CPH POST Language School Guide aug2018

LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE AUGUST 2018

WHAT DO

the new language school laws mean to you?

How hard is Danish to learn?

Danish helps you make friends

Lars Nordborg Olsen

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FACILITATING INTEGRATION

THROUGH LEARNING DANISH De Danske Sprogcentre (DDS) is Denmark’s national association of language schools. It currently numbers around 60 members spread all over Denmark. Lars Nordborg Olsen, Chairman of DDS, talks to Stephen Gadd of the CPH Post.

Q: THERE ARE A LOT OF CHANGES ON THE LANGUAGE SCHOOL SCENE THESE DAYS. HOW HAS THAT AFFECTED YOUR MEMBERS?

There have indeed been a number of changes regarding Danish tuition. We’ve had a change in the law that emphasises the importance of learning the Danish language and also provides an incentive to people to join Danish classes and complete their schooling with one of the important exams that are a prerequisite for permanent residence and citizenship.

When you as a foreigner want to learn Danish it is important to pick a good quality course at a language school that has an agreement with the municipality. Here, the municipality is responsible for tuition and keeps a running check on quality. It is therefore important to choose a recognised school. On our website at www.dedanskesprogcentre.dk or on the website of the Ministry of Integration you can see the schools that have been approved.

Q: WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR CORE SERVICE?

In order to truly thrive here, it is important that new arrivals to Denmark learn the language as quickly as possible.

There are three aspects to this: educational mobility, integration into civil society, and being able to function fully in the labour market.

At present, there is intense focus politically on integrating new arrivals into the labour market as quickly as possible, and also ensuring the greatest flexibility and mobility of labour, so our courses reflect this.

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LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

DDS works closely with the players in the labour market in Denmark, as well as with local government and legislators, to assist job-seekers as much as possible.

Q: WHO CAN BENEFIT MOST FROM LANGUAGE COURSES?

The short answer is ‘everyone’. People need to be motivated to seek language education for their own sake – as well as it being vital for the well-being of Danish society in the longer term.

It is important to be able to speak and read Danish to take part fully in cultural and everyday life, and to build up a social network.

Q: HOW ARE THE COURSES STRUCTURED AT THE SCHOOLS?

On a practical level, the courses are designed to be as functional as possible. They are very much goal-based and tailored to individual needs and the background of the participants, so classes are put together accordingly.

There are 3 individual programs, each with 6 modules. The last of these modules includes a state-administered Danish exam, which is a prerequisite for obtaining permanent residency and Danish citizenship.

Q: HOW DO YOU ENROL AT A LANGUAGE SCHOOL?

The best way forward is to contact your local language centre or Borgerservice (website in English: lifeindenmark.borger.dk) You can also obtain addresses and contact details of language schools through our website: dedanskesprogcentre.dk

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LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

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NO MORE FREE

Danish-language classes for foreigners Each module will cost 2,000 kroner, according to the government’s recent tax bill agreement In a dramatic change of policy for Denmark, language classes will no longer be free for foreigners as a result of a new tax agreement approved by Parliament.

2,000 kroner per module

Classes will still be subsidised but under the new agreement, each module will cost 2,000 kroner, which means the six-module course will cost a total of 12,000 kroner.

In addition, students are required to pay a 1,250 kroner deposit per module, which will be refundable upon completion.

“The deposit and fees charged to participants will provide an incentive that should ensure that only economically self-sufficient people who are highly motivated start courses,” noted the agreement.

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LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

The new measures came into force on 1 July 2018.

Only two providers

There have also been fundamental changes in the system regarding language tuition for adult foreigners in Copenhagen Municipality. Danish lessons have always been heavily subsidised but now the municipality is given a block grant instead of a ‘per person’ allowance from the government.

This was introduced mainly to encourage municipalities to tender for language school contracts in order to negotiate a lower price.

The upshot is that in Copenhagen the results of the bidding process were recently announced and as of 1 August 2018, only two language schools will now be offering municipal classes. A number of their competitors who have been in the system hitherto have either given up or had to switch to going completely private.

However, it is understood that one of the

language schools who previously provided lessons has decided to appeal the municipality’s decision, so things are not entirely finalised.

Playing harder to get

The right of access to education and benefits is also being changed. At present, you have to have been in Denmark for 7 out of 8 years in order to qualify. That is being changed to 9 out of 10 years.

On top of that is a supplementary demand that the person has to have worked 2.5 of the last 10 years.

The new regulations will come into force from 1 January 2019 for anyone who has entered Denmark after 1 January 2008 – both foreigners and Danish citizens – but will not apply to people already receiving benefits from 1 January 2019.

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Vi glæder os til at se dig “ We look forward to seeing you ” in Danish

LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

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REACTION TO PAID TUITION

from the students expected to pay

CPH POST recently caught up with four internationals caught up in the dilemma of whether they should continue with their Danish lessons now that Parliament has approved plans to start charging them (see page 4).

The lessons may be subsidised at specially selected schools, but the general consensus among our interviewees is that the proposed cost of 2,000 kroner per module will put many off.

The most affected group would appear to be students on a short-term visit who had previously taken advantage of the language classes to further integrate into Danish society.

Where are you from?

a well-structured class and I learned a lot in a short amount of time. I was very satisfied with it.

I was born in Sweden but grew up in Southern California to a Swedish father and Mexican mother.

Why did you come to Denmark?

I came for my study abroad exchange program at the University of Copenhagen.

Because I believe that a true international experience begins with the relationships we build with people. While it can be easy to follow a tour guide and check off a list of attractions, the more difficult task of communicating and connecting with a new society is what will enhance the overall experience and deepen cultural interest.

I think it could affect the future of the Danish workplace immensely. The free language courses attracted not only foreign workers but international students like myself and encouraged people to learn the Danish language, assimilate into the culture and even extend their stay. I think the fees could definitely affect people’s desire to stay for an extended period of time in Denmark, as language courses won’t be as easy to access for everyone. In this sense, Danish businesses could miss out on the talent of potential foreign employees.

How far did you get with your studies?

Would you still take the courses despite the price?

