I officially enrolled in a Danish language course beginning in January. I attend 2 days a week for two and a half hours per class. The Danish government sponsors these classes because, hey, if you are going to live here and go to school free, and have free medical, the least you can do is learn their language. Because it is a free government program, I was expecting some little, neglected, run-down classroom, and a frazzled, volunteer teacher. Not so. These classrooms are state-of-the-art with computerized whiteboards, printed workbooks, on-line listening practice, and highly paid, well trained teachers. I am quite impressed with the organization and the resources. Let's see. Last month I could have had "Dinner with a Dane" in someone's home, also, a student social with an "Indian" theme, and some enrichment classes several days a week where you go and practice chatting with others.
They are serious about this "learning the language" business. And they should be because it is HARD. Learning the Danish language is really learning two languages: the one you learn for reading and writing, and the one you speak. What you hear is not what you read. For instance: "Jeg kan godt lide........" ( I like......) . When you pronounce it, you only say part of the letters and smoosh the whole thing together and say it fast. Je
g ka
n go
dt li
de. So it comes out like
yikagoalie.
Yikagoalie ice cream or
yikagoalie pizza. These phrases even have a name: short answers. That is an understatement! And then there is this student age thing. Did I mention that I am older than the rest of the class members by 30 years or so? Did I mention that I am the only person in class who only speaks
one language? And, that most speak more than two? INTIMIDATING. So we have very young, very bright students from all over the world. And a grandma. There are 10 nationalities in a class of 11-17, depending on who shows: France, England, Croatia, Mexico, Spain, Latvia, Italy, Slovakia, Poland, Denmark (teacher) and CJ and me, Americans. CJ is from Chicago and speaks Spanish as well. Of course he does.
I keep praying for the Gift of Tongues.
Cool! I'll expect you to be completely fluent when we get out there to visit. Has Dad slipped right back into the language pretty well?
ReplyDeletePretty much. He is going to have to conduct meetings and he teaches YM. I typed how long I go each time. It's 2 1/2 hours instead of 1 1/2. I will change it.
ReplyDeleteI had the gift of tongues a few years ago when the Hispanic family in the apt below me went to bed and left a cow tongue boiling on the stove. At about two in the morning the gift set off my smoke detector.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! I don't think my brain has that must capacity anymore. Serious. That's impressive.
ReplyDeleteJarl.....😂😂😂😂
I remember Jarl's story and still laugh. Though to him, it was not funny at the time. And, Tacy, you would be able to learn a second language without even thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteI must have missed this post amidst the others! I am VERY impressed by you grandma. I have been trying to do that dualingo app to practice the language before our trip....I'm toast haha
ReplyDeleteI'm on my second 50 hours. Still can't understand random conversations going on around me.
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