Denmark’s only English-language newspaper

Language SchooLS guideMake learning Danish your New Year’s resolution

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W e hear the same resolutions every year: lose weight, quit smoking, drink less alco-hol (or more, for some). But

why not take up a less frequently heard New Year’s resolution for 2013 and fi nally tackle the Danish language?

After a holiday season both braving the vicious cold and discovering that pickled her-ring is a national delicacy, we know that ven-turing off to class is probably the last thing on your mind. Getting accustomed to the change in climate, food and culture can often be enough to handle while living abroad, without the stress of leaping into a language course.

Add to that the fact that it is entirely pos-sible to live comfortably in Denmark without ever picking up an English-Danish dictionary. In a city boasting an international community as vibrant as Copenhagen, one can easily get by without any Danish skills whatsoever. And considering that to most foreign ears, Danish sounds more like potato-in-the-mouth gar-gling than intelligible speech, learning the lan-guage can start to seem a little unnecessary.

So what’s the point, really? Three mem-bers of the expat community have shared their views with The Copenhagen Post on the importance of and reasons for learning Danish. Although all three have taken it upon

themselves to learn the language, they have done so with entirely different intents and strategies.

Franklin, 25, a Portuguese artist and bal-let dancer, lived in Denmark ‘on and off’ for three years before deciding to move here permanently and start learning the language. During his early stays in Denmark, Franklin was able to pick up quite a bit of Danish by communicating with Danes on a daily basis, watching TV, using a dictionary, and all of the other little tricks that can aid learning a lan-guage. However, he stresses that the most useful tool was “to actually start going to a Danish language school”, explaining that he is able to learn “so much more” in an interac-tive class with a teacher to guide him through the process. Despite having done very well with his English skills, he emphasised his belief that speaking Danish is a way of com-municating your respect towards the culture, as well as gaining respect from Danes who “know that their language is not an easy one for a non-Dane to learn”.

Sharon, from Israel has lived in Copenha-gen as a stay-at-home mom with her Danish husband for two decades without speaking Danish. Sharon decided to become part of the international community, rather than the Danish one, sending both of her children to

Page 4+5VSK

Page 6+7Copenhagen Language Center

Page 10+11CLAVIS

Page 8+9IA Sprog

Text: Dominique Barir Jensen Photos: Colourbox

A door to employment, an irrelevance or a salvation − the jury’s out on the mother tongue of Denmark, but there’s one thing that everyone agrees on: it’s never too late to learn it

THE DANISH LANGUAGE

CONTENT

President and Publisher: Ejvind SandalChief Executive: Jesper NymarkEditor-in-Chief: Kevin McGwinSub-Editor: Amy Strada

Layout: Aviaja Bebe NielsenSales and Advertising:Jeanne Thames, Mark Millen & Jørn OllingIf you would like to contact us or leave a comment: info@cphpost.dk

This supplement is published by The Copenhagen Post, please refer to our disclaimer on page 2 of the newspaper.

Denmark’s only English-language newspaper

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Denmark’s most effective Danish courses!www.kiss.dk

Copenhagen International School. She is perfectly capable of speaking Danish, but chooses not to.

“When I fi rst got to Denmark, I just couldn’t wait to get out of here,” she said. “Taking the step to learn Danish, for me, would have meant that I was accepting life in Denmark. I didn’t want to be stuck here, and if I was going to move anyway, why bother learning how to speak a language that only fi ve million people understand?”

But she hasn’t moved and has no inten-tion of ever leaving. Or as she explains: “I changed my mind and decided to embrace the language.”

She attended six hours of private lessons to acquire the basic skills required for com-municating in Danish. However, whenever she tried to put her Danish into practice, most people simply responded in English. “So,” she thought “Why bother?” She also stressed that she feels like a different person when she speaks Danish.

“I can’t be myself, because I am not com-fortable,” she explained. After several well-articulated anecdotes and theories, the fi nal conclusion she came to was quite simply, “I don’t speak Danish because I don’t need to.”

Not everyone would agree, however, Kirsten, an American stay-at-home mother, sent her children to a Danish school. Like Franklin, Kirsten felt learning Danish was a sign of respect for the Danish culture.