Why did you come to Denmark?

What do you think about the new set-up?

Why do you think it was important to learn Danish?

Name: Elin Wolker Nationality: US

I started with the introduction course offered for international students at the university. I then continued for the rest of the semester with a Danish course for Scandinavians at a language school, since I speak Swedish and Danish pronunciation is the most challenging aspect for me. This was

I am in Denmark to work and to live in another culture. My boyfriend is also Danish.

How would you describe your current Danish language skills?

I have a basic understanding of Danish right now.

Why is it important for you to learn Danish?

I want to learn Danish to integrate into the culture.

Name: Marianela Romero Nationality: Argentina

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LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

What is your opinion about the decision to start charging for lessons?

I think if I were to receive an amazing job opportunity in Denmark that was long-term and would give me great work experience in my field, I would definitely consider it. I think the language courses are worth investing in, since the benefits of learning a language are priceless

I don’t like it. It does not benefit people who want to become part of society.

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We have classes at every level as well as turbo classes, special career classes and brush-up classes.

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LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE annonce 2 cph post.indd 1

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06-08-2018 13:22:39

Where are you from?

I was in Denmark for a semester-long exchange at the University of Copenhagen from January to June of 2018.

per their ability to contribute to and learn about Danish culture. This would be especially true for those with an English-language background because they are still able to easily communicate in Denmark. If the goal is to have as many people engaging with the language as possible and to encourage people to stay in Denmark, then the courses should stay free or near free.

Why did you think it was important to learn Danish?

Would you still take the course despite the price?

I am from Oak Creek near Milwaukee in Wisconsin, and I go to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Why did you come to Denmark?

Name: Sara Tabatabai Nationality: US

Because I was going to be living in Copenhagen for six months, I felt that it was important to learn and understand some of the language of the area from a cultural standpoint.

More practically, the introductory Danish I learned was helpful when it came to grounding myself in a new country and navigating the city/stores.

What is your opinion about the decision to start charging for lessons?

I think the decision to charge for lessons will strongly change the composition of individuals taking the course.

It will be less attractive to those making shorter-term stays in Denmark and ham-

Why did you come to Denmark?

I got a governmental offer to work as a dentist in Denmark.

Why is it important for you to learn Danish?

My job offer is conditional on the understanding that I should learn Danish before beginning.

The introductory Danish class I took was taught in a very formulaic way that necessitated us to memorise a list of words, phrases, and stories in order to pass the final exam. There was little open discussion that deviated from these scripts. I understand that part of this was because it was an entry level language course, but because of the format I developed very little flexibility in what I could say or respond to in Danish, and this was frustrating. If I had had a longer term stay in Denmark, I think I would be willing to pay the course price, but given I could have got a similar basic understanding of Danish using free apps like Duolingo, I probably wouldn’t have for my semester stay.

What do you think about the new set-up?

It is a really bad design, as I was told from the beginning that the lessons would be free. At the same time I don’t have the right to work.

I have a sudden increase in my budget which may lead me to return to Egypt, my country.

How are the Danish languages progressing?

I just passed Module 1.

Name: Ahmed Aly Nationality: Egypt

Photo by Nick Karvounis on Unsplash

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LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

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SO MANY LANGUAGE SCHOOLS – but which one to choose?

There are many different types of language schools around, most of which offer a range of courses catering for your individual needs and circumstances. Let us help you find the school that is right for you and your needs.

First, get yourself a CPR number

Once you have arrived here and got settled, getting started on language tuition is relatively simple and requires only that you have a Danish CPR number (i.e. civil registration number).

You will have to apply for this through the website or office of your local kommune (local council).

In order to obtain a CPR number, you have to meet certain criteria: • You have been staying in Denmark for more than 3 months; • If you are an EU citizen, you have a registration certificate (does not apply to Nordic citizens); • If you are a non-EU citizen, you have obtained a residence permit; • You have a place to live.

Regarding the latter, it must be a valid address, meaning that you have the right to register your address in the CPR system. It should also

be a permanent one; a minimum length of 1 month’s stay is expected, but you might be asked to provide proof of 3 months’ stay.

rolled at the institution are not usually charged a tuition fee, but have to pay a deposit of 1,250 kroner.

All this will be checked and your registration will not be accepted if there are any anomalies. Your registration can be cancelled if the address provided proves to be illegal. You will also be expected to provide other documentation, such as a valid passport, a marriage certificate if you are married and the birth certificates of your children if you have them with you.

Programs and courses offered by the kommune

The Danish Language Centres

Aside from the valuable information you will pick up in this supplement, a good place to begin your learning adventure is with De Danske Sprogcentre (The Danish Language Centres).

The DDS brings together in one easy-to-use website, all state-approved language centres in Denmark so that prospective students are able to decide on which institution will serve them best.

The language centres’ core service is teaching the Danish language to adult foreigners. Many of them also offer a wide range of other courses, including special youth courses and courses on Danish culture and society.

“Our members are the only language centres in Denmark that offer state-approved Danish courses and programs. Our members are also the only institutions to conduct the exams required by the state for permanent residency and citizenship,” says the DDS.

Tailored to your individual needs

LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

Due to a shake-up of the language school system, as of 1 August 2018 the municipality of Copenhagen has an agreement with 2 language schools to provide classes. A 1,250 kroner deposit will be payable and the modules are expected to cost 2,000 kroner each. It is also possible to study in neighbouring municipality such as Frederiksberg, so it is wise to go online and check individual language schools.

It is usually possible to enrol in the courses several times a year. Mandatory examinations are held twice a year.

Danish language courses at adult learning centres (VUCs)

The adult learning centres offer courses in all general subjects for adults at lower and upper secondary school level. In addition to the general courses offered to Danes, some of the VUCs offer Danish language courses for foreigners. Each course lasts between 6-12 months and comprises 240 lessons. You can obtain more information on these courses from your local council or from the individual adult learning centre.

There are long courses that run during the academic year, short intensive courses and summer courses. Depending on your needs, time, interests and prior qualifications, the main options below are available to you:

If you are interested in a more intensive or perhaps a more individually designed course, you can enquire at one of the local language centres about private language teachers.

