Welcome to the “Prøve I Dansk 3” feedback series!
Last year, I published my personal reviews about the module 1, module 2, module 3 and module 4.

I am nearly finished with module 5, as I am in the final process of preparing Prøve i Dansk 3 exam!
Very pleased to be able to share with you my (very long) review of the Module 5, which has lasted 7 months in a row for me and my fellow students (since end of September 2017)! Finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Please note that below feedback is based on my personal experience at Studieskolen in Copenhagen. The content of the modules that I describe is obviously subject to change with time (as per the national guidelines) and can vary slightly based on the teacher and the school.

If you feel like sharing your own feedback about your experience in learning Danish in Denmark, you are very welcome to contact me. I will gladly feature you on the blog!

In order to have consistency throughout theses module reviews, I will use the same analytical structure:

• Module expectations
• Module structure
• Resources
• Personal feedback

NB: I will be using the abbreviation PD3 for “Prøve i Dansk 3”.

Welcome to Module 5 feedback!

Module Expectations

Congratulations on making it all the way to Module 5 You should be proud of yourself and all the efforts put in. You are now entering the last phase of Prøve i Dansk 3, hang on tight.

Module 5 brings its challenges, but not as tough as previous modules. Normally you should have reached a comfortable level of talking in Danish with your peers, and should not feel pressure anymore to express yourself. I personally felt such a change with my vocabulary and expressions. It felt a lot more natural and easy to use.  Unlike the modules 3 and 4 where I felt a huge improvement, module 5 has felt like the learning curve was a bit slower. Expect to still add a lot of technical vocabulary which will definitely help you in tough conversations about the Danish society!

I had some very nice personal victories during module 5, which included reading books that are a longer, more complicated and more interesting. The library became a great place to hang out!
I am now able to follow the Danish news on TV without having to check my dictionary every minute. I did let go a bit of my best friend Metro Xpress, which I used a lot in since module 1. Instead, I switched to actual Danish newspapers such as Politiken, Berlingske, etc. I reached a level where I can read and understand complex articles, without having a headache. Module 5 really brings you up to that level.

In terms of grammar, like I mentioned in my review of module 4, expect small amount grammar in module 5. Of course and for obvious reasons the teachers are still going through grammar when needed, but not as intensively. We still reviewed the usual suspects that are causing so much confusion: the prepositions (på, i, for, over, af, med, til). You will naturally start to hear if it sounds right or wrong, based on what you used. About time!

In regards to class attendance, we were a group of approximately 10-15 regular students. It was (pretty much) the same group throughout module 5, and we already knew each other since earlier modules.
Module 5 still included exercises with talks in small groups, which continuously helps improving your talking.

In terms of homework, I felt that the workload got more intense towards PD3, with a lot of pre-assigments to be ready for the exam. We listened to audio files and read newspapers. The vocabulary is more sophisticated than the previous modules.
The topics are a lot more interesting, expect to learn and write a lot more about the Danish society. The exercises prepare you to PD3, with a lot more analysis structure.

Module structure

Module 5 can be split into different levels (5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5), based on when you take Prøve i Dansk 3 (PD3)
In my case, it went up to 5.5. Normally, one would say that you should be ready for PD3 by module 5.3 or 5.4.

What you can expect to learn/review in this module:

• Advanced to very advanced vocabulary, more expressions, grammar, expressing your opinion in a much more detailed manner
• You will be discussing and arguing topics that are a lot more complex and that relate to the Danish society
• The teachers will only speak Danish, at a faster pace, which actually feels totally normal.
• Preparation to PD3 exam (written and talking) – The teachers are doing a great job to get you prepared

Module 5.1

What we covered

We discussed various topics in this module, such as personality characteristics, cycling and other forms of transport in Denmark, the body, health system in Denmark, Politics in Denmark (actually we discuss this just when the municipal elections where happening in November 2017).
We also discussed topics such as the Danish liberalism in the past and now, child education and schools in Denmark. We also started to practice a bit on some PD3 exercises, but it was very evasive, the actual process to learn more about the methodology comes in the later modules.

This module included a lot of listening to audio files and writing a lot more essays. We also had to research information on selected topics and introduce in the classroom in small groups. I don’t think we talked as much as I would have liked to in this module, but again, by module 5.1 you should be in a position where you can easily practice Danish outside of the classroom.
I was expecting this module to be very tough, and it was very manageable. The vocabulary got more complex compare to all the previous modules, but at this stage you are ready to take it in and use it.

Book used

There are many great books used by the various schools to learn Danish. Our teacher wrote a new book which she tested with us, before the final publishing. The book did not have a name yet, but it was really interesting and covered complex topics. I will update this post as soon as the book is published.

Module 5.2

What we covered

Module 5.2 included various topics such as the Danish language in the society, medias in Denmark (traditional and new forms), Finance (Real estate, saving money, Taxes in Denmark, welfare state), personality characteristics (which had been covered in Module 5.1), Environment (challenges, pollution, urban design, electrical cars, etc.).
Same case as 5.1, this module also included listening to audio files and writing essays. We also seriously started to read newspaper articles coming from Politiken, Jyllands Posten, Berlingske, Søndagavisen, etc. I felt that Metro Express was good, but definitely not enough to satisfy my reading craving. I would really encourage you to read these newspapers if you can, as they will definitely step up your game. If you don’t want to pay to read them, you can find them at your local library

© Sisses Dupont

Throughout the modules, expect to review some topics but you will go a lot deeper into them and be able to discuss and argue with a lot more consistency. I like this module, but also started to look forward to PD3.

Book used

During module 5.2, we used the book “Danske Stemmer” by Birte Langaard, who was are actual teacher! It was really nice to have her insights and comments. The book was written in 2008 and updated in 2016. We agreed with my fellow students that the book was more for module 5.1.

The new book that Birte wrote for Module 5.1  is actually a lot better and more challenging. Nonetheless, Danske Stemmer is still useful and covers interesting topics. I personally liked it. Check out her newest book called “Højt til loftet” (Published in 2018).