Learning Danish, she said, allowed her to “gain a good understanding of where I was”. She adds that she didn’t need to learn Danish, as Danes were always polite and spoke English to her. However, at some point, they would “turn away and speak Dan-ish” to a person next to her, making her feel socially handicapped as she was no longer able to participate in the conversation. She did not want to “be a social burden”, and started to view learning the language as the only way for her to truly assimilate into Dan-ish society.

She began learning Danish through a course provider paid for by her local council. Although the classes provided a fun and free opportunity for her to meet “people of differ-ent ages and social groups with a common interest in learning Danish”, she felt that her progress was too slow, and that she needed to take part in smaller, more intensive class-es tailored to her level of understanding.

Instead, she began taking intensive classes four times a week for half a year un-til she was fl uent in Danish. Kirsten still fi nds it “diffi cult to explain things from the heart” when speaking Danish, and she is grateful that she can always switch into English and still be understood when she really needs to tell something from a personal point of view.

Whether you’re a fi rst-time learner or looking to kick-start lessons again, you have to admit: there is more than one reason to try and take a few classes. But given the vast array of language schools and free Danish language tuition on offer, the sheer volume of options can be a bit overwhelming. How much do you actually need, for one? How often do you want to study? Do you need Danish for work, school, or simply to save face with your neighbour?

Enter The Copenhagen Post’s language school guide. We’ve heard from several schools around Copenhagen who’ve told us what they do best and what that means for you. There are lessons both in the morn-ing and evening, in locations from Kastrup to Kødbyen, with options to suit any learn-er. Their insights will hopefully enable you make a more informed decision about how to approach learning the language based on your own plans and needs.

So start January off the right way by fi -nally tackling those swallowed noises and impossible vowels and signing up for a few Danish classes. If nothing else, it can’t be worse than that herring.

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A demanding work schedule, out-side commitments, busy family life – and you still want to learn

Danish? Vestegnens Sprog- & Kompe-tencecenter (VSK) can fi nd a solution, re-gardless of your situation.

VSK helps internationals succeed by providing them with the best possible gateway to life in Denmark: the language skills they need for work, study and life. That means offering fl exible programmes that cater specifi cally to each student’s needs and schedules. “Our students are very busy with their jobs, their career and their families,” Lars Nordborg, principal at VSK, explained to The Copenhagen Post. “So we give them courses that match their everyday life.”

Each student meets a guidance coun-sellor before they even enroll in classes to enable the students to tailor their course exactly how they want. The school of-fers courses at all profi ciency levels, and students can attend them any time of the day or at the weekend at campuses in Glostrup or Kastrup.

But not everyone has the time or means to travel to class, so VSK offers its students the option to study online its the school’s e-language centre. The e-lan-guage centre allows them to choose their course schedules themselves and receive individual lessons from a regular teacher.

Traditional grammar and writing instruc-tion is provided in addition to speaking practice, and the instructors then give students feedback on their oral skills via Skype.

Students can even split their lessons between on-campus classes and online lessons if they choose. “We know that our students often can’t attend 12 or 15 les-sons a week,” Lars Nordborg, the principal at VSK, said. “So they can take basic les-sons and then add some of the others if they want.”

VSK also knows that each student learns a little differently. That’s why the centre offers outside programmes and facilities to suit students’ needs. If a stu-dent is looking for extra assistance or just wants to complete a module particularly quickly, VSK fi nds some way to help.

“Our study centre is open every day, and there is always a teacher there to help,” Nordborg pointed out. Students can work at the centre independently or with help from an instructor, and they can chat with a native Danish volunteer to hone their speaking skills. Students also have access to a language laboratory, which uses voice recordings to practise correct pronunciation and intonation. With this kind of individual feedback, Nordborg ex-plained, “our students can pass through the system easier and faster.”

Text: Jessica HanleyPhotos: André Andersen & Anders Jørgensen

VSK offers Danish for work, study and life – whenever and wherever it suits you

TOOLS FOR THE TRADE ARE BEST TAILOR-MADE

E-learning: • Available at all levels

and modules• Perfect for students in-

terested in self-study• Students can choose the

study schedule them-selves

• Lessons are taught one-to-one, and students have a regular teacher

Adult Preparatory Learning (FVU): • Offers reading, writing

and maths lessons for adult learners, aimed at helping students pre-pare for employment

• Courses are tailored specifically to job seek-ers with specific needs.