Courses at Danish higher education institutions

Courses at Folk High Schools (Folkehøjskoler)

In connection with a language school, some institutions offer intensive Danish language courses at the beginning of the academic year, during the semester, or as a part of a summer university programme. Students who are en-

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Local authorities are required by law to offer Danish language and culture courses to all foreign residents. The local language schools offer courses at all levels. The target groups for these courses are new immigrants and refugees.

Some Folk High Schools offer residential courses in Danish language and culture, either during the summer holiday (three to four weeks) or during the autumn and spring semesters (four to five month duration). These

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

courses do not normally include formal tests or examinations.

The Secretariat for the Danish Folk High Schools will provide you with further information about courses, admission and tuition fees.

Visit hojskolerne.dk for more information.

Classes offered by private language teachers

There are many individual language instructors in Denmark who are qualified to offer one-onone instruction in the Danish language. This type of learning is ideal for those who don’t have time to attend scheduled classes.

Private language schools

Throughout this supplement you will learn of the various types of private language schools available to you. Otherwise you can visit the DDS website; bit.ly/2ByWwwy for a comprehensive list of schools across the country.

Denmark’s most effective Danish courses! www.kiss.dk

Sources: bit.ly/2AfsCyW denmark.dk bit.ly/2AgOIB9 bit.ly/2j3AcmZ

LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

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EVERYONE YOU MEET seems to speak English in Denmark ...

When they first come to Denmark, many foreigners are extremely surprised that nearly everyone they come across seems to speak English; I know I was.

I’d hopped onto a local Copenhagen bus without really knowing where I was going and the driver was able to give me concise directions in perfect English. It made me think – and feel slightly ashamed. In a similar situation in London, how many English bus drivers could give directions in perfect French – which is supposed to be our second language – let alone in German, Italian or even Danish?

Because there is a high level of fluency in English amongst the Danish population, many people might start wondering whether it is worth bothering to take the trouble to learn Danish at all. However, the reasons detailed below might change your mind...

To learn or not to learn – that is the question

The CPH POST recently took to the streets of Copenhagen in search of foreigners who

now call Denmark home, to find out if they are making an attempt at learning Danish.

Most of the people polled were in two minds about learning the language and listed several reasons why they were against it.

But for every reason they gave for not wanting to learn Danish, we were able to give a better reason why they should! This is what they had to say:

On the one hand: Almost all Danish people speak, or at least understand, English!

“Danes are brought up in a multicultural world where they have no dubbing on films, video games and so on. This means that they are exposed to English at a very young age and that gets them to a level of fluency that is beyond many countries,” was one reason given.

On the other: Learning Danish helps you integrate into Danish society.

It may be possible to live comfortably in Denmark without ever picking up an English-Dan-

ish dictionary, and also, in a city boasting an international community as vibrant as Copenhagen, one can easily get by without any Danish skills whatsoever.

However, surveys have shown that learning Danish benefits you both professionally and socially in Denmark. On the social front, learning Danish will give you an insight into Danish cultural and social norms. Understanding another culture gives you an appreciation for new experiences that will last a lifetime.

It can also be lonely being an foreigner in a strange land, especially if you have come here alone. Danes can be a bit hard to get to know, so showing that you are making an effort to learn the language will be appreciated and may lead to social invitations.

Having a good grasp of the language also gives you greater job satisfaction. The work place is one of the best places to improve your Danish language skills. It also makes your move to Denmark easier, and introduces you to potential Danish friends. Danish language classes provide an opportunity for you to meet people of different ages and social groups with a common interest – learning the language is sociable.

On the one hand: It is of limited practical use

Denmark as a country and its population are relatively small. There are around 6 million inhabitants speaking the language, so population-wise, it’s not even making up half the city of London. So the practical use you get out of it is not as great as say French, German or Spanish, which are all quite close geographically and linguistically.

On the other: That is perhaps true. However, you are here in the country now, so it will really help you to make the most of your stay, however brief that might be.

Besides, if you manage to become really proficient, you might be able to read and appreciate Hans Christian Andersen’s stories in their original language.

There are also many other famous Danes, such as the Astronomer Tycho Brahe, the philosopher Kierkegaard, Nobel-prize winning physicist Niels Bohr, so there is more than enough to get your teeth into!

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LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

On the one hand: As a language, Danish doesn’t sound nice

Considering that to most foreign ears, Danish sounds a rather peculiar language, learning it can start to seem a little unnecessary. “We are mocked by Norwegians and Swedes for sounding as if we speak with a potato in our mouths,” said one Danish national we spoke with.

On the other: You gain fluency in 2 other languages as a by-product.

You can also become proficient in Norwegian and Swedish. Norwegian (bokmål) is almost a carbon copy of Danish, with a few distinctions that are irrelevant to normal every-day use. Swedish uses some unique words and phrases, but to a great extent is very understandable to Danish speakers.

On the one hand: “I don’t have the money or time”

Most of the people we spoke to said that being new to the country and their job didn’t afford them the time to attend lengthy courses. They were also concerned that it would be an unnecessary expense.

On the other: Learning the language is,

easy, convenient and is really not that costly.

Once you have a residence permit you can get started on Danish lessons. As of 1 August 2018 the municipality of Copenhagen has an agreement with 2 language schools to provide classes. A 1,250 kroner deposit will be payable and the modules are expected to cost 2,000 kroner each. It is also possible to study in neighbouring municipality such as Frederiksberg, so it is wise to go online and check individual language schools.

If you are in Denmark as a refugee or through family reunification with a Danish citizen under the rules of the Danish Aliens Act and with an integration contract, you are entitled to free Danish lessons for up to five years.

Also, you don’t have to pay a deposit before you start taking Danish courses Keep in mind that adequate Danish language skills – including a certified exam – are also essential if you wish to get a permanent residence permit or eventually, Danish citizenship.

So for those who want to fully immerse themselves in Danish culture, excel on the job

market and make Danish friends, the word from the street is (well at least in our opinion), learning the language is a must!

