About this course
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 key themes in Danish culture and society, this course will help you navigate and make sense of your new environment. It also supports a growing sense of place and belonging during you time abroad.
Language learning focuses on spoken, everyday Danish, reading and listening comprehension as well as basic grammar, allowing you to interact in simple and practical ways in your local surroundings. This functional approach is reflected in classroom interactions, hands-on exercises, and experiential learning through field studies in Copenhagen and surrounding areas.
As an integrated language and culture course, we will examine how culture is embedded in language through common and distinctive expressions and concepts. We will also engage openly and critically with the values, symbols, and both dominant and marginalized narratives in Danish culture and history, exploring how these elements continue to shape identities today. An important part of this process will be your own observations of Danish culture and society during your study abroad experience. With Denmark as your case study, this course will enhance your ability to reflect on and engage with other cultures from an intercultural perspective.
Syllabus
Study Danish Language and Culture Level I with a special focus
DIS offers several specialized Level I course options for students who want to explore Danish language and culture through a particular theme or learning approach. You can take one of these courses instead of Danish Language and Culture Level I, as the language component uses the same textbook, assignments, and assessment standards:
Danish Language and Culture for Full-Year Students
If you will be studying in both the fall and spring semesters at DIS you can join the Danish Language and Culture for Full-Year Students, tailored specifically for you with dedicated faculty and a coherent study plan spanning both semesters. This course will start in your fall semester. If you are unsure if you want to study Danish Language and Culture both semesters, you can choose to un-enroll from the course in the spring semester.
Danish Language and Culture Level I-II Intensive
We offer an intensive Danish course allowing you to complete both Danish Language and Culture Level I and II over the course of one semester. Read more about the Danish Language and Culture: Level I-II course here.
Faculty
Frank Sebastian Hansen
M.A. in Danish and Philosophy, University of Copenhagen, 2001, Photographer, Fatamorgana – The Danish School of Art Photography, 1999. Assistant Professor of Instruction for Danish and Scandinavian Cultures at the University of Texas at Austin (2021–2025). Danish as a Second Language educator (2001–2018). Instructor in Philosophy at Danish folk high schools since 2008. Literary critic at Ekstra Bladet and TV2 Go’ Morgen Danmark (2008–2020). Travel writer and travel photographer. With DIS since: 23-06-2025
Bianca Katarzyna Liberski
Cand.merc.int. (Intercultural Management, Copenhagen Business School, 2005). B.A. (European Business and French, Manchester Metropolitan University, Université Blaise Pascal, 2000). Project Coordinator, Danish Refugee Council, 2010. Ethics Officer, Borealis, Bruxelles, 2006-2007. With DIS since 2009.
Charlotte Bjerre Beuck
Cand.phil. (Czech and European Studies, University of Aarhus, 2003). Teacher of Czech, 1995-99. Teacher of Danish to foreigners since 2000. With DIS since 2005.
Christina Knudsen
Cand.mag. (French and Spanish, University of Southern Denmark, 1999). Studied in French at the Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France. Teacher of Danish language, culture, and history to foreigners at the University of Southern Denmark. With DIS since 2006.
Jan Aage Rasmussen
Cand.phil. (Scandinavian Philology). External lecturer, Literary Theory and Literary Analysis: Theory of Science and Mythology, Department of Nordic Studies and Linguistics, University of Copenhagen, 1993-present. Teacher of Danish to foreigners since 1987. With DIS since 2013.
Tina Nielsen
Tina Nielsen has a master’s degree in German and a BA in English from Aarhus University, School of Business and Social Sciences. In addition to that she has a master’s degree in Teaching Adults Danish as a Second Language, and several courses in cultural studies from the Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies at the University of Copenhagen. With DIS since 2012.
Camilla Kirchhoff
M.A. (Danish as Second Language, University of Copenhagen, 2014). Cand.Mag. (Danish, University of Copenhagen, 2007). Cellist, Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus, 1988. Research focus includes Danish literature, youth novels from 1930-1960, and music and language acquisition. Editor for Society for Danish Language and Literature. Teacher at Copenhagen Language Center and Hvidovre School of Music. With DIS since 2015.
Anne Vibeke Gross
M.A. (Russian Language & Culture and Danish Language & Literature, University of Copenhagen, 2006). Lecturer at Sisimiut Gymnasium, 2014, Copenhagen Adult Educational Center (KVUC), 2014-2015, and teacher of Danish Language and Culture to Foreigners at Language Center Nordsjælland, 2015. Lecturer of Danish Film History at Workers’ Educational Association (AOF), 2014-present, and at Nordisk Film, 2015 – present. With DIS since 2016.
