DANISH 1A: Beginning Danish

Classes meet for three hours of Danish instruction per week. You will acquire basic communicative competence in all four foreign language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) within a cultural context. The aim is to enable you to express yourself in regard to topics such as hobbies and interests, food and grocery shopping, family and friends, and everyday life. We will also explore Danish society and popular culture by watching films and reading newspapers and magazines, to further your abilities to interact with cultural competence and understanding. We will discuss how Danish language skills can be used beyond the classroom through conversations with Danish speaking visitors invited to join us in class. 

Methods of instruction: In-person for students at UCB. Primarily class discussions and group work.

Prerequisites: None.

DANISH 1B: Beginning Danish

This course is a continuation of Danish 1A (taught in the fall semester). Its goal is to further build Danish language competencies emphasizing practical communication in everyday contexts.

Classes meet for three hours of Danish instruction per week. Students will acquire basic communicative competence in all four foreign language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) within a cultural context. The aim is to enable you to express yourself in regard to topics such as hobbies and interests, food and grocery shopping, family and friends, and everyday life.

In this course, we will also explore Danish society and popular culture by watching films and reading newspapers and magazines, to further students’ abilities to interact with cultural competence and understanding. We will discuss how Danish language skills can be used beyond the classroom through conversations with Danish speaking visitors invited to join us in class.

Prerequisites: Danish 1A – or equivalent with permission from instructor. Course cannot be repeated without prior consent from the department language coordinator.

Scandinavian 100A: Intermediate Nordic Languages

L&S Breadth: Arts & Literature

This course teaches intermediate Danish. Students will further their communicative competence in all four foreign language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) within a cultural context. We will also explore Danish society and popular culture by watching films and reading newspapers and magazines, to further students’ abilities to interact with cultural competence and understanding, and we will discuss how Danish language skills can be used beyond the classroom.

Prerequisites: Passing grade in Danish 1B or placement exam.

Scandinavian 100B: Intermediate Nordic Languages

L&S Breadth: Arts & Literature

This course teaches intermediate Danish. Students will further their communicative competence in all four foreign language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) within a cultural context. We will also explore Danish society and popular culture by watching films and reading newspapers and magazines, to further students’ abilities to interact with cultural competence and understanding, and we will discuss how Danish language skills can be used beyond the classroom.

Prerequisites: Passing grade in Scandinavian 100A or placement exam.

In Scandinavian 100A and 100B, you must enroll in both the Wednesday lecture and the target language section to fulfill course requirements.

Continuing students of Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish enrolling in Scandinavian 100A will meet together for one hour of lecture per week (W 11-12) to read and interpret literary and nonliterary texts about inter-Scandinavian communication, linguistics, and language history. In addition to this one-hour combined lecture, students will meet two additional hours per week (in discussion sections with a language instructor) to be instructed in their particular target languages.

SECTION 101 = Danish

SECTION 102 = Finnish

SECTION 103 = Norwegian

SECTION 104 = Swedish

You must enroll in both parts in order to fully enroll in the course. If you experience a scheduling problem it is essential that you consult the language coordinator.

Placement: Students with prior experience in a Scandinavian language should contact the language coordinator for a placement exam.  The placement test must be taken prior to or within the first week of instruction.
Language coordinator: Dr. Lotta Weckstrom, lotta.weckstrom@berkeley.edu.

Native, Near-Native, Heritage Speakers: The specific language sections are only open to learners of the specific Scandinavian language of instruction in the section. The course is not open to native, near-native, or heritage speakers of any Nordic language without prior consent from the language coordinator. The course cannot be repeated without prior consent from the language coordinator.

Cross Campus Enrollment: Students at other UC campuses can join this class online. Danish 1B and Scandinavian 100A and 100B are Distance Learning Courses transmitted simultaneously to specific UC campuses. UCB is the home campus with live class instruction; other UC students will participate through a live video feed.

Concurrent Enrollment: If you are not a currently registered student, you may be able to enroll via Concurrent Enrollment, UC Berkeley Extension. Please note that the Concurrent Enrollment application must be approved by the department. Approval is based on availability of space in the class; enrolled UC students on a waitlist have priority.

Please be aware that no auditing is permitted in Scandinavian language courses.

Study Abroad: Undergraduates at UC Berkeley can study abroad in Denmark through UCEAP programs at the University of Copenhagen or Aarhus University. There may also be other opportunities for study abroad in Denmark. Contact Berkeley Study Abroad advisor Michelle Ayazi for more information on studying abroad in Denmark.