Back to the roots

Danish also connects you with the past and the culture and history of northern Europe. It developed from Old Norse, which eventually split into Old West Norse, spoken in Norway and Iceland, and Old East Norse, spoken in Sweden and Denmark.

Eventually, Old East Norse evolved into the Danish that is spoken today. Believe it or not, there are many regional dialects in Denmark and its territories, many of which are still spoken today.

If you understand Danish you can go to more events, exhibitions and social happenings.

Learning Danish will make you aware they are happening in the first place and will also allow you to get more out of them once you are there.

Sources: dedanskesprogcentre.dk, actualfluency.com bit.ly/2ir8gMC

LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

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WHAT MANNER OF BEAST IS the Danish language?

Photo by Mimi Thian on Unsplash

Although it may not sound it, written Danish is actually highly structured Speaking Danish can be a tongue-twisting exercise for many, but do not get discouraged! Many ex-pats before you have mastered the language, and so can you.

the Danish language has a number of dialects. The standard language, called ‘Rigsdansk’, originated around Copenhagen, and was originally based on the sociolect of the upper class of Copenhagen.

Just being immersed in Danish culture will go a long way to helping you grasp the complexities of Danish. It may sound peculiar to foreigners, but the written language is highly structured

Almost every island has its own dialect, which can even be difficult to understand for Danes from other parts of the country. However, the vast majority of the population speak either standard Danish or a social variation of it.

The joy of dialects

Have fun learning

Danish is the official language of Denmark, Greenland and the Faeroe Islands. Both Greenland and the Faeroe Islands have their own languages too, which most of the people speak, but Danish is used for official purposes and taught in schools.

Danish is a Germanic language and many of the words and phrases have much in common with German, French and English.

For this reason, it is not exactly renowned as one of the most beautiful-sounding languages in the world.

Even though Denmark is a small country,

Actually, the sound of Danish always

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LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

seems to amuse foreigners, which gives the language a certain entertainment value.

Foreigners often characterise Danish as a monotone-like drawl, and many people say that Danes speak as if they have a hot potato in their mouth. Of course, the Danes themselves find their language both charming and pretty, though they are aware of the fact that Danish can be difficult to learn for people from other countries.

Written Danish is characterised by a very strict norm, but the spoken language may vary considerably in pronunciation. The Danish vocabulary is not based upon an enormous amount of words, but it is in principle unlimited, as new words can freely be formed by means of compounding or deriving. Existing words are simply used to create new words and as a result of this, the largest Danish dictionaries contain more than 200,000 words.

Danish language help With so much to cover with the Danish language, we have put together a list of resources which will help you along the learning process: #1 You should start by familiarising yourself with the 28 letter Danish alphabet. The Danish alphabet is derived from the Indo-European languages and is part of the Germanic languages. It uses the Standard English alphabet plus three extra vowels not found in the English language. They are: å/æ/ø. They can also be written this way: aa for å, ae for æ and oe for ø.

Hej! - Hi Goddag - Hello (formal) Hvordan Har Du Det? - How Are You? Hvad Så? (informal) - What’s Up? Farvel - Good-Bye God Morgen - Good Morning

#2 You should check out Danish numbers, which include some important information that can save you a lot of embarrassment and confusion. Try counting to 10: 0 – nul; 1 – en; 2 – to; 3 – tre; 4 – fire; 5 – fem; 6 – seks; 7 – syv; 8 – otte; 9 – ni; 10 – ti. #3 Learn about dates and times too, since the Danes do this differently to most countries. For instance, in English we colloquially say ‘half-ten’ when we mean ‘half-past ten’, but in Danish, ‘klokken halv ti’ would be understood as 9:30. #4 Learn some common Danish words, which might help you when doing the basics like shopping and interacting with service people. Below are some basic terms.

God Nat - Good Night Tak! - Thank You Undskyld Mig - Excuse Me Jeg Elsker Dig - I Love You Sources: denmark.dk babbel.com bit.ly/2jzrSdZ fyidenmark.com

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

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LEARN DANISH make friends and improve your job prospects

Even though you may only be here for a short time, it can still pay dividends to learn the language.

Foreigners come to Denmark for a number or reasons. Usually, but of course not exclusively, these are work postings, au pair jobs or for romantic reasons.

In the latter case, once settled a spouse or partner will probably need to venture out onto the job market and take the first steps to becoming part of the wider Danish society.

So it can still pay dividends to learn the language. For one thing, you will get much more out of your stay here and you may also make some new friends for life. On a trivial level, it is also nice to be able to follow what is happening in Denmark through the Danish news media.

More importantly, it will also give you much more choice when it comes to job-seeking, as by and large, unless you have been head-hunted from your home country, the jobs available to foreigners who don’t speak Danish are at the lower end of the skills range.

What to do about it

There are several Danish Language schools throughout Denmark which cater specifically for foreigners. These schools are designed to make learning Danish easy and accessible to their students and cater to their needs, be they social integration or work advancement.

A wide range of courses

A language schools’ core service is teaching the Danish language to adult foreigners.

Many of them also offer a wide range of other courses, including special youth courses and courses on Danish culture and society. The vast majority admit students on an ongoing basis.

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LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

In order to best fit in with your own needs, instruction is organised so that you have a choice of daily, evening or Saturday courses. The courses are also often planned in co-operation with job centres and companies so as to ensure that students are afforded the necessary time to learn the language.

Online options

In addition to classroom instruction, many of the language centres offer students the option of learning Danish via online courses. Online courses can also be completed with module testing – and can be taken individually or in groups.

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Online courses have the great advantage that students can study when it fits with their work, family and school schedules – regardless of time and location.

How to join a school

Which school or course you choose will depend on several factors.

Some Danish Language schools will offer tuition through the kommune (local council), while others will be tuition-based.

The first step is to talk to your kommune – ask them if they have a Danish Language school that you can be sent to.

If you take Danish lessons at a language school, not only will you gain a thorough grasp of the language, but you will also be assisted in your integration into Danish society. Many schools offer schemes through which language students and Danes can meet socially on an informal basis for conversation or even get together to have a meal together, so there’s no excuse for not participating!

