours and travelling frequently make following a class with a fixed time schedule close to impossible, the world wide web offers viable alternatives. But before choosing online classes, you should consider your preferred learning style – do you like to work independently? are you self-disciplined enough to work on your own? are you more focused on learning Danish as fast as possible, rather than making friends in the classroom? if you can say ‘yes’ to these questions, then online courses will probably suit you. The flexibility of being able to choose any language school in the country is another advantage of online courses. You can choose the school that will offer the best course for your needs without having to consider the geographic location. online courses or blended learning?
When choosing an online course, you can either
go with one where all the interaction with peers and teachers takes place in so-called ‘webinars’, making the course completely online. Others offer a basic course online, but supplement it with monthly seminars at the school with a focus on verbal proficiency and pronunciation. last but not least, you can also go for a language school that offers blended learning, a combination of regular, weekly classes with online resources. For many students, this presents the best of both worlds: a social network and the positive energy of meeting with your peers on a regular basis, and the chance to go online and revise and practice what you learned in class – at your own pace. some language schools offer online courses or blended learning as either an alternative or a supplement to more traditional language courses. and many of these courses are even free of charge, as they fall under a foreigner’s right to free language courses for up to three years. and now you can just log on and learn – enjoy! The author is a head of department and language teacher at CLAVIS, a private language school with more than 25 years of experience of teaching Danish to foreign nationals.
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