Module 5.3

What we covered

We started module 5.3 with a new teacher and covered one last topic from the book used in Module 5.2. We talked about the Danish Film industry and also the industry from an international prospective. But we also covered films genres, film festivals, best danish films, Dogme 95 movement for Danish films and the justice system in Denmark.

This module also came at a point in time where it was the right moment to start rehearsing and preparing the Prøve i Dansk 3 exam. This included breaking down the written parts of the exam with an emphasis on statistical analysis and comparison. We also got more articles to read and recap in class, with the aim to synthesize better.

Book used

During module 5.3, we finished the last chapter of the book “Danske Stemmer” by Birte Langaard. We used a lot of material handed by the teacher, such as newspaper articles and grammar exercises.

We also had a copy of a new booklet about the Danish welfare state (“Den Danske Velfærdsstat”), written by Mette Bang Pedersen. The book is not finalized and published yet, but I can say that it was really good and suitable for module 5.

Module 5.4

What we covered

To be honest, from this module I started to get a bit tired of going to school, my motivation wasn’t at its highest point. It was the same for most of my fellow students who had been learning continuously without break since last year. It takes a toll on you, but there are periods throughout the learning curve, so don’t give up. The end result will pay off and is rewarding! During this module, we had to hand 4 written PD3 assignments, and also did a PD3 test in class (written one).

This module focused entirely on preparing Prøve i Dansk 3.

Book used

We had a copy of a new booklet about the Danish workplace (“Det danske arbejdsmarked”), written by Mette Bang Pedersen. The book is not finalized and published yet, but I can say that it was really good and suitable for module 5.

Module 5.5

What we covered

This module has been dedicated to PD3 in its all. We trained a lot, had many written assignments as well as oral presentations to do in front of the class in max 2 min (same time that you have for PD3). I found that we got a lot more homework than in the early modules of module 5. I personally found it tough to keep up because of my motivation not being at its highest! But all in all, the aim is to get us ready for Prøve i Dansk 3. After PD3, you also can continue with an oral training class (“Mundtlig forberedelse”), until you have the final oral exam.

Extract given in class from PD3 exam (2012)

Book used

We continued using “Det danske arbejdsmarked” that we had in module 5.4. But we also got an extract from a book called “Din Dansker“, written by Mads Kirkebæk. We studied the chapter “Jagten på det perfekte liv – farvel til fællesskaberne”. Really nice book with interesting text.

Prøve i Dansk 3 Preparation and Exam
I will post my reviews after the PD3 exam in June 2018 . Stay tuned!

Resources

I used some of the same material as the previous modules, such as these ones . At this stage I had all the material needed to feel comfortable. Again, this was thanks to all the previous modules.

Books

The library at Studieskolen didn’t have as many books for module 5, simply because you are able to read more “normal” books when you reach module 5. It was a lot based on your personal initiative. I pushed myself to borrow as many books as possible from my local library. I will emphasis on this again, but it is SO IMPORTANT to read books if you want to improve in Danish. Go for it! A good alternative if you are not a big fan of reading Danish books, you can read newspapers.

Films/Documentaries

We only watched one movie during module 5, which is fine, since you can watch them home. We watched Olsens Banden which was the overall theme of crime and justice. It was really nice because many of the actors where also lead actors in the Matador Danish TV series!

Extract from the Film “Olsen Banden ser rødt”

This was the introduction to the chapter “Justice in Denmark”. If you want to watch movies, make sure to check out my list of recommendations from a previous post about movies to learn Danish.

Podcasts

I continued to listen to podcasts, but put more emphasis on reading. Check out a past post I wrote about listening to Danish podcasts, in case you want to challenge yourself in Danish

Personal feedback

Module 5 has been a very long journey for me, but seriously rewarding. I must admit that my motivation and energy dropped (quite a bit) towards the last 2 months of Module 5, as it has been very focused on Prøve i Dansk 3 and the technique to succeed at the exam. Most of my fellow students felt the same, but no one gave up!

– Danish family: Danish is not a problem anymore with my Danish family. We converse all the time in Danish, but have fun talking English from time to time. It is the same with all my Danish friends, I talk Danish to them. I am very happy to see the change since last year. What a difference to integrate and not feel lonely during a dinner where everyone talks Danish!

– Danes: I definitely feel a lot more integrated than a year ago, for the “simple” fact that I can now interact in Danish with Danes.

– Work: Since last year, I have been working in a bar, which has been challenging at first (to communicate in Danish), but I finally feel very comfortable using the language at my work place. This makes a major difference when you can talk to your guests and colleagues in Danish! Of course, I still speak some English with them if needed. Being perfectly fluent will take some time

Hang in there, you are nearly finished with module 5 and PD3!

Stay tuned for my upcoming reviews of Prøve i Dansk 3. Coming soon…

What did you think about module 5? Did it meet your expectations?
Would you recommend it?
What books did you use?
Feel free to share your thoughts and best practices on the comment section below, Facebook or @learndanishblog!

The post Module 5 Feedback – (Prøve i Dansk 3) appeared first on Learn Danish.

Welcome to the “Prøve I Dansk 3” feedback series!
Over the past month, I published my personal reviews about the module 1, module 2 and module 3.

I just completed module 4 last week and started module 5 this week. Therefore, I am happy to share my (very up-to-date and long) review of module 4!

Please note that below feedback is based on my personal experience at Studieskolen in Copenhagen. The content of the modules that I describe is obviously subject to change with time (as per the national guidelines) and can vary slightly based on the teacher and the school.

If you feel like sharing your own feedback about your experience in learning Danish in Denmark, you are very welcome to contact me. I will gladly feature you on the blog!

In order to have consistency throughout theses module reviews, I will use the same analytical structure:

• Module expectations
• Module structure
• Module Test
• Book used
• Resources
• Personal feedback

Welcome to Module 4 feedback!