Source: dedanskesprogcentre.dk

Photo by Steinar Engeland on Unsplash

Publisher: CPH POST Editor: Hans Hermansen Journalist: Stephen Gadd Layout: CPH POST Info: hans@cphpost.dk, Tel: +45 2420 2411

SURVEY:

Tough Danish language protects against cyber attacks

Scandinavian countries are least prone to virus attacks due their difficult language structure

place. All five locations had infection rates between 1.3 and 2.3 per 1000 scans compared to the worldwide average of 7.1.

A report by Microsoft’s security research team revealed that the complicated Danish language acts as a shield against virus attacks and makes it difficult for cyber criminals to penetrate the computer system. The data indicated that historically Nordic countries such as Denmark, Norway and Finland have typically some of the lowest computer virus infection rates in the world.

Small languages

The research consisted of data from 600 million computer systems over six months. The data showed that four of the five locations in the Nordic region had the lowest infection rates with Denmark taking over Sweden’s

Political and economic systems also relevant

“For a while we thought that only Japan has low virus attacks in the statistics because it is difficult for foreign cyber criminals to learn the language. But we saw a huge difference in South Korea, despite its similarity with Japan’s language. South Korea’s virus level was one of the highest in the world for years,” Raines told Politiken.

“Denmark and Finland have small languages and this makes it difficult for the cyber criminals if the virus, for example, is being sent out via email in an attempt to convince users to open an attachment,” Tim Raines, head of Microsoft’s security department, told Politiken newspaper.

However, language alone cannot explain why a country is particularly secured or vulnerable against virus attacks, the researchers said. The Microsoft’s security research team came to the conclusion that a country’s political and economic situation affects its level of exposure to virus attacks.

According to the research, Denmark had the fourth lowest levels of viruses, bested only by Finland, Japan and China. However, the researches cast some doubt on China’s placing, A R T S not saying that special Chinese viruses were registered.

PHOTO: JF WILLUMSEN MUSEUM

PHOTO: ED RUSCHA & GAGOSIAN

PHOTO: DAKOTA HIGGINS

COPENHAGEN POST COLOURS AND STRIPES

COLOURS AND STRIPES ongoing, ends 13 Jan 2019; arken.dk The work of controversial Danish artist JF Willumsen is on display at Arken, portraying his strong use of colour and imaginative imagery.

The exhibition will feature works from the artist’s seven-decade spanning career. (OR)

LOVE STORY ongoing, ends Sep 9; arken.dk Candice Breitz’s latest video installation looks at the relationship between storytelling and empathy and how we as listeners interact with both a story and the person telling it. (OR)

DEAR PLANET ongoing, ends Aug 26; arken.dk Arken launches its 2018 edition of the annual summer installation. This year the focus will be on the changing world and the effects of climate change, and it will feature work from Astrid Myntekær and Amalie Smith. (OR)

VERY ongoing, ends Aug 18; louisiana.dk The work of Ed Ruscha focuses on symbols of post-WWII American society. The exhibition will feature the artist’s take on logos used in Hollywood and gas station signs. (OR)

VERY

SONG 1

DENMARK’S LEADING SOURCE FOR NEWS IN ENGLISH

SONG 1 IEROGLYPHS: SYMBOLIST DRAWINGS ongoing, ends Dec 30; cphco.org 1890-1910 Doug Aitken’s latest installation is a piece of ongoing, ends Aug 12; smk.dk video art centred around the jazz standard ‘I This exhibition explores a period when symOnly Have Eyes For You’. The hypnotic piece bolism became an important driving force befeatures Hollywood stars and singers offering hind art in Denmark. The works included will their own interpretation. (OR) feature artists such as JF Willumsen, Jens Lund

and Johannes Holbek. (OR) NEW ‘BAD’ PAINTING

ongoing, ends July 7; v1gallery.com ULLA JOKISALO & HILLA KURKI: This group exhibition showcases works that THE LOG LADY explore the concept of ‘bad’ painting. Honou- ongoing, ends Aug 12; fotografiskcenter.dk ring the 40th anniversary of the first bad pain- Two Finnish photographers from different geting show, the art will challenge the existing nerations come together for this collaborative notions of art. (OR) work. The two combine to present works that

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LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

17

WHEN YOU’VE GOT IT – flaunt it!

One thing is dry book learning, but if you really want to mingle with the locals you will have to take the plunge and use your Danish skills When you have started your course, it is important that you go out and speak the language. You can really boost your skills by interacting with the Danes. Don’t be shy, and remember to be patient – not everyone speaks Danish like your language teacher.

In real life, people talk too fast, they mumble, use slang and slur their words. Speaking Danish with the natives is definitely a great opportunity to learn the language from the true experts – the people who speak it every day.

Don’t be afraid of using your Danish language skills – be chatty, make mistakes, laugh when you do, and learn from it. You can also make a deal with yourself and with family and friends to speak only Danish at certain times and situations, for instance, at the weekend or during dinner. You may end up in both funny and awkward situations, but these will only serve to increase your vocabulary. In time, keeping the conversation going will become easier and easier.

Some schools also offer language and homework cafes where it is possible to speak Danish with native Danish speakers as well as with other students, and to get help with homework in your native language.

Case studies

When foreign-language doctors come to Denmark to work, being able to speak everyday Danish is not enough. Doctors must be able to speak “medical Danish” to prevent any misunderstandings in consultations with patients.

For more than ten years now, the orthopaedic surgery department at Herlev Hospital has partnered with a Danish language centre to provide practical training for the language centre’s medically trained students. This collaboration aims to teach language centre students medical Danish in practice, whilst also providing other benefits for the hospital and students alike.

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LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

A language centre student is paired with a doctor from the hospital and shadows the doctor throughout the day so that he or she develops a familiarity with Danish medical terminology.

As well as providing professional benefits, the hospital also benefits from the cultural interaction and exchange of values resulting from these partnerships, as they gain insight and understanding of foreign medical schools and foreign medical practice.

