Although, taken singly, the Scandinavian countries are relatively small in population (Sweden at 8.5 million; Denmark at 5 million; Norway at 4 million; Finland at 5 million, Iceland at 250,000), they form as a whole a common linguistic and cultural community of some size. With the exception of Icelandic (a "frozen" language perhaps more like Anglo-Saxon than the other modern Scandinavian languages) and Finnish (which belongs to the Fenno-Ugric language group), the Scandinavian languages are similar and mutually comprehensible. Knowledge of Norwegian brings with it a fair understanding of Danish and Swedish, and so on. To learn one is thus to gain access to Scandinavia in general.

The Department of Scandinavian offers language courses in Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish. Most first-year (Beginning A and B) courses and second-year courses (Intermediate/Advanced) are taught three times a week. Please note that Beginning A courses start every Fall semester, and are not offered in the spring. All language courses are 4 units. The Language Program in the Department of Scandinavian uses a pedagogical approach that focuses on giving the students proficiency in communication and a sound cultural understanding of the target language culture. The emphasis is on teaching the spoken language in a functional way, but students will also gain an overall competence in reading, writing, and listening.

First-year courses meet three hours a week in class, with some supplemental work doing on-line assignments, reading news, using e-mail writing programs, etc. Culturally relevant audio-visual material will be presented in class whenever possible.

All second-year courses for Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish meet for one hour of lecture class where comparative Nordic linguistic and cultural issues, text analysis, reading, writing and grammar will be covered, and on Mondays and Fridays each language group will meet separately with a GSI for a discussion session and intensive speaking practice.

DANISH: (Scandinavian 4A, 4B, 100A, 100B)

FINNISH: (Scandinavian 2A, 2B, 102A, 102B)

NORWEGIAN: (Scandinavian 3A, 3B, 100A, 100B)

SWEDISH: (Scandinavian 1A, 1B, 100A, 100B)

A course in Old Norse is also offered at the graduate level (201A), but is open to advanced undergraduates as well.

Extension Courses: Members of the community may enroll in language courses through UC Berkeley Extension's Concurrent Enrollment Program. For registration information call (510) 642-4111 or view their website at www.unex.berkeley.edu. The concurrent enrollment student will receive a grade and 4 units of college credit.

For additional information about textbooks, materials, placement, enrollment and the language program, please contact the Language Coordinator, Karen Møller at (510) 642-0654 or e-mail: kmoller@berkeley.edu

Finnish Studies and Celtic Studies
Both of these language programs are administered through the Department of Scandinavian. More information on languages offered through these programs and on the undergraduate program in Celtic Studies is available from the Undergraduate Assistant, Kathi Brosnan (510) 642-4661 issaug@berkeley.edu

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