Module Expectations

Unlike the previous modules, I felt a huge improvement with my Danish level in Module 4. It started outside the class with the other students, where we literally stopped talking English to each other. We instantly switched to Danish, which felt a bit uncomfortable at the beginning, but quickly became natural after a couple of weeks. This made me realize that we all really stepped up our game and finally felt that we had enough vocabulary to talk Danish all the time. Obviously, we still pop up some casual English words that no one knows how to translate in Danish, but that’s fine.
Even if you don’t feel so comfortable with talking Danish to each other, you should definitely force yourself and try to stick to Danish. I can guarantee you that you will be impressed about how much you know and how natural it will feel after some time practicing.

Module 4 is the last module where teachers will still spend (a lot of) time on grammar. By the end of module 4.2, you will understand and apply the grammar better than you ever did. However, expect to probably have remaining struggles with some  grammar topics, especially prepositions (på, i, for, over, af, med, til), irregular verbs in the past (datid) and present perfect (førnutid). We reviewed these over and over during module 4, which really helped.

In terms of class attendance, we were a group of approximately 13 regular students. I could really feel the difference and commitment from all my fellow students. Everyone has a very clear focus, which is to learn Danish. Please note that I am attending day classes which are a great choice if you want to improve faster. I published a comparison post in July 2017 about day/evening classes to learn Danish.

Module 3 started to include more talks in small groups. Expect to talk even more during Module 4, a lot more debates and arguing with each other. The teachers only speak Danish during the class, which is really helpful and forces you to think in Danish and process it faster when wanting to talk.

In terms of homework, the workload is more important, however it is doable if you are consistent. The vocabulary will also be a lot more sophisticated than the previous modules.
You should expect to have more written essays than in the previous modules. The topics are a lot more interesting, expect to learn and write a lot more about the Danish society.
Here are some of the topics we covered:

• Food (cooking food, ingredients, øko food in Denmark, healthy food, food trends)
• Experiences (Accidents, Going out, Aprils fool, Danish weddings, outdoor adventures)
• Animals (naming all animals & insects, Endangered species, the impact of environment on animals and food, their habitat)
• Life style (Childhood, overtime at work, modern families, religion)
• Cities (Culture in cities, festivals, neighborhoods, competition between cities, urban architecture)

Module 4 – Content used

Books

We read also one book every week, which we had to sum up in a resume, as well as introducing it to the other students in the class. Some books were thrillers, drama, biographies of Danish authors, poets or painters, or just everyday stories. Module 4 books definitely got better than in the previous modules. This also meant more complex vocabulary.
I have also borrowed more books from the public library, which added more vocabulary to learn.

Films

We started to watch films in module 3.2, and pushed it also during module 4.1. Our teacher started to have us watching a very famous TV series called Matador. This was online on DR, with subtitles. I wrote a full post about it, which was “The Matador Challenge“! I would definitely recommend you to check it out and try include it in your studies. It really helped us with understanding Danish.

Podcasts

We also started to listen to podcasts during class and were given homework (same idea as “The Matador Challenge“). I will share more insights about podcasts in an upcoming post.

Songs

We also listened to Danish songs, trying to guess the text and get used to it. This really helps your understanding and will add vocabulary (I previously wrote a post about listening to Danish songs, here is the post).

Videos and audio files

During module 4, we had to listen to audio files, answer questions and transcript them. We were already used to do it in module 3, so that felt very natural. My understanding got a lot better during module 4.

Module structure

Module 4 is split into 2 levels: Module 4.1 and Module 4.2.
What you can expect to learn/review in this module:

• Pronunciation, advanced vocabulary, expressions, grammar, verbs, tenses, expressing your opinion
• The teachers will only speak Danish, which is really great!
• You will be discussing and arguing topics that are more complex and that relate to the Danish society.

Practicing Danish during the class

Argumentation Game

For example, we had a 2 on 2 argumentation case, where we were given each a piece of paper with points to defend.
We had to use vocabulary and expressions that were very specific to this context.
We had 5 min to speak and argue with each other.
Student A: Public libraries in Denmark should be free of charge
Student B: Public libraries in Denmark should not be free of charge
I was given the arguments B, which I personally didn’t agree to, but I had to defend it. Great exercise!

Crosswords Game

Another example, where we were each given a sheet with words to explain in Danish and words to guess. This is a really fun exercise to do 2 on 2.

Module Test

Module test 4 includes four parts: reading, listening, writing and oral.
Please note that you are allowed to use a Danish/English dictionary during the test.
You will need to be very consistent throughout the module and make sure to learn all the new vocabulary and expressions between each class. Make sure to read as much as you can, as it will develop your vocabulary and improve your reading speed.

What the module test includes

Listening

You will have three types of listening exercises (33 min). This part is not too difficult as the pace of the audio file is not so fast.
Part 1: Series of 5 questions to answer. You listen to an audio file and answer it (x 5 times)
Part 2: Series of 6 questions. You listen to a full audio file twice and answer the questions
Part 3: You hear stories about people and need to match them description

Reading

It comprises of four parts (55 min) – Some parts can be challenging, but overall you can manage if you have studied consistently before the test.

Part 1: You have to find information from a document (multiple pages)
Part 2: You have to read a text and fill in the blanks by replacing by prewritten sentences.
Part 3: You have to read a text and need to insert the correct words (selected from a list)
Part 4: You have to match people and their own description

Written

There are two written parts, 45 min each (total of 1h30).

Part 1: You can choose between writing an article or a story.
Article – You get an article (or an e-mail) with some questions. You have to write an article/email to answer the questions from the first article.
Story – You have to write a story (using your imagination if you are not inspired!). You will be given the first or the last sentence of the story, which will give you some indications to what you may write.

Part 2: You get a text that you have to comment on and argue about.
You will need to give yourself some time to correct any grammatical mistakes.

Our teacher gave us a very helpful tip, which is:
Structure your checklist to minimize your mistakes: Infinitives, modal verbs, articles, adjectives, prepositions, sentence structure (especially inversion), etc.

In all honesty, the time given is sufficient and you will have many chances to proof read what you will hand over. You only need a minimum of 100 words per written task, so it is not a lot to produce. Do not stress yourself too much for the test.
The module 4 prepares you very well for the exam, thanks to the various written homework.

Oral

There are two parts for the oral part (9 min).

