While learning Danish as a beginner, you pretend to speak it because you know exactly what they will ask you and how to answer. During one of my grocery shopping sessions, I had the same. When talking with the cashier, I was thinking, “Okay, now she’s supposed to ask you that, and you’re supposed to answer this.” I assumed she asked me if I wanted the receipt, to which I answered- Nej, tak. But she kept asking me the same thing, with an amused expression on her face. Then she switched to English and said, “I keep asking you to pay, and you keep saying- No, thank you.”. These kinds of incidents make you say to yourself,” okay, I really have to put some effort and learn this language.”
As we all know, language learning comes along with some funny stories regarding our first tries at practicing the language.
When I started learning Danish, I wish someone told me, “It’s not you. It’s the language.”. You want to know that it is normal to struggle initially. After all, the language is hard and completely different from every language you already know. As a result, wouldn’t take it personally.
A modern Gulliver, originally from Venezuela, Andres was kind enough to share his learning Danish brand experience with us. He included all its ups and downs, because, as many will agree with, learning Danish as a beginner may not be the easiest thing to do.
It may be hard to be motivated to learn a language you don’t like. I really enjoyed learning English and French. It’s hard to say the same about Danish. The way the language is structured and the pronunciation make it feel completely unnatural for Latin speakers. On the other hand, everyone speaks English in Denmark. People of all ages, education, and social statuses can answer any question in English. So you don’t really feel the need to learn it.
Why Denmark?
Living abroad for almost 11 years now, he managed to visit many places. The Republic of Ecuador, Jamaica, Switzerland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Togo, Benin.
In every place you go, you meet nice people, and they stay with you somehow. And language helps you a lot to do so.
Understanding the importance of speaking the local language, he learned Portuguese and French to express himself. His job brought him to Denmark three and a half years ago. In the beginning, he was not sure if it is worth learning a language that seems so complicated and distant from the ones that he was already speaking. His long stay here made him feel that it is about time to consider learning Danish seriously.
I thought that my stay in Denmark would be short. When they told me that I need to work in Vejle, I first thought that Vejle is the company’s name. But the beautiful fjord of Vejle, the network I’ve built, and, in general, the way of living made me want to settle down here.
Breaking down stereotypes
All the Internationals come here having some expectations in regards to the Danish culture and way of communication. In the start, we see this Society through impressions and opinions that other people spread in the world. The moment you get to live here, work with Danes, make friends, you begin building your own truth.
For a lot of Internationals, Danes may seem cold and quite different. Still, at some point, you get to accept and appreciate people for what they are. For what they have to offer. You stop continuously pointing out the differences. Exactly like they consider us exotic to some extent, I find them exotic in their own way. They may seem less open than other Nationalities, but when they open up to you, they really mean it. One of the best things about Denmark is its flat hierarchy. Everybody is equal, no matter what your title may be.
Learning Danish as a beginner
Andres signed in the language school right after he came to Denmark. The lessons’ structure and the fact that people with different levels of knowledge formed the groups confused him.
At some point, you don’t know what’s happening, and it becomes quite stressful, so I had to give up the school and continue on my own, using different apps.
Afterward, he had the opportunity to take part in a language course organized by the company he is working at, where they would have weekly lessons. Due to Covid, they interrupted the course.
A Swaplanguage experience
After a break, Andres found out about SwapLanguage through a Facebook Ad. In the beginning, he was a bit skeptical.
I saw an ad with Nicklas saying, “You need to have ME as your teacher,” and I thought that he is either bluffing or he really has to offer something different. As it turned out, he meant everything he said. After joining the course, I started taking Danish seriously, especially after writing my New Year’s resolution.
At Swap Language, we always keep in mind the experiences Internationals have, the problems they confront trying to make a foreign country feel like home.
They make it fun, so we have no reason to keep saying that the language is hard and that we don’t like it. This way, they transform a difficult and challenging language into something interesting and useful. If you get to see how practical learning Danish can be, you will find the motivation.
The First impression
Day by day, lesson by lesson and word by word, Andres started understanding way more Danish and even having the courage to hold small conversations.
The first time I followed a Swaplanguage lesson, I liked that the informal speech is brought to the table. I had a lot of fun. Making fun of how Danes communicate and at the same time letting internationals know that he understands the pain we have to go through to acquire this language helps a lot. It makes you feel better, less alone, and it keeps you motivated. I am proud of the fact that I take everyday lessons.
Danish in everyday life
After studying the few available lessons on Grocery Shopping, he could respond when someone addressed him in Danish in a shop.
Most of the time, any attempt to speak someone’s native language seems to be valued. No matter the company you are working for, knowing Danish will make a difference.
When I speak in Danish to my Danes friends, and I manage to make sense, I can see that they appreciate the fact that I try. Even if I say something wrong, they tell me I’m doing a good job. I started initiating Small talk in Danish with my coworkers. They are excited about it.
How to make it happen
Time management is an important part that shouldn’t be neglected, so we asked Andres what would his advice to beginners be.
It is good to also take some breaks, in order not to overload yourself. You don’t want to burn yourself out.
We are happy to invite you to join our free live Danish lessons to feel the taste of learning Danish as a beginner the Swap way. Having your reasons in mind, following your own pace, and having fun on the way can make knowing the Danish language an achievable goal. In the end,
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela.