• Free for students, even without eligibility for Danish classes

FACTS

For Alina Nabokikh, a student at VSK, the extra opportunities have been vital to her success at learning Danish. Nabokikh particularly appreciates utilising resources at VSK’s library and study centre. She said that she comes to the library to read and make use of VSK’s Danish book selection whenever she has time.

“I love to read, and it helps to improve my vocabulary,” Nabokikh explained. “It is more effective [to read here], because you can always get help from people who work at the study centre.”

But despite all the extras VSK has to of-fer, Nabokikh said the classes themselves are the best part.

“I really enjoy the Danish lessons here,” she explained. “When I have a weekend or if I’m passing by school, I think: ‘Oh, I miss it!’”

Nabokikh moved to Copenhagen from Moscow last year with her husband and has been studying Danish at the VSK Glostrup

campus since August. And already, after just a few months, she can already see a vast improvement in her language skills.

“Since I started here, I’ve started to talk and understand much more, and I can even watch TV in Danish,” Nabokikh said. “I’ve seen my progress from the start.”

Nabokikh explained that she particu-larly enjoys working in groups in her VSK classes, which not only helps improve her conversational skills but also helps her foster relationships with her peers and the staff. “All of the people and teachers are perfect for me,” she explained.

Nabokikh worked at a bank in Moscow and hopes to fi nd a job in Denmark in the near future. “For now, I’m concentrating on the language,” she said.

When the time comes for Nabokikh to look for a job, VSK will also be there to help. The school offers additional Adult Preparatory Education (FVU) for skilled foreigners who need to improve their read-ing and maths skills for work. VSK even provides opportunities for internships with various Danish companies.

“You can go and work at a company for between a week and a month and train your language skills while you are study-ing,” Nordborg said.

She went on to explain that students occasionally fi nd it diffi cult to see how much they’ve actually learned. “Then you have this internship in a company and dis-cover: ‘Wow, I can actually talk to Danish people!’”

With the kind of fl exibility and additional opportunities that VSK offers, there’s no reason not to learn Danish.

“We have so many different extra offers to add to your basic programme,” Nordborg said. “You can end up having a programme made up with whatever you want.”

Lars Nordborg Olsen: Principal at VSK

At VSK’s study centre, students can train their conversation skills with a native Danish speaker, review coursework with peers, or study individually.

Danish as a second language: all relevant and offi cially approved courses

Online classes for those students who are unable to attend at the Language Centre

Intensive classes for fast learners

Pronunciation classes

FVU – special training to improve your skills in reading and writing

We conduct all relevant exams in Danish, the Citizenship Test, Danish test level 1, Danish test level 2 and the Immigration Test

www.vestegnenssprogcenter.dk

Site also available in English

Located at Kastrup & Glostrup (Copenhagen)

Close to public transport

DANISH YOU CAN USE RIGHT AWAY!

DANISH IS NOT ONLY A PASTRY, IT’S A SKILLDANISH IS NOT ONLY A PASTRY, IT’S A SKILL

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Learning Danish is diffi cult for any-one who, well, isn’t Danish. And that’s where Copenhagen Lan-guage Center comes in. Not only

does it focus on helping foreigners perfect the language, but a huge amount of effort is also put into helping newcomers build networks, both social and professional. Centrally situat-ed in Vesterbro, the school offers effi cient and goal-orientated teaching and, at the same time, a welcoming atmosphere.

Copenhagen Language Center offers

Danish classes at every level with many op-tions for classes during the daytime or eve-nings. It’s one of the biggest schools in Co-penhagen, with 1,500 students from more or less 100 different countries.

Every new student is interviewed by staff to ensure they are put in the class that meets their level, expectations and availability. The classes are specifi cally goal-orientated to suit everyone’s needs so that students can learn the language in the most effi cient way pos-sible. That level of individual attention also allows students to share their interests and views with the rest of their class, which auto-matically brings people closer together while learning at the same time.

As department leader Julie Henriques

points out, forming new networks and rela-tionships can be all the more challenging when trying to settle into an unfamiliar envi-ronment.

“That’s where I think we’re different,” she explained. “Not only do we help people inte-grate into Danish society through language, but we make sure that students walk away from class with as many opportunities as pos-sible.”