Part 1 (5 min):
This is an individual session with the teacher. You will have to choose 3 topics before the test.
Your teacher will pick one randomly and you will need to talk about it for 2 min.
Then your teacher will ask you a series of approx 3 questions.
Topics need to be related to the Danish society and definitely more complex than where you live, what Danes eat for Christmas or what is your job.

NB: You are allowed to write keywords on a piece of paper and use it during the oral test.
This is something really great about Denmark and the process to learn. It is not just about learning everything by heart, but more about expressing yourself.

You wait then for the other student to do his/her individual session. Please note you will be in the same room together for part 1.

Part 2 (4 min):
You will be talking with another student (like in Module 2).
You will pick up a random topic, discuss it and back up your arguments.

Book used

There are many great books used by the various schools to learn Danish. The one our teachers used during module 4 was called “Pæredansk“. I really liked this book, because it developed my vocabulary and level of reading. But I also learnt a lot more about Danish society. The end of the book includes a grammar/verbs recap, which is super helpful when in doubt during the class or at home. Birte ,who is the author of “Pæredansk“, was our teacher for module 4.2. It was very nice to have her insights on the book and the various articles she wrote. From a student point of view, I would definitely recommend this book for module 4.

Resources

Most of the material I used for module 4 is pretty much the same as the one I posted in previous articles:
Resources and my everyday routine.

Article from the newspaper Politiken, that we had to read at home and sum up in class (2 on 2)

Personal feedback

Module 4 has marked a significant increase for my Danish level. I started to feel a lot more confident talking Danish. As mentioned at the beginning of the post, we started to talk only Danish with my fellow students. But I also noticed a serious change outside the school, where I felt a lot more comfortable talking Danish. Here are a few examples:

– Danish family: I have (finally) switched from English to Danish with my Danish Family, which was a huge step, since we only talked English to each other for the past years. They also talk to me in Danish now and thankfully speak a bit slower so that I can understand. Of course, I still have some moments where I need to use some English, but overall I am able to express myself without (too much) struggle.

– Danes: For the past weeks, I have only been speaking Danish in my everyday life with Danes. During Modules 1-3, when I used to talk to them, they would often switch back to English.
My guess is that they felt my level of Danish wasn’t that good enough, so they considered more appropriate to talk to me in English. However, since module 4 it changed.  When I address them in Danish, they do not switch to English anymore.
I guess they consider that my level is (finally) ok enough for them, to only talk Danish with me. This is only the beginning and I am still far from being fluent in Danish, but at least my way of communicating as changed.
I can only tell you how amazing that feels every time I experience this situation. It makes you realize that all the efforts you put in to learn Danish are finally paying off.
You will experience this change at some stage, so be patient. If not already, then it will come soon!

– Reading: I can read more complicated books without having to take the dictionary every 30s. However, I would not consider myself an “advanced” reader at all. This is still a big challenge to read everyday Danish books.

Hang in there, module 4 is challenging but rewarding!

As I have just started module 5, my personal review of this module and the Prøve i Dansk 3 Exam will be published in April 2018. Stay tuned!

What did you think about module 4? Did it meet your expectations?
Would you recommend it?
What book did you use?
Feel free to share your thoughts and best practices on the comment section below, Facebook or @learndanishblog!

The post Module 4 Feedback – (Prøve i Dansk 3) appeared first on Learn Danish.

Welcome to the “Prøve I Dansk 3” feedback series!
Over the past couple of weeks, I published my personal reviews about Module 1 and Module 2. Let’s continue and move onto Module 3!

Please note that below feedback is based on my personal experience at Studieskolen in Copenhagen. The content of the modules that I describe is obviously subject to change with time (as per the national guidelines) and can vary slightly based on the teacher and the school.

If you feel like sharing your own feedback about your experience in learning Danish in Denmark, you are very welcome to contact me. I will gladly feature you on the blog!

In order to have consistency throughout theses module reviews, I will use the same analytical structure:

• Module expectations
• Module structure
• Module Test
• Book used
• Resources
• Personal feedback

Welcome to Module 3 feedback!

Module Expectations

If you make it module 3, you will start to see improvements coming your way.
I started module 3 with evening classes (3.1) and finished it with day classes (3.2). Classes were not as crowded as during the earlier modules, which was really nice. I could see also a change with who is attending the classes. There were less students and more professionals with a great dedication and motivation at each class!
Grammar is still a big part of this module as we need to be reminded of it and get better at it!

Module 3 includes a lot more talking in small groups, which will substantially help your talking. The teachers only speak Danish during the class, which is really helpful and forces you to think in Danish and process it faster when wanting to talk.

As I mentioned in my Module 2 review, expect a lot more homework. You should expect to have a good amount of written essays about more complex topics, such as:
Volunteering in Denmark, hospitals and accidents, health, Modern life and stress, writting emails, writting comments as if you were a user reading an online forum post, a famous person you admire and why, being vegetarian, etc.

Content used during the module

Books

We read also one book every week, which we had to sum up in a resume, as well as introducing it to the other students in the class. Some books were thrillers, drama, biographies of Danish authors, poets or painters, or just everyday stories. The books are more interesting than module 1 and 2, but by the end of module 3, they get a bit boring. Module 4 books are definitely more interesting.
I really liked being able to discuss (in Danish) what we read and share my thoughts on it. Besides, you get a correction of your resume, (from the teacher) which will help you improve in grammar.

Videos and audio files

During module 3, we had to listen to audio files/watch videos and answer questions. We also had to transcript audio files, which will improve your understanding. Here is an example of an audio file we had to listen to and use for questions.

Audio credits: “Det Kommer!” – Alfabeta – Bodil Jeppesen og Grethe Maribo
Check out the lyrics (if you want a bit of help).

Songs

We also listened to Danish songs, trying to guess the text and get used to it. This really helps your understanding and will add vocabulary (I previously wrote a post about listening to Danish songs, here is the post).

Films

During module 3.2, our teacher started to have us watching a very famous TV series called Matador. This was online on DR, with subtitles. I wrote a full post about it, which was “The Matador Challenge“! I would definitely recommend you to check it out and try include it in your studies. It really helped us with understanding Danish.

