Danish Language and Culture: Level I

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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, 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.

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.

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 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 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.