DANISH LANGUAGE CLASSES – Winter 2020
Adult: Beginners’ Danish language lessons will start Tuesday, Jan. 14 and end Mar. 17. This class is open to anyone of any level. The curriculum is adjusted to the needs and wishes of the students. There is very little homework: typically students will write a sentence or two about their weekend and read it to the class. This vocabulary will be the basis of the lesson for the evening. There are no exams. Kim West will be the teacher.
Adult: Advanced Danish language lessons will start Monday, Jan. 6 and end Mar. 16. This class is mostly in Danish, and the content is adjusted to the needs and wishes of the students. There are no exams. Elisabeth Carstensen will be the teacher.
Adult: Intermediate Danish language lessons will start Thursday, Jan. 16 and end Mar. 19. Students should have some knowledge of Danish and be working towards fluency. Content is adjusted to the needs and wishes of the students. There are no exams. Kim West will be the teacher.
The cost is $100 for ten lessons, payable on the first day of your class. A cheque made out to Danish House Society is preferred.
All classes start at 6:30pm and end at 8:30pm in the Danish room at the Scandinavian Centre.
Please register or inquire by e-mail indicating your level to Annette Lauridsen: annette.h.lauridsen@gmail.com
Here is a little information about teachers:
Kim Sandvad West
Kim has a Master’s degree in Scandinavian Languages and literature from Aarhus University 2010. He now teaches Danish and Scandinavian studies at UBC. Before coming to Vancouver in 2017, he was teaching Danish and Scandinavian studies at the University of Vaasa in Finland and does therefore speak a little Finnish, Swedish and Faroese as well. He grew up in a small village close to Horsens, Denmark, where he spent most of his time in the forest, in the kitchen or on his grandparents’ farm. He came to Vancouver in August 2017 and is excited about the wild nature and the friendly and welcoming people of Canada. In class, Kim is focused on creating a relaxed atmosphere where everyone gets to participate and everyone can develop in their own pace.
Elisabeth Carstensen
Elisabeth has been teaching Danish at the Scandinavian center since 2015. She has lived in Skanderborg until 2014 when she and her husband moved to Vancouver. She looks forward to meeting you in the advanced Danish class. She has a Master’s degree in logistics and supply chain management from Århus university. She lives with her husband and baby, and all three of them love Vancouver. Elisabeth was born in Woodland, California but she grew up in Alken in Jylland, Danmark. She enjoys the cultural aspect of Vancouver and she also likes to snowboard. She looks forward to sharing more about Danish culture.
Simone Lysholt Geer
Simone finished her master’s degree in Cognitive Semiotics from Aarhus University in 2019. She grew up in Aarhus, and have lived in Aalborg, Copenhagen and Melbourne, Australia in relation to her studies. She is excited to teach the beginners Danish class and teach them about Danish and Danish culture, and maybe learn something about Canadian culture herself. She is interested in the history as well as the artistic culture of Vancouver and goes to many concerts and museums. She and her boyfriend are planning to stay in Vancouver for a year. They love the beautiful nature surrounding the city and enjoy hiking and especially skiing.
To register or inquire: Please contact Annette Lauridsen: annette.h.lauridsen@gmail.com
Pay by cheque made out to Danish House Society at the first class.
Best regards, Annette Lauridsen, Danish Language Co-ordinator Danish House Society, Scandinavian Centre
New Teachers Needed
Our teachers are one of the most valuable resources that we have, and we are always keeping an eye open for new people to join our team. If you know of new people that are coming into town, might be planning to come here or already live here and have an interest in teaching please ask them to get in touch with us. Teaching at the Danish School is a great way to keep teaching activities on your resume, get to know fellow Danes in the area, learn about bilingualism, subsidize your income and have fun.
We offer lessons twice a week (Wednesdays and Thursdays), each lesson consisting of two hours plus prep work. Excellent verbal and written proficiency in the Danish language is a requirement.
Please do not contact the Scandinavian Centre Office.