Module structure

Module 3 is split into 2 levels: Module 3.1 and Module 3.2.
What you can expect to learn/review in this module:

• Pronunciation, expressions, grammar (inversion especially), verbs, tenses, conjunctions, expressing your opinion with more expressions and sophisticated vocabulary (compared to what you learnt in the modules 1 and 2).
• The teachers will only speak Danish, which is really great!
• You will be discussing topics that are more complex and that relate to the Danish society.

Module Test

Module test 3 only includes two parts: reading and written.

Please note that you are allowed to use a Danish/English dictionary during the test.

You will need to be very consistent throughout the module and make sure to learn all the new vocabulary and expressions between each class. I personally managed to learn approx 600 new words/expressions during this module, which made my level in Danish that much better. It wasn’t easy to be honest, but this really paid off from module 4.

Prepare yourself before

Here is an exercise that we were given in class to be prepared for module 3 test. Try to do it at home, this is the type of written test you can have for module 3 (give yourself max 25 min to do it).

Click on the image to enlarge it

What the module test includes

Reading

Part 1: you should read a text and answer questions (5 min)
Part 2: you read a document including a few pages and find the answers to questions. The idea is too search for the important information and read quickly (20 min)
Part 3: you read various texts about topics/people and you need to match who said what, from a list you have (5 min)
Part 4: you read a text and need to answer questions (10 min)

Written

Part 1: Write an application – job for example (15 min)
Part 2: Write an essay about a specific topic given on the day (30 min)

In all honesty, the time given is really sufficient and you will have many chances to proof read what you will hand over. Do not stress yourself too much for the test. The module 3 prepares you very well for the exam, thanks to the various written homework.

Book used

There are many great books used by the various schools to learn Danish. The one my teacher used during module 3 was called “Det Kommer!”. I really like this book, because it was very well structured and included an exercise book. I could definitely feel that the texts were more complicated, which helped me improve a lot more.

Resources

Most of the material I used for module 3 is pretty much the same as the one I posted in previous articles:
Resources and my everyday routine.

Personal feedback

Module 3 has been a great learning curve and I personally improved a lot during this module. I enjoyed that the teachers were only talking Danish to us, but that we also spoke Danish to each other during the classroom. This helped me get more confidence and just go for it.

Exercise 2 on 2 – Describing the image and situations

I really enjoyed reading more books on topics that are more complex, but also being able to learn more about Danish society, culture and history. I cannot recommend it enough, but read as much as you can, this will help you.

During module 3, I managed to learn a lot of vocabulary which helped me read, understand conversations and also have more structured conversations. I felt that I could take more “risks” and trying my best to talk to Danes. You will start noticing some changes by the end of module 3. As described above, we also started to watch series and documentaries, which really pushed my level in Danish.

Hang in there, module 4 will only start to get better and so will be your Danish level! Full comprehensive review of module 4 coming out next week. Stay tuned!

What did you think about module 3? Did it meet your expectations?
Would you recommend it?
What book did you use?
Feel free to share your thoughts and best practices on the comment section below, Facebook or @learndanishblog!

The post Module 3 Feedback – (Prøve i Dansk 3) appeared first on Learn Danish.

Welcome to the “Prøve I Dansk 3” feedback series!
Last week, I published my personal review about Module 1. This week, we are moving onto Module 2.

Please note that below feedback is based on my personal experience at Studieskolen in Copenhagen. The content of the modules that I describe is obviously subject to change with time (as per the national guidelines) and can vary slightly based on the teacher and the school.

If you feel like sharing your own feedback about your experience in learning Danish in Denmark, you are very welcome to contact me. I will gladly feature you on the blog!

In order to have consistency throughout theses module reviews, I will use the same analytical structure:

• Module expectations
• Module structure
• Module Test
• Book used
• Resources
• Personal feedback

Welcome to Module 2 feedback!

Module Expectations

Congratulations on completing module 1!

Things will start to get a bit more difficult from this module onwards. Module 2 is when the learning of the Danish language will start to get more interesting. Classes are still crowded (at least in the first couple of weeks), which is nice to develop your own network and hear different pronunciations.

This module gets a lot more intense in terms of grammar and vocabulary. Danish grammar can be quite difficult, therefore grammar will be repeated and studied a lot from this module onwards. If you feel lost about some grammar topics, do not stress yourself too much. You will recap it (a lot) in module 3 and module 4 and have plenty of chances to get better at it.
Expect also to write a lot more, compared to module 1. Module 2 is a great kick off to more complex homework, where for example you can write short text copies about:

A celebrity you like, an e-mail to a friend about your weekend, your home country, describing your apartment in Denmark, what do you do on evenings at home, etc.

This module will add a lot more structure to your language, which will allow you to feel a bit more comfortable with talking Danish and understanding Danes.

Module structure

Module 2 is split into 2 levels: Module 2.1 and Module 2.2.

In the module 2 (like module 1), expect the teacher to still write vocabulary on the board. This will really build up your knowledge. As I mentioned in the module 1 review, they do not write as much vocabulary on the white board in the later modules, as you are expected to understand the words (and looked them up in the dictionary upon your own initiative).

What you can expect to learn in this module:

• Pronunciation, vocabulary, expressions, more emphasis on grammar, verbs, more emphasis on tenses (past, present, future, imperative), conjunctions, formulating questions that are more complex and finally expressing a bit more your opinion in Danish
• Teachers will also be talking much more in Danish than in module 1, but still expect to talk English with them as it is normal if you don’t feel ready to talk Danish all the time with them. Your vocabulary and knowledge are still in the process of becoming richer and more varied.

Module Test

As per module 1, if you have studied consistently throughout the module, you should really be fine with the test.
It comprises of three parts: Listening, written exam and an oral exam.
NB: At the time, I didn’t save much information about the duration and details of the test. My apologies but I will not be able to give a thorough overview of the exam.
If you have more details/feedback about the actual module test, please feel free to contact me so that I can update this section and share more details.

Listening

We had a listening test, where you listen to a list of questions which are told in a slow pace. You then have to answer the questions

Written

We had to write an essay, but I really cannot remember what it was.