A goal-orientated learning environment is very important to ensure that every student

learns what is needed to secure their pro-gression. This includes all language aspects: talking, writing, listening and reading. There-fore, grammar and pronunciation are crucial and will be carefully covered in classes as well as in the homework students are expect-ed to do. Modern learning methods are part of everyday teaching.

While there are tests at the end of every module, Henriques made it clear that doesn’t mean the courses are simply textbook run-throughs.

“People obviously have to be prepared to work, but we’re an open type of class with an open approach to teaching.” Classes, for example, are not necessarily confi ned to a room with a blackboard, but are frequently

held in museums or parks or on trips to city landmarks.

Other aspects of Denmark’s culture are also introduced and discussed in class through Danish fi lm, music and books. These exercises are a deliberate mix of practical and cultural experiences so that foreigners can learn the necessary vocabulary to handle administrative and everyday situations. This also opens the classroom up to discussions about the diffi culties of integrating into a new lifestyle. Debates about Denmark’s culture, politics and news are greatly encouraged.

But it’s not all about debates and discus-sions. If students feel that they need to focus more on particular aspects of the Danish lan-guage, they can go to the ‘Sprog Lab’ where they can get help with the trials and tribula-tions of Danish pronunciation and articula-tion. This is done through the use of computer technology and tra-ditional tuition. The staff even use an advanced technique in which they utilise the student’s native tongue in order to help them speak the Danish language.

In addition, Co-penhagen Language Center also has a career guru, Casper Hernandes Cordes, who specialises in job guidance and building professional networks.

“Not only does Cordes have an incredible array of networks, but he’s also setting peo-ple up with internships in the city,” Henriques said.

But it’s not all work and no play. The school has a Facebook group called ‘Con-necting Friends’ through which students or-ganise get-togethers twice a month. That might include a dinner, going to the theatre or just generally hanging out. Members can also share job opportunities and different events going on throughout the city.

Learning a new language may never be easy. But at least at Copenhagen Language Center, you’ll meet professional teachers who know how to lead you through all the aspects of learning the language. In addition, you’ll be able to meet people, enjoy new experiences and get all the tools you need to get settled in Denmark.

Whether you need to learn the language, fi nd new friends, Copenhagen Language center offers it all

CENTRAL LOCATION, OFFERING LINGUISTIC SALVATION

The classes are specifically goal-orien-tated to suit everyone’s needs so that students can learn the language in the most efficient way possible

“ “

I have a MSc from Copenhagen University in environmental science. I moved to Denmark in 2009, mainly because I’m interested in Scandinavian culture. After my graduation, I

devoted myself to the study of the Danish language in order to get a more thorough understanding of Danish society, a better integration and eventually boost my chances to find employment. I chose to carry out my study at Copenhagen Language Center and I completed my PD3 Education in December 2012. The qual-ity of the teaching at KS has always lived up to my expectations: the teachers’ high competence, the intensive programme, small groups and the modern facilities (along with per-sonal dedication) really helped me to get closer to such an arduous language. I therefore strongly recommend KS to whomever wants to embrace the same challenge.”

Text: Bjarke Smith-MeyerPhotos: Copenhagen Language Center

“

“

Copenhagen Language Center offers:

• Centrally sitiuated in Vesterbro, easily found by train or bus

• Efficient and goal-orientated teaching

• Focus on pronunciation• All levels, intensive classes• Daytime or evening classes• 1,500 students from 100 differ-

ent countries• Many offers to supplement your

Danish classes

FACTS

Antonio Tredanari

Learn Danish fast and efficiently with

a focus on spoken communication and

conversational skills. Our professional

teachers use modern learning tools

and the teaching level will always

suit your individual progress.

We are located in the heart of

Copenhagen, close to Central Station.

Contact us today – new classes

start every month.

Enroll now – call 33 21 31 31

www.cphlanguagecenter.dk | Valdemarsgade 16 | 1665 Copenhagen V

WHEN THE LITTLE MERMAID IS NOT ENOUGH

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Founded in 1981, Nørrebro’s IA Sprog is one of Denmark’s largest and oldest language schools. But don’t let its age deter you. For it is

also one of the most fl exible and technologi-cal schools in the country. With around 3,000 students from more than 100 different coun-tries, it’d be easy to imagine that IA struggles to meet the needs of every single student, but luckily this is far from the reality. It is in fact one of the most fl exible, high-tech and innovative schools when it comes to meeting the needs of its students.