Jacob Cold
M.A. (English & Drama, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and King´s College London, 2001). Lecturer at Academy of Modern Circus, 2006-2011. External lecturer at University of Copenhagen, Art Schools and High Schools, 2013-2017. Worked as Instructor and Dramaturg on various projects since 2004. With DIS since 2017.
Nan Gerdes
Nan Gerdes, PhD (Comparative Literature, University of Copenhagen with research stay at UC Berkeley, 2017). Diploma in educational theory and practice (University of Copenhagen, 2016). Postdocs (2014-) at University of Copenhagen, Roskilde University (in collaboration with Stockholm University) and Aarhus University in literature, philosophy and drama. Recent publications on early environmental fiction and philosophy and gender and politics in epics. Lecturer in Danish as Second Language since 2019. With DIS since 2018.
Nina Honoré Lahav
Master’s degree in teaching Danish as a Second Language, Aarhus University (2001). Bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish Business Language, Copenhagen Business School (1992). Hebrew studies in Israel (1993–1995). Courses in linguistics and psychology, Harvard University (Full year 1996–1997). Teaching at DIS Copenhagen since 2001.
Ditte Marie Egebjerg-Rantzau
Cand. mag. in Nordic Literature and French, University of Copenhagen. BA studies in French Literature, Paul Valéry University, Montpellier, France. Vice Consul at the Royal Danish Consulate of Ethiopia (2000). Educator at Novo Nordisk and Mærsk (>2006). Areas of specialization: Memory studies, postcolonial studies and civic education. With DIS since 2006.
Mika Sun Black
Mika Sun Black holds a Master of Arts in Danish with elective studies in Education from Copenhagen University. In addition, she has completed a Master’s Programme in Teaching Danish as a Second and Foreign Language to Adults and Adolescents. Furthermore, she has published two educational books about Danish grammar.
Janne Knutzen
Janne Knutzen is a M.A. in Danish and B.A. in Linguistics from Copenhagen University, 2013. Janne has extensive experience in teaching from her work as a language teacher at Copenhagen Language Center (2012-2019), and danish teacher at KBH Syd (2019-2021). With DIS since 2021
Nina Winsløw
Diploma (Danish as a second language, , 2014). DSL teacher, VUF Frederiksberg, 2011-2013. Taught Danish lessons, NYC, 2015. DSL teacher, Clavis, 2015-2019. DSL teacher, Køobenhavns Sprogcenter, 2018-2019. Taught Danish as a foreign langauge, Copenhagen International School, 2019-present. Pædagogisk konsulent, AtoB, present. With DIS since 2022.
Nielsine Nielsen
MSc in Translation Studies (Scandinavian-English) from the University of Edinburgh, 2019, and MSt in Modern Languages (German and Old Norse) from the University of Oxford, 2017. Two BAs from the University of Copenhagen and Aarhus University including several study periods abroad in the UK, Germany, Sweden and Iceland. Knowledge areas: Translation Studies (feminist, postcolonial, Scandinavian), translation history, Greenland, comparative literature. Literary translator (Danish-English), teacher and writer. With DIS since 2023.
Malene Thorup
Master of Arts (Educational Psychology, Aarhus University, 2023). Projectleader and Pedagogical consultant, Strandvejsskolen (2023-present). Københavns Kommune Strandvejsskolen, Elementary School Teacher (January 2011-September 2021). AKT counselor with Behavior, Contact, and Well-being (July 2020-September 2021). Christiansborg Palace Administration, Cultural Educator in the Representative Rooms at Christiansborg and themed tours (2007-2011). With DIS since 2023.
Rasmus Grønneberg Kaas Hauge
M.A. (Comparative Literature, University of Copenhagen, 2017). Educator, Nordisk Film and Danske Bank, 2016-2019. Teacher of Danish language and culture since 2019. Co-founder of independent publishing press, 2023. With DIS since 2024.
Victoria Petersen Amargos
M.A. (Cross-Cultural Studies, University of Copenhagen, 2021). B.A. (Linguistics, University of Copenhagen, 2018). Project Manager (Danish Board of Technology (Now: Democracy X), Hvidovre, 2020-2022). With DIS since 2024.