Oral

Part 1: Oral presentation, follow-up conversation with the examiner
Part 2: Interaction with another student, where you ask each other questions and answer it

Book used

There are many great books used by the various schools to learn Danish. The one my teacher used during module 2 was called “Sådan”, which was in the continuity of “Sådan 1” (we used it in module 1). We also finished this book by the end of module 2.
Same review as module 1, I personally liked the book, it was well balanced between text to read, text to listen, written exercises to practice and grammar explanations. However ,I could feel that I was ready to get a new book including more written exercises (which thankfully comes in module 3). Please note that Sådan did have an online page with grammar exercises.

Resources

During module 1, we were given a list from Sådan which included a full list of verbs, substantives, nouns, pronouns, adverbs, adjective and conjunctions. I also used it in module 2 (you can download it here).
I also used other materials, which I shared in a previous post about online resources to become a pro at Danish!

Personal feedback

Module 2 definitely felt more difficult than module 1, however manageable because I studied consistently. Grammar is not my strength and I had some troubles with it to be honest. I appreciate that the teachers really take their time to teach it and explain it. We had a lot more exercises, which really helps out.

My talking got a little bit better in module 2, but what improved was my reading. It was still very basic, but I was able to read Danish books for beginners (specially designed for learning Danish of course!). Looking back, I would recommend to go to your local library and borrow books from the kids’ section. Try to read as much as possible as it will really enhance your vocabulary.

In terms of talking, module 2 clearly helps, but don’t expect a huge improvement yet. It starts to get better in module 3. I remember being able to “communicate” with my 3-year old Danish nephew at the time, which thanks to module 2 made me feel more comfortable. But again, my conversations with my Danish family-in-law were very basic and we switched back to English nine times out of ten. Simply because I could not have a complex conversation. This gets really frustrating in module 2 as you want to talk but lack understanding and vocabulary. But be patient, you will see improvements in the later modules and feel good again!

Stay tuned for the next post, which will be my review of Module 3! Coming out next week.

What did you think about module 2? Did it meet your expectations?
Would you recommend it?
What book did you use?
Feel free to share your thoughts and best practices on the comment section below, Facebook or @learndanishblog!

The post Module 2 Feedback – (Prøve i Dansk 3) appeared first on Learn Danish.

Welcome to the “Prøve I Dansk 3” feedback series!
I am nearly finished with module 4.2, so I decided that it is time to start sharing more feedback about each of the modules.

These reviews and posts will definitely give you more insights if you are just starting to study Danish in Denmark. If you are already advanced and passed the early modules, then you may want to wait a little bit longer until I publish my feedback for module 5, PD3 Exam and module 6 (Studieprøven).

Please note that below feedback is based on my personal experience at Studieskolen in Copenhagen. The content of the modules that I describe is obviously subject to change with time (as per the national guidelines) and can vary slightly based on the teacher and the school.

If you feel like sharing your own feedback about your experience in learning Danish in Denmark, you are very welcome to contact me. I will gladly feature you on the blog!

In order to have consistency throughout theses module reviews, I will use the same analytical structure:

• Module expectations
• Module structure
• Module Test
• Book used
• Resources
• Personal feedback

Welcome to Module 1 feedback!

Module Expectations

Module 1 is probably the most crowded module of all. For the simple reason that (nearly) all the expats are enrolling in it, so they can get their first introduction to the Danish language.
Expect to be sitting in class with fellow students coming from various nationalities, various professional backgrounds and different language learning skills.
This module is a great introduction to the Danish language, where you will learn vocabulary to initiate a very basic introductory conversation. The grammar kicks off gently in this module, so do not stress yourself too much about it. It will get more intense in module 2 and module 3.

The module is well structured and interactive for beginners. Expect to also learn more about Danish culture and society.

Module structure

Module 1 is split into 2 levels: Module 1.1 and Module 1.2.

In the module 1 (and module 2 as well), expect the teacher to write a lot of vocabulary on the board. This will really build up your knowledge. In the later modules, they barely write vocabulary on the white board, as you are expected to understand the words (and looked them up in the dictionary upon your own initiative if you do not know how to spell it).

What you can expect to learn in this module:

• Pronunciation, vocabulary, expressions, grammar, verbs, tenses (past, present, future, imperative), formulating questions, saying what time it is, counting/numbers.

Teachers will also be talking as much as possible in Danish (slowly of course). However, don’t be scared, they are using English in the first module to make sure we all understand what is going on!

Module Test

If you have studied consistently throughout the module, you should really be fine with the test. It comprises of two parts:
Written exam (approx. 15 min) and an oral exam (10 min).

Written

Part 1: Listening to the teacher asking a set of 4 questions.
Part 2: Writing an answer to the questions

Oral

Part 1: Oral presentation, follow-up conversation with the examiner (approximately 5 min)
Part 2: Interaction (2-3 min)

Book used

There are many great books used by the various schools to learn Danish. The one my teacher used during module 1 was called “Sådan”, and was designed for beginners.
We finished this book by the end of module 1 and then had the next book “Sådan 2” for module 2. At least there was consistency with the structure of the books, this definitely helped me out.
I personally liked the book, it was well balanced between text to read, text to listen, written exercises to practice and grammar explanations.

Resources

Here is one of the most useful document I used for module 1 (provided by Sådan)
Must learn: List of verbs, substantives, nouns, pronouns, adverbs, adjective and conjunctions. If you manage to learn this list, you will definitely have a good head start! You can download it here.

Personal feedback

When I started module 1, I was really excited about the idea to learn Danish and finally be able to use it in my everyday life. At the time, I was taking evening classes after my day job, which was quite intense to be honest. There were about 20 students in the class during module 1, which meant the personal attention to the students was limited.

I remember trying my best to converse with the others students in Danish. Obviously, it was not so easy to stick only to Danish when I barely had enough vocabulary. This meant we did use English as a back-up, which was really fine. But do not worry, you will improve in the later modules.

