Danish Language and Culture for Child Development and Diversity Students

About this course

This course is an integrated language and culture course exploring Danish perspectives on childhood and education. Danish childhood values, traditions, and educational approaches are both embedded in the language and deeply rooted in cultural narratives, reflecting broader societal ideals of play, equality, and independence.

Studying the Danish Welfare State, children’s literature and television, and even packing a traditional Danish lunchbox, we will explore local views on childhood and education. Through the concept of playful learning, a cornerstone of the Danish approach to child development and education, we will visit innovative playgrounds and observe how play is integrated into schools and kindergartens while also engaging in LEGO building to discover how Danish society fosters creativity, collaboration, and curiosity in children.

When studying the Danish language, we employ a communicative and functional approach, emphasizing everyday spoken Danish, reading comprehension, and basic grammar. Learning Danish in this course will enable you to interact in basic ways with your surroundings, deepening your connection to local culture during your time abroad. If you are a also taking the Child Development and Education in Scandinavia Practicum, this course will strengthen your ability to communicate effectively with children and staff in educational settings. 

Faculty

Malene Thorup

Faculty

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.