Learning Danish
You can both live and thrive speaking nothing but English while studying in Denmark. Most Danes are more than happy to speak English. And the younger generations are very apt at switching between languages in both social and academic settings.
But there is no getting around the fact that Danish is a working language that you will encounter in daily life on campus, in public, on governmental websites and in social settings.
And if you really want to learn Danish culture and immerse yourself with fellow students of Danish origin, learning some Danish is going to pay of incrementally.
If you also are looking for a student job while studying and thinking about a career in Denmark after graduation, learning the language to some extent is essential.
Where can I learn Danish?
Apart from asking other internationals, which is the level 1 advice we can give you – this applies to just about everything – here are some handy channels to explore, if you would like to learn Danish:
On campus
The majority of universities in Denmark have Danish language courses for international students either pre-semester or in the beginning of the semester.
Check with your local international office when you arrive if it is not mentioned in your admittance package. There are no tuition fees, but there is a deposit.
The library
If you just want to try it out without committing to a whole schedule, you can check out your local library. Danish libraries are free and offer a wide array of events, also expat events.
They may offer Tal Dansk (Speak Danish) café´s on a weekly basis, where you can drop in and practice your Danish with a volunteer. Ask your librarian if you cannot find a suitable offer.
YouTube
Free of charge but be aware that they might teach you a more formal introduction to the language and very seldom spoken Danish is formal, and in student settings almost never – not even with your lecturers.
Sort out what level of Danish you want to be comfortable with and read the feedback before investing too much time.
And look up expats in Denmark on social media – they might give you some funny insights into the language you can´t get through the other channels.
Language centers
If you would like to continue studying Danish, there are numerous private and public centers offering language courses for internationals.
Contact your local citizen service center or municipality to get specific information about your options. Be sure to ask about any potential tuition fees or deposits that may be charged when taking continued language courses.
Foreign professionals who have lived in Denmark for less than 5 years can get free Danish language classes through their municipality at a state-approved language center. To qualify, you must be over 18 years old and have a residence permit and a social security number (CPR nummer).
You can read more about the requirements and how to get started on the Danish Language Center website.
Go to Danske sprogcentre
Practice, practice, practice
Non-Danish speakers would say that trying the language out is like speaking with a hot potatoe in you mouth, and the context-based language might feel like a barrier. But it can also be quite a fun experience.
Danes might come off as somewhat cool and reserved in public settings where full sentences can consist of two words. Nonetheless, they are a very casual, light-hearted people in social settings.
And that includes when internationals give the language a go. They might try to get you to say “rødgrød med fløde”, and do give it a go. Just remember; they are not laughing at you, it truly is the impossibility of the language they dearly like to highlight. So don´t be discarded and practice everywhere. You will be surprised at how far you might get with just a few words.
Held og lykke! Og velkommen til Danmark.