Danish Crown’s abattoir in Herning has also

benefited greatly through co-operation with the local language centre.

In addition to building basic language skills, the co-operation was structured to provide incoming Polish staff with relevant insight into the Danish labour market culture and Danish society as a whole. As a result, the Polish employees have become an integrated part of the company, employed on equal terms and with the same rights as their colleagues. bit.ly/2Bz094u bit.ly/2mZOXJa

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LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

19

ADVERTORIAL

WHY WOULD I NEED TO LEARN DANISH? There are many reasons for learning the language spoken in the country where you live, work or study. It is an important prerequisite for communicating with colleagues at work, with the pedagogue in your child’s school or kindergarten, or if you are going to the doctor. In everyday life as well as in working life, the language is the key to understanding Danish behaviors, cultures, traditions and values. It is by no means all jobs where English is used as corporate language.

Learning a new language as an adult is not easy. It can be beneficial to have Danish colleagues or Danish-speaking friends. However, if you really want to master the Danish language, it’s a good idea to seek professional help. There are many different language schools where you can learn Danish. It is important, however, to choose a language school that matches your personal needs.

CLAVIS offers a flexible organization, providing classes and teaching at various times of the day and week. Thus, CLAVIS offers classes during the day, afternoon, evening and Saturday as well as online courses.

20

LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

“You can attend the teaching from basically all over the world,” explains Karen Gammelgaard, teacher at CLAVIS.

Choose an authorised school

Many language schools offer flexible teaching classes. Nevertheless, make sure to choose a language school, which is authorised to perform state-authorised Danish Education with corresponding module tests or Danish examinations. This implies language schools that are authorised to lead you to DU1, DU2, DU3 and the Study Examinations.

CLAVIS can do this!

In addition, it is important to choose a language school where quality and rapid progression is of highest priority.

“At CLAVIS we have a strong focus on progress, both the progress in the class, but also a very strong focus on the individual progress for each student.The students comes to us with different needs, and we try our very best to accommodate all request,” explains Jo Håkonsson, teacher at CLAVIS.

DANISH LANGUAGE MUCH HARDER than Norwegian and Swedish, argue linguistics experts No place in Babbel’s top nine languages easiest to learn for Anglophones

By Ben Hamilton “Daddy! Say ‘rødgrød med fløde’.”

An inaudible mumble follows. Daddy doesn’t play games – well maybe Cluedo at which he’s unbeatable because the Brits pretty much invented sleuthing – or eat Danish desserts. Yuk! It’s all harmless fun – no complexes or counselling involved – and we’ve all been there, as Danish is a difficult language to learn.

And now a list by Babbel.com has confirmed what we’ve defensively been telling our overseas relatives all these years, along with: “Well, everyone speaks such good English” and “Nobody gives us a chance to practise.”

Neighbours have it easy

According to Babbel’s experts, the easiest for Anglophones to learn are Norwegian and Swedish, two languages closely related to Danish.

But tellingly perhaps, there was no room for Danish in Babbel’s top nine, despite its Germanic roots.

A number of commenters were quick to take issue with the list’s omission of Danish, but were quickly put in their place by others, who argued that the language’s pronunciation was what made it so difficult.

Far more flexible

“You’ll have a lot more leeway with pronunciation when learning Norwegian,” contends Babbel.

“That’s because there are a vast array of different accents in Norway and, therefore, more than one ‘correct way’ to pronounce words.”

“The popular, minimalistic Lack tables are named after the Swedish word for ‘varnish’.

And the Stockholm rugs, of course, get their name from Sweden’s capital.”

Easy according to the US

Swedish, suggested Babbel, has benefited from its exposure through companies like IKEA.

However, the US government disagrees – when doesn’t it, these days!

English speakers around the world have been exposed to a number of Swedish words while simply shopping for furniture (and chowing down on some meatballs),” it noted.

Its foreign affairs training provider, the Foreign Service Institute, assesses Danish to be one of the world’s easiest nine languages, contending it would need 23-24 weeks (575-600 hours) to

attain a level of general professional proficiency in speaking and reading.

It places Danish alongside Afrikaans, Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian and Spanish – and of course Norwegian and Swedish.

Next time they’re in Copenhagen, guess who’s going to be made to order rødgrød med fløde.

Republished with the kind permission of the author.

The original version was first published in 2017.

LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

21

LETTER LEGACY a fitting tribute to a language he enriched In 1948, an anti-totalitarian academic and politician with a classical background changed the way Danes spell

By Michael de Laine Seventy years ago saw the birth of a new letter in the Danish language. The official introduction of the letter ‘å’ to Danish spelling took the total number of letters to 29.

Placed at the end of the Danish alphabet after ‘z’, ‘æ’ and ‘ø’, ‘å’ replaced ‘aa’ (pronounced somewhat like ‘o’) in all words that were not proper names, where there was a free choice between the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ system. For example, from 1948 to the end of 2010 the official spelling of Denmark’s second-largest city was Århus, but its university was spelt ‘Aarhus’.

At the same time, Germanic-style capital letters at the start of nouns were also abolished in nearly all instances. Åååååå yeah The change from ‘aa’ to ‘å’ (known as ‘bolle-å’

because of the bun-like ring above the ‘a’, and also referred to as ‘Swedish å’) was not universal, as the old spelling is retained in reprints of old books, and many people who learnt to read and write before the new rules, and for a number of years afterwards, still use ‘aa’.

Although ‘å’ is the youngest member of the Danish alphabet, it has been used in written Danish since the 19th century following discussions during the 18th century about replacing ‘aa’. But the letter can actually be traced back to Swedish documents in the 15th century as a combination of ‘a’ and ‘o’, and ‘å’ was first included in printed Swedish in 1526.

In 1743, the Danish grammar expert Jens Høysgaard was the first to argue for the introduction of ‘å’ into written Danish, while linguist and educationalist Rasmus Rask started using the letter in the 1820s. Later, Rask and NM Petersen prepared an argument for including ‘å’ in the official spelling bee, and Svend Grundtvig included it (and small initial letters for nouns!) in his spelling dictionary in 1870.

