DAN 101, Fall Quarter 2020
Course instructor: Helen Durst, MA, PhD student (hdurst@uw.edu)
Meeting Times: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thur, Fri 9:30 - 10:20 a.m.
Location: On-Line https://washington.zoom.us/j/98720123923
Office Hours: Fridays 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. or by appointment. Use the same Zoom link as for Class Meetings above.
About Danish at UW: Vil du gerne lære at tale dansk? (Want to learn to speak Danish?). Danish is a modern Scandinavian language closely related to Norwegian and Swedish. Learning to read Danish is easy – there are many cognates with English. Denmark is the gateway to Scandinavia and the North Atlantic, and Danish is an official second language spoken in Greenland, the Faeroe Islands, and Iceland. Denmark is the homeland of famous writers - including Hans Christian Andersen, Søren Kierkegaard, and Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen) as well as of LEGO, 'Danish Modern' design and world-class cinema!
We offer three levels of instruction in Danish at UW (beginning, intermediate and advanced). Each autumn quarter a new sequence of Danish starts with DAN 101. If you already speak some Danish, you may enroll in a higher level and earn Credit by Examination. As a student of Danish at UW, you are encouraged to study in Denmark via UW Study Abroad and are eligible for a UW ScanDesign Fellowship and other many other scholarships.
DAN 101 Course description: Velkommen til dansk (Welcome to Danish)! DANISH 101 is the first in a sequence of the three beginning Danish language courses, which offer instruction in the Danish language and also provide an introduction to Danish culture. The course is taught using the communicative language teaching mode with in-class activities and homework focusing on speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills. Class will be conducted primarily, but not exclusively in Danish. Authentic Danish materials are used in class. The course will introduce some examples of Danish literature, cinema and pop culture as part of the language learning process. The learning goal is to achieve regular and lively interaction in the classroom in order to make the learning of the Danish language and culture enjoyable. The course strives for a learning atmosphere that challenges the students' skills in a supportive way. Emphasis is given to all language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. To succeed in this course, students are expected to participate regularly.
Student Learning Goals for DAN 101-102-103:
- Listening comprehension: understand simple phrases and conversations about everyday situations/subjects in slow and clear speech.
- Reading comprehension: understand information from different everyday texts; identify facts from simple everyday authentic texts.
- Speech: talk about themselves, family, living accommodations, and university studies using simple phrases and opinions; describe everyday situations and subjects with simple language.
- Communication: participate in simple and everyday conversations with slow and clear speech; ask and answer simple questions within everyday subject areas.
- Writing: use language in everyday situations such as short, personal letters and texts.
- Other: research and share knowledge of Danish society and culture.
Required Textbook: PULS 1 (Alfabeta Press) https://www.alfabetaforlag.dk/serie/puls-1 Available at UW Bookstore.
Online Dictionaries: Danish dictionary is available at: ordnet.dk/ddo (Den Danske Ordbog; click on “English” in the upper-right corner for English settings). Danish-English-Danish dictionary: https://da.bab.la/ordbog/engelsk-dansk/
Textbook supplement: Portions of the Puls 1 textbook have audio components available online. These files can be accessed at: ny.alfabetadigital.dk/index.php/portal/puls-1 if you scroll to the section “Lyd til Puls 1” (Listen to Puls 1) and select the appropriate chapter.
Det Lyder Godt is a pronunciation guide to the Danish language. Any pertinent materials from this book will be provided for students. Det Lyder Godt has audio component available online at https://gammel.alfabetadigital.dk/index.php/portal/det-lyder-godt
Canvas: homework assignments, and “watch-at-home” films and other class material will be posted on Canvas. There will also be other useful information on Danish language and studying the culture.
Evaluation criteria: Grades will be based on participation (30%); homework (20%); quizzes (25%); Tests (25%).
Please contact Professor Marianne Stecher-Hansen, marianne@uw.edu, if you have any questions about this course or about your placement in Danish. If you think you are at an intermediate level (2nd year), please contact Kristian Næsby naesby@uw.edu about enrolling in DAN 201.
This course adheres to the University of Washington Religious Accommodations Policy.