What do you think about module 1? Did it meet your expectations?
Would you recommend it?
What book did you use?
Feel free to share your thoughts and best practices on the comment section below, Facebook or @learndanishblog!

The post Module 1 Feedback – (Prøve i Dansk 3) appeared first on Learn Danish.

Organizing yourself on a daily basis to learn Danish requires dedication, time and planning. This is essential to achieve your own goals. Improving is linked to many factors, one of them being that you have a proper routine.

Personally, I can be very good at procrastinating and always finding something else to do on my phone or computer. But that does not help me further in the process of learning Danish, this is why, every day, I stick to a specific routine. Or at least I try to!

Here is my routine to improve in Danish and stay focused. I am currently taking day classes and have a part time job on the side, which allows me to spend enough time at home to study. This routine can also be applied if you are attending evening classes, but you will (most likely) be forced to reduce the number of hours spent on each task every day.

My daily To-Do list

• Homework
• Grammar
• Vocabulary
• Reading Newspapers
• Daily news on Mobile App

Top Daily routine to learn Danish

Homework

We get homework after every class, which can easily take up to one or two hours at home, to complete. In the early modules 1 and 2, we had a limited amount of written homework. But as I progressed in the modules, I have been given a lot more essays to write on more complex topics. Homework are always the first task on my to-do list.

Grammar

Needless to say, that Danish grammar will be a challenge when you learn the language. Improving your skills require that you spend time on grammar. Take the time to analyze your written homework and see where you need to improve. Have a look here to some useful resources to improve your Danish grammar.

Vocabulary

Every day, I aim to learn new words. Those are words that I have seen during the class, read on a newspaper, a book or heard on TV or a song. Some days, I managed to learn up to 100 new words, others just 10 words.

The amount of words doesn’t matter to me, what matters is that I get to rehearse them every day until I know them by heart. Some days, I only rehearse words that I have already learnt, therefore will not focus on new words. I found out that the best method for me is to learn new vocabulary, by heart. It can be quite frustrating sometimes, but so rewarding when you hear them in a conversation and know what they mean.

Some of my fellow students use flashcards to rehearse vocabulary. I only heard positive feedback about flashcards, but never used it personally (so will not review it for now).
I actually have a basic Google Excel document, where I save all the new vocabulary I learn every day. This means I have it with me on the go and only need an internet connection to overview my Danish practice list.

Reading Newspapers

From Monday to Friday, I read BT which is a free newspaper. This adds new vocabulary to my list and keep me in the loop about Danish news.

Daily news on Mobile App

I downloaded the DR Nyheder app on my phone. I check the news in Danish at least twice a day, pick up an article that looks interesting and take the time to read it. This has really improved my reading and vocabulary over the past months.
You can download the DR app here: iOS or Android

These are the 5 to-do tasks I aim at completing every day. Thankfully, I have managed to stick to them as much as possible. I am very pleased and proud to finally see results, my Danish is improving, happy days!

Extra tasks

If you have more time on your hands, here are some extra daily tasks that you can add. I aim at doing one of them every day, on top of my 5 to-do tasks.

Read a Book

I read between one to two Danish books a week. I get one from school and one from the public library, which gives me enough material to read at home. If you find the time to read books, this will substantially improve your vocabulary and Danish level. Make sure to borrow books that you will enjoy reading.
I want my reading exercise to be a fun and an enjoyable experience, therefore I focus on selecting books that I really want to read.
Have fun and read Danish!

Song

On a weekly basis, I aim to listen, read and study one song. This is also a fun exercise and part of the learning process. Read more info about this tasks on a previous post I wrote.

Preparing your next class

I like to read the upcoming pages of my study book and already learn the vocabulary (ahead of the next class). It really helps me to have prepared it at home and already read it.
This means that when the others are reading an article for the first time, this is my second time reading it.
It becomes a repetition and helps me assimilate the content, grammar and new vocabulary faster.
By doing so, I am able to pay full attention to the class and not feeling lost, but also practice the vocabulary. I don’t do this task all the time, but I try to do it at least twice a week. This has seriously helped me to improve and stay on top.

What about you? What are your daily tasks?
How much time to you spend at home studying?
Feel free to share your thoughts and best practices on the comment section below, Facebook or @learndanishblog!

The post My Daily routine to learn and practice Danish appeared first on Learn Danish.

Here is the question you will have to face when deciding to study Danish after moving to Denmark.
Most of the expats I know, have chosen the evening classes for obvious reasons, because they had a job during normal working hours on weekdays.

The others are expats who either (in most cases):

• Moved to Denmark and didn’t get a chance to find a job straight away, so they focused on learning Danish during day classes, until they could find a full-time job
• Choose to prioritize learning Danish as fast as possible and have a part-time job on the side, or simply use the remainder of their free time to study and finish Danish 3 Examination.

I personally experienced both day and evening classes (at Studieskolen), so I just wanted to share some feedback and insights on both options. This is in relation to the Danish 3 Examination (Prøve i Dansk 3).
I will breakdown this comparison in various categories:

1. Duration
2. Homework
3. Teacher
4. Students
5. Weekend
6. My personal feedback

Learning Danish : Day classes vs Evening Classes

Duration

Day classes

Day classes are usually 3 times per week x 4h per session or 4 times per week x 3h per session. You get the idea, if you attend day classes, expect an average of 12h being at school.

Evening Classes

If you choose evening classes, you will approximately have 2 times per week x 2h30 per session. This means that you will have an average of 5h classroom.

NB: It doesn’t matter whether you take day or evening classes, it will still take you the same number of weeks to go to the next level. Every 6 weeks a new module will start.
 

Homework

As I really wanted to improve in Danish quickly, as well as feeling comfortable in every class I attended, I found best to study the same amount of hours attended in a classroom.
If like me you choose this option, this means that your days and/or evenings will suddenly become very busy, regardless if you choose day or evening classes.
This fact is purely based on my personal experience and the one of fellow students. If you truly put in the hours at home to do your homework, you will really notice improvements.