Having dedicated much of his life to teaching Danish, Jørgen Jespersen, the school’s superintendent, knows a thing or two about managing a language school suc-cessfully. “Learning a language isn’t just one thing, it requires an understanding of each student’s individual needs and capabilities,

and that’s something we do really well at IA.” With options to study intensively, online,

during weekends or at a slower pace, IA has carved out a name for itself in tailoring cours-es to suit a person’s every need.

For Khalid, a highly-skilled 37-year-old Moroccan national, it was IA’s unique teach-ing methods, fl exibility and reputation that at-tracted him. “I was looking for a place where I could learn Danish effi ciently without wasting time. Friends I asked said IA was the best and, having studied here for two years, I would defi nitely recommend them.”

Whilst many language schools are quick to proclaim their fl exible approach to teach-ing, one only has to look at the plethora of options available to students at IA to know they aren’t even coming a close second. One fantastically practical option for many of those who fi nd themselves in Denmark for work or study is IA’s online Danish course. It allows students the opportunity to study at their own pace and when it suits them, al-though the dedicated IA staff are always on hand if needed. As part of this online course, students and teachers meet via Skype once a week.

Weekends may typically be the time of rest for many Danes, but for the hard-working team at IA it’s just another normal workday. With approximately 130 students currently enrolled on their Saturday courses, IA is one of very few schools to offer weekend classes.

Ideal for the busy student, these courses fo-cus mainly on oral communication and pro-nunciation, with students self-studying on their own time.

Also eager to help even the furthest fl ung (and often most neglected) of foreign-ers succeed, IA’s Agro Online Danish course is at the forefront of innovation and fl exibil-ity. Tailor-made for foreigners working in the agricultural sector, this course aims to help those working on Danish farms to learn Dan-ish. With benefi ts such as increased safety in the workplace, enhanced job satisfaction and

mutual understanding, this course benefi ts students who may be milking the cows when traditional lessons are taking place.

Another unique offering of IA’s is spe-cialised Danish courses for foreign students. Using technology to offer lessons for foreign students at Danish educational institutions, IA already has partnerships with a number of established higher learning facilities such as the Copenhagen Business School, Danish Royal Academy of Music and the IT Univer-sity of Copenhagen. With courses designed specifi cally for fellow Scandinavian students and students from other countries, these courses have already been greeted with great success, with around 400 CBS stu-dents already participating this year.

With years of experience, IA knows that for many of its students, learning the lan-guage requires more innovative methods of teaching. One such method that is gaining them praise is their own professionally pro-duced Danish soap operas. Running for sev-en to eight hours, and covering a multitude of everyday situations, from job interviews to going to the supermarket and cinema, these fi lms offer students an insight into not only the Danish language but also the realities of life in Denmark. Available in conjunction with these soap operas are impressive lan-guage fi lms that explain words, phrases and common language problems in the students’ own native tongues. Using humour to keep students interested may not seem like rocket science, but it’s this – and many other inno-vative teaching methods – that has students choosing IA.

Well-known for its technological approach to teaching, IA has realised that computers

are an integral part of its methodology. But Jespersen is quick to point out that when it comes down to it, IT is just a tool.

“If one makes the mistake of thinking it’s more than that, they can’t offer an effi cient product. In modern-day language instruc-tion there are many important factors, such as well-trained professional teachers, a good and proven product and an inspiring environ-ment. Only when technology is added to this does it work.”

Using IT in teaching also makes instruc-tion more fl exible, according to Jespersen, as it allows students to work towards their own goal in their own time. “Many students will come and use the computers before class, or at home, which can really help to strengthen what they learn in class.”

IT is also helping IA to excel in time ef-fi ciency. “Some students will need to hear a listening exercise three or four times, whilst others will only need to hear it once,” ex-plained Jespersen. Through interactive com-puter programs that allow students to target their own needs, the actual face-to-face time between students and teachers becomes much more valuable.

Not happy to rest on their well-earned laurels, IA also sets itself apart from the crowd of language schools with its unique teaching materials – most of which are made in-house. In addition to an amazing library of almost 1,100 interactive computer programs, 21 hours of grammatical explanations in sev-eral languages, numerous books and an un-paralleled collection of fi lm material, there are plans to add to this collection, with a special focus on extending the amount of languages in which materials are available.