A classic influence

The January 1948 spelling reform can be credited to Hartvig Marcus Frisch, the minister of education in Hans Hedtoft’s government.

Born in Hillerød in 1893 into an academic family and trained as a classical philologist, Frisch was a member of Socialdemokraterne Party as well as an author and book editor.

He worked as a teacher from his graduation in 1917. It was during a study trip to Italy and Greece from 1920-21 that Frisch experienced the strong social tensions and burgeoning fascism that helped form his later scientific and political work.

His written works include a number of books about societies in antiquity and democracy, and he is perhaps best remembered for ‘Plague on Europe: Bolshevism – Fascism – Nazism’, an analysis of totalitarianism from the 1930s.

A plague heeded

Although it is probably more of a debate book than proper academic literature, ‘Plague on Europe’ is still considered essential reading among Danish historians. The book contains Frisch’s warnings about the growing mentality of discrimination based on the race and cultural background of the people discriminated against.

It was in this book that Frisch formulated his most famous axiom: “Culture is Habits.” He is also remembered for his condemnation, in 1943, of sabotage: “Terrorism, which is now practised here under the name of sabotage.”

Unsurprisingly, Frisch’s critical attitude to fascism, Nazism and Bolshevism caused him to keep a low profile during the German occupation of Denmark from 1940-45, when ‘Plague on Europe’ was banned and confiscated by the Gestapo.

He also published a cultural history of Europe in 1928 in which he described the economic and social conditions for the development of societies and noted the international aspects of cultural movements.

Railing the resistance

Frisch was a member of parliament from 1926 and was political spokesman for and chairman

22

LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

Hartvig Frisch (left) in 1937 (photo: Den Gamle By)

of Socialdemokraterne in Parliament from 1935 to the start of the German occupation.

He lost his parliamentary seat in 1945 following sharp attacks on the Danish resistance movement. These attacks included a radio interview and subsequent comments in an article in the left-wing newspaper Information, in which he accused the resistance movement of murder following its execution of a number

of collaborators that Frisch believed was unnecessary. However, not long afterwards, in 1947, he was made education minister.

Frisch died in 1950, and for many the description of him by party leader Hans Hedtoft following his resignation as chairman of Socialdemokraterne in 1940 was a fitting epigraph, albeit a decade too early: “The scientist, educationalist, academic, the cold,

sharp and clear-thinking Hartvig Frisch [who] is a socialist through theory and confession.”

However, what Hedtoft did not describe was the thread running through Frisch’s ideas: power, rights, morality and justice, which took its basis in Frisch’s studies of classical texts.

LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

23

EMBRACE

your inner ‘Soft D’

by Stephanie Brickman As our move to Denmark loomed, a friend sent me a self-help book on adapting to expatriate life. I am an incorrigible fan of selfhelp books. When clearing out shelves for our move I found works ranging from ‘Think Yourself Thin’ to ‘Seven Habits of Successful People’. There would have been enough self-help books to build a small garden shed, if only there had been a volume called ‘Build Your Own Garden Shed’.

‘Expat Expert’, as the aforementioned self-help book was called, was aimed at the spouses of diplomats preparing for drastic moves abroad. On that score I felt pretty lucky – we were just going next door. On the other hand, many ‘Expat Expert’ readers were looking at short-term postings, while ours is open-ended. Last month we celebrated the two-year anniversary of our arrival in Copenhagen.

There’s a warning in ‘Expat Expert’ about the stage we are at. There’s a dip where the novelty has worn off, but the comfort of true familiarity has yet to take effect. In expat terms these are the ‘terrible twos’. We’re not cute newbies any more, we are tantrum-throwing toddlers driven wild with frustration that those around us don’t understand our carefully-crafted googoo gaagaa sentences.

The toddler analogy carries because, despite best efforts, I am still misunderstood at times.

I’m in good company as there are people who have been here more than 20 years still get the blinking “Hvad sagde du?” I may be projecting all my linguistic neuroses onto one phoneme, but I blame ‘Soft D’.

It’s not soft in a cuddly way, it’s more of a sinister softness like ‘The Blob’ in that old horror movie. At first I thought it was a relative of ‘th’ in English and that we could be friends.

I was wrong. Anxious to lift this barrier between me and the diminutive Danish-speaking world, I decide to seek expert opinion from Nicolai Pharao, an associate professor in the Department of Scandinavian Studies and Linguistics at the University of Copenhagen.

“It’s an unusual sound, there are not many languages with a sound made in this way,” he said. According to Pharao, back in the 15th century it was a proper ‘d’ and this is why, 600 years later, it is still written that way. I guess no-one likes to be hasty with spelling rules.

“It’s not really a consonant, it’s more like a vowel,” he continued encouragingly. “When you say a ‘d’, the tip of your tongue touches the alveolar ridge, behind the front teeth.

Whereas when you say a soft ‘d’, you take the tip of your tongue down behind your bottom front teeth.”

He freely admits that this is “just not normal”, and that even phoneticians who do nothing all day but study weird utterances are foxed by it.

24

LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

However, the ‘soft d’ may not be from such a distant planet for English speakers. The ‘l’ sound in milk (quite different from the ‘l’ in lumbago) is close to a soft ‘d’.

Usually, teachers tell language students to practise sounds in front of a mirror. With Danish this is not advisable – the resulting contortions can only make you feel worse. So how can you know if you are doing it right?

“With your tongue in position behind your bottom front teeth, flex your tongue to say the sound, then breathe in. If you feel cold air along the centre of your tongue (not the sides) you’ve got it right,” Pharao said.

It’s a lot to think about in the middle of a word. However, I’m feeling quite buoyed by this new knowledge and am toying with the idea of Pharao and I writing a self-help book entitled ‘Embracing Your Inner ‘Soft D’’ or perhaps ‘Feel Like a Plonker and Do It Anyway’. I aim high.

“Rødgrød med flødeskum,” I said to my neighbour cheerily while taking out a rubbish bag and inhaling appropriately to check my tongue position.

“Hvad siger du?” she replied blankly.