Day Classes

If you choose the day classes, you will have a lot more time to study, which ultimately will help you out to improve faster. If you really wish to go the extra mile and get better, curiosity will be your best friend. At least it has been for me!
Watching movies in Danish, reading books or newspapers, translating songs, these are only a few examples that will require some extra time. This extra “curiosity” time, you will have, if you decide to take day classes.
 

Evening Classes

In the early modules (1 and 2), you can manage without too much problem your homework in between classes. If you do your homework after the class and manage to learn the vocabulary seen in class, you should be fine. However, as you move further into the modules, it will become a lot more difficult as you will have more homework included written ones.  Not to mention the extra time you may want to spend for watching Danish movies, reading books, etc.
If you are busy with your own day job, keeping up with the pace in between classes can quickly become a vicious circle if you don’t study. You certainly need to be consistent and really stick to the homework given by your teacher.

Teacher

Regardless of the option you choose to take, I really want to insist on the fact that teachers (at Studieskolen) are really great.

Day Classes

If you attend morning classes, your teacher will be fresh and ready for you and the class. If you have the option and the time to take this class, I would recommend it 100%. Simply because you are fresh and so is your teacher. It is the beginning of their working day, so everyone is a lot more focused. Which obviously impacts significantly on your improvements.
I never tried to take afternoon classes as part of the “day classes”, but from what I heard by talking to fellow and/or former students, this option is also great.

Evening Classes

I tried evening classes from module 1.1 until module 3.2, and to be honest, it became tougher as I moved onto the modules. Just imagine teaching a class until 9.30pm, where students can be hungry, tired of their working day or simply not 100% focused, this quickly becomes a challenge for teachers. Thumbs up for the evening teachers!

Students

I always have been with fellow students who are really nice and good people. Definitely a great way to expand your social circle in Denmark and an amazing cultural mix. Studieskolen has students learning Danish from more than 110 countries!

Day Classes

I found students a lot more dedicated to learn during the day classes than evening classes. It can certainly be due to the fact that they have a lot more time on their hands to study. This has personally motivated me a lot more to study with other expats that have the same project, which is to go 100% with learning Danish. The size of classes is also smaller during day classes, which also means more attention to each student.
This can obviously vary from class to class and module to module. Expect a lot more students at the beginning of each new cycle (regardless if it is day or evening classes), and then some dropouts along the way. Everyone has different projects for personal or professional reasons, which can force some of the students to stop and/or take a break.

Evening Classes

During evening classes, expect to have more students from universities and professionals who are committed to a day job and cannot attend day classes. Classes tend to be more packed than during day classes.
Again, this is based on my personal experiences, so this is not a general rule. Either way, you will have really nice students from all over the world with you in the classroom!

Weekend

If you take day or evening classes, weekends are going to play a big part in your progress. Chances are you will want to relax and enjoy the beautiful country that we live in: Denmark!
Weekend is a synonym of consistency as far as I experienced. If you manage to study on Saturday and/or Sunday, this will definitely help you improve, but also make you feel good about yourself and remind you that you are at the top of your game. Be strong and study hard on weekends!

My personal feedback

From having experienced both, day and evening classes, I personally would recommend attending day classes. Again, that is if you have the choice and can manage to have a part time job on the side, until you finalize Danish 3 Examination. You will have a lot more motivation, energy, desire to learn and curiosity if you study during the day.

When attending evening classes, I felt that I always had a million things in my mind from my working day. Whereas with day classes, I always have full focus.
Since you will spend a lot more time with the day classes, you should expect your Danish reading, understanding and talking to be more complete than if you attend evening classes.

Either way, if you are attending day or evening classes, this means that you are on the right path to speak Danish. I know expats who graduated both from day classes and evening classes, meaning it is possible.

Go for it!

The post Day classes vs Evening Classes (Danish school) appeared first on Learn Danish.

Since there are a lot of schools all over Denmark to learn Danish, I wanted to include a post about this topic, which is perfect if you just arrived in Denmark.

New to Denmark and looking for a school to learn Danish?

In regards to the process of costs and registration, I will recommend the following, which gathers all the information you need to start Danish lessons in Denmark.

Which school to choose?

Make sure to find a school that suits your needs (especially location and reviews of the school), as the process to change a school in the middle of a module can be a bit complicated. Before joining, your best option is to ask the school what are the conditions if you ever want to change school during your tuition.

The easiest way to locate the nearest Danish Language school to you is to have a look at the Dansk Sprogcentre website. They have an interactive map that features most of the Danish Language schools in Denmark.

My recommendation

I am studying at Studieskolen in Copenhagen, which I recommend of course.
There are many other good schools to join. I am not in a position to recommend one school over another since I did not attend all of them personally.
However, if you are currently learning (or finished) Danish in one of these schools, please do not hesitate to share your feedback and I will happily publish it on the “Expats feedback” section.

Start learning Danish as soon as possible and it will pay off with your everyday life!

The post Best schools to learn Danish in Denmark appeared first on Learn Danish.

I wanted to share some of the links that I and other students from my school use, to improve with the Danish grammar.
These links are also shared internally by Studieskolen (the school I go to), so I trust they are useful!
There are many other online resources that you can find and which are definitely great.
I decided not to share a list with too many links, but rather focus with the ones I personally use.

If you know any resources that you believe should be shared here, I invite you to contact me. I will gladly feature them on the blog.

Great resources to learn Danish online

Grammar

• Basby.dk: I personally like this website as it is explained in English and covers a lot of examples
• Verbeliste (Basby.dk): Many verbs listed here, you can also listen to them. A great resource to have and use

Pronunciation

• Basby.dk: Same as above, I recommend this website
• Den danske ordbog: you can search for a word and click the “loud speaker” icon, this will say it.
• Duolingo: Great tool to have if you want to practice Danish.

Prøve i Dansk 3 practice

• www.minidansk.dk: Check out Ewa’s website where she shares great content to practice for your modules!

Dictionary

• Ordnet.dk: It will be in Danish, so you always have the option to translate later
• Den Danske Ordbog (DDO): There is a free app for the Danish dictionary. I personally use it as it is all explained in Danish and available both for iOS and Android.

The post Online resources to become a pro at Danish appeared first on Learn Danish.