““

In modern-day language instruction there are many important factors, such as well-trained professional

teachers, a good and proven prod-uct and an inspiring environment

CUSTOMISED TO SUIT THE NEEDS OF INTERNATIONALS AROUND THE CLOCK

Knowing how important it is to stay motivated when learning a language, Somayeh Rajaeine-jad, 30 from Iran, enjoys the excitement of IA’s teaching materials. She too is in IA’s

standard module three course

Happy with how IA’s intensive Danish course has helped him progress, Khalid Haddi, 37, from Morocco

says half the battle now is convincing Danes not to switch to English

Liya Chen, 35, came from China to Denmark after meeting her Dan-ish husband. Initially choosing IA because of its positive reputation, she hasn’t looked back since. Currently enrolled on IA’s standard

module three course, she says great teachers and a productive working environment have helped her master the language

Text: Jessica O’SullivanPhotos: IA Sprog

A Danish course at IA Sprog offers:

Learn Danish quickly and efficiently with IA SprogContact: 3888 3233

• Focusonoralaswellaswrittenskills• Professionalteachers• Classroom,workshopandIT-basedtuition• Onlinepractice• Canteenfacilities

EfficiencyDanishindayandeveningclasses

IA SPROGHejrevej26,2ndfloor2400CopenhagenNV

Phone:38883233Mail: info@iasprog.dkweb: www.iasprog.dk

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T he economy is tight, and it’s more diffi cult than ever trying to fi nd a job in Denmark. What’s even more diffi -cult? Trying to fi nd a job in Denmark

and not speaking Danish. Enter CLAVIS, one of the most renowned language schools in the country. And its goal is teaching Danish in a man-ner that focuses on culture, the society, knowl-edge about work culture, searching for jobs, and the unwritten rules of the workplace culture.

“Many companies use us because of the analytic way we approach language: we take the needs of the company and its individuals into great consideration,” Tina Pedersen, the head of department at CLAVIS, told The Co-penhagen Post. “And, because we know the unwritten rules of the Danish job market, this makes our courses relevant.”

The school has become one of the fore-most Danish language schools in the country. They have four locations: Greve, Roskilde, Co-penhagen and now Lyngby.

The recent addition of a local school in Lyngby has exceeded CLAVIS’s expectations. With it, the school has become an associate member of and an active player in the council of Lyngby-Taarbæk and in the council’s ‘2020 Plan of Knowledge and Urban Development’ that hopes to transform the suburb of Greater Copenhagen into an area of “knowledge and

urban development”. Among the associate members are the council, many local busi-nesses in the area as well as the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). “We want to make the most of the cultural diversity of Lyng-by,” stressed Pedersen. “And we want to make it possible for foreigners to become involved in their community.”

CLAVIS offers a variety of courses to its foreign students, which vary depending on the students’ level of Danish when they begin. Each student’s individual background is taken into great consideration. “We fi nd out what they need, what their prior experience is and how much they already know,” explained Pedersen. “And we orientate them from there.”

“Students have value,” Pedersen contin-ued. “And they have their own cultural and lin-guistic diversity to bring to the Danish job mar-ket.” Up until now, CLAVIS had concentrated on teaching Danish to foreigners. However, it’s now started a new programme called CLAVIS International, a new branch that teaches Eng-lish, Arabic, Spanish, Turkish and more. This move is integral to the reputation of CLAVIS

as an unorthodox and innovative Danish lan-guage school. In these classes, the students – if they are qualifi ed – are the teachers.

CLAVIS also, of course, provides a pleth-ora of Danish specialty courses: Danish for English-speakers, Russian-speakers or Pol-ish-speakers. These are classes that have been requested by students, and the fi rst two levels of these courses are taught by a mother tongue speaker who has also gained fl uency in Danish. Pedersen explained that these classes are meant to make students with strong back-grounds in other languages more comfortable and able to learn Danish with effi ciency.

Online supplemental courses are also available. “These allow students to study at their own pace and practise,” Pedersen said, so that they can feel more confi dent about their language mastery.