Republished with the kind permission of the author.The original version was first published in 2014

DANISH

can be a hard nut to crack

Happily well, they can’t stop saying “Hvad”?

By Stephanie Brickman I’m standing at the bar by a very large jar of peanuts. The barmaid in front of me is about 102 years old. I go for a polite form. “Må jeg bed om nogen jordnødder?” I ask amicably.

“Hvad?” comes the reply. I repeat myself several times pointing more and more theatrically at the peanuts.

Slowly driving one nuts

“Nå … jordnødder!” she says eventually, beaming at me, and I utter what has begun to be my catchphrase: “That’s what I said …”

I glance around briefly in an attempt to gain confirmation from a witness that I had indeed said I wanted peanuts. Alas no witnesses are forthcoming. It’s her word against mine and since no-one understands mine …

But then, aside from the challenges of understanding me, I sometimes wonder if Danes understand each other. The most common reply to anything in this country seems to be: “Hvad siger du?”

Irritable vowel syndrome

I shouldn’t blame others. The dire state of my Danish has shown little improvement since about six months after I arrived – roughly when I dropped out of language school to take up a job that required no Danish.

Since then, like most foreigners, I have lurched from being misunderstood to misunderstanding and lapsing into English out of sheer apathy. Understanding takes concentration and it’s so tempting to just relax and allow the language soup of strange vowels and barely articulated consonants to wash by.

Part of the problem is that there’s virtually no opportunity to practise. We live in a fairly well-heeled area where Nordic-blond parents (wearing shades of dove grey and beige – hey it’s spring, let’s get frisky) usher children (dressed in beige and grey) between their tastefully decorated houses (mostly white) and the high-achieving local school. People speak English.

Photo by dylan nolte on Unsplash

A game of Poobaloo

The one beacon of linguistic opportunity is the corner shop and the guys who work in it. I’m on first-name terms with one of them, Aykut. He has mostly called me Jennifer, which is a first name, even if it’s not mine, so we still qualify for ‘first-name terms’.

Aykut is the only person in the whole of Denmark who ever attempts to conduct a conversation with me in Danish. He seems to understand me, although I don’t always completely understand what he is saying.

When I first started coming to his shop, he’d always say this weird thing at the till. It sounded like: “Poobaloo?” I would say “Poobaloo?” back and he would take that as a reply.

It worked, but I didn’t know what it meant.

Eventually I figured out it was “på beløbet”. He was asking me if I wanted cash back or not.

Lost in the Milky Ways

A few days ago I popped in to buy some milk and have a chat. There was a new person at the till standing next to Aykut and a delivery guy was there too. Affably, Aykut introduces me to the new cashier. I greet her smiling and launch into a longish (considering it’s in Danish) introduction. I tell her the ‘poobaloo’ story.

Aykut and I are chuckling away, but I realise she is looking very blank and the delivery guy is pretending to look at the Milky Ways. I sense I’ve lost them.

Aykut leans over the counter and says in Danish: “They don’t understand you.” We shrug shoulders and grin. I skulk off into the night.

Republished with the kind permission of the author.The original version was first published in 2016 LANGUAGE SCHOOL GUIDE

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THE DANISH LANGUAGE’S irritable vowel syndrome An overabundance of vowel sounds makes Danish a difficult language to learn – even for Danish children, say linguists

by Jennifer Buley A 15-month-old Croatian child understands approximately 150 words, while a Danish child of the same age understands just 84 on average.

It’s not because Danish kids are dumb, or because Croatian kids are geniuses. It’s because Danish has too many vowel sounds, according to Dorthe Bleses, a linguist at the Center for Child Language at the University of Southern Denmark.

“The number of vowels has big significance for how difficult it is to learn a language. Many vowels makes a difficult language,” Bleses told Weekendavisen newspaper in 2011.

Forty vowel sounds to master The official number of vowels in Danish is nine: a, e, i, o, u, æ, ø, å and y.

“’Y’ isn’t a vowel,” you say? Well, in Danish it is. In Danish, even consonants are vowels.

But written Danish is not the issue. The problems start when Danes speak. In spoken

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speech, Danish actually has some 40 vowel sounds, explained Bleses, depending upon where the vowels are placed in words and sentence strings.

To make matters worse, modern Danes ‘swallow’ lots of the remaining consonants that would create more audible definition, or annunciation, between words. Linguists call it ‘reduction’ or ‘ellision’. It is how ‘probably’ becomes ‘probly’ in American English. In Danish, it is how ‘spændende’ becomes ‘spen-nă’, and how a simple, little sentence like ‘Det er det‘ becomes ‘dā-ă-dā’ …

Hardest to learn

While marvelling at Danish pronunciation is an amusing pastime for tourists, immigrants and other Scandinavians, the irony is that the pronunciation is terribly hard even for Danish children to learn.

Bleses researched how children in seven different cultures acquire their native languages. Of the seven – Danish, Swedish, Dutch, French, American English, Croatian and Galician – she found that Danish was the most difficult for children to learn.

She discovered that the number of vowel sounds in a language determine not only how many words a 15-month-old baby under-

stands, but also the number of words a child is able to speak and use. Accordingly, the linguist contended, young Danish children have smaller vocabularies than children learning the other six languages.

A decade of development

Does the difficulty of the language have anything to do with how early children begin learning in school? Bleses thinks so.

“Of course it’s important that the teacher knows these things in the earliest school grades and can explain the difficult connection between the sounds and the letters. For that reason the learning ability can take a little longer to develop,” she told Weekendavisen.

“But the difference between the Croatian child and the Danish child doesn’t persist.

Once the children have reached the third or fourth grade, the linguistic code has been cracked, and then other things have significance for whether the student learns well,” she added.

In other words, according to the linguist, it takes Danish children with Danish parents until they are nine or ten years old – in the third or fourth grade – to “crack the code” of the Danish language.

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“Opening a Danish textbook could be your next big career move”

Alejandro, engineer from Co´rdoba.

Sign up for intensive Danish courses in Hellerup and Lyngby sprogcenterhellerup.dk

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23/10/17 09.46