What’s even better is that most of the classes offered by CLAVIS are free for foreign-ers with a CRP number, and that is one of the exclusive benefi ts of studying language with this school. An agreement with the councils in which the schools are located allows CLAVIS to offer free courses funded by the councils in which the students live, and this means a much more accessible education to those without the means of paying for courses. In addition to these free courses, they offer private one-

to-one lessons for people who desire an even more spe-cialised approach to lingual learning.

“Innovation and development are very important to us,” noted Pedersen. “We strive to make our lessons more inter-esting and dynamic.” Classes at CLAVIS are not merely lec-

tures, nor are they pure memorisation; they aim to truly incorporate the student into their own education. More than that, the school also offers a plethora of classes and seminars that comple-ment their Danish or other language courses. Because of their unique relationships with local companies, CLAVIS can offer information on how to search for employment in Denmark as a foreigner, how to write a CV that stands out or even how to interview.

Novum is an organisation that hopes to bridge the gap between companies and well-qualifi ed employers who struggle to fi nd jobs in Denmark, and CLAVIS is frequently on the receiving end of its key insights. Additionally, a mentor-mentee programme for bridging the gap between highly educated foreigners and the Danish job market programme was imple-mented a few years ago that provided CLAVIS students with mentors from IBM.

“We really take the real world and put that into our classes,” Pedersen expressed. And with all of the services CLAVIS provides, the school is there to help you every step of the way.

We strive to make our lessons more interesting and dynamic

“ “Text: Amy StradaPhotos: CLAVIS

Introducting CLAVIS, a language school that understands the unwritten rules of the Danish job market and makes its courses accordingly relevant

LEARN THE LANGUAGE: EARN A LIVELIHOOD

Learn Danish with CLAVIS Tailor made Danish courses for foreigners, businesses and municipalities

At CLAVIS you get• Private courses and business courses

• Danish courses through a language you speak: English,

Polish, Russian and “Scandinavian”

• Strong focus on pronunciation and communicative skills

• Day, evening and weekend courses

• Departments in Lyngby, Copenhagen, Roskilde and Greve

Besides language courses, we offer mentor programmes for job searching, networking and cultural events.

Danish courses at CLAVIS are efficient, goal oriented and based on the individual’s communicative needs.

Have a look at our website to see the recommendations from our students and business partners.

Is learning Danish your New Year’s resolution? Sign up for Danish courses now!

CLAVIS Sprog & KompetenceHovedkontor: Frydenhøj Allé 73, DK-2670 Greve • Tlf: +45 4397 8700 • kontakt@clavis.org www.clavis.org

VIRKSOMHEDER

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Info & Registration +45 43 97 87 00 | kontakt@clavis.org | www.clavis.orgCopenhagen – Lyngby – Roskilde – Greve

CLAVIS – your key to language and competence

AN INITIATIVE FOR ACCOMPANYING SPOUSES RESIDING IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF COPENHAGEN

COPENHAGEN CAREER PROGRAM

FOR MORE INFORMATIONContact project coordinator:Dorthe Kingo VesterlundTelephone: 20 53 87 64Mail: Cphcareerprogram@bif.kk.dkwww.facebook.com/copenhagencareerprogram

Department for Integration and LanguageJobcenter KøbenhavnMusvågevej 152400 Copenhagen

A CAREER IN DENMARK?People come to Copenhagen from all over the world for many different reasons and with many different qualifications. This is of great value to Denmark. The municipality of Copen-hagen puts an effort into welcoming and retaining newcomers. As an accompanying spouse you have come to Denmark because your spouse has either got a job here or is searching for one. Perhaps you are also pursuing a career here in Denmark?

WHO CAN CONTACT COPENHAGEN CAREER PROGRAM?If you have a residence permit as an accompanying spouse and are residing in the municipality of Copenhagen you can contact the Copenhagen Career Program.

COUNSELING AND COURSESYou can ask for a personal meeting with a job consultant who can provide you with informa-tion about the labour market and job seeking in Denmark. We can also provide you with information about measures promoting employment, different kinds of courses such as job seeking courses, Danish language courses and courses about the Danish society.

Copenhagen Career Program is based at the Department for Integration and Language at Jobcenter Copenhagen, Musvågevej. The Department for Integration and Language is responsible for administrating the Integration Act in the municipality of Copenhagen.

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