Learn Danish with the Northwest Danish Association! We offer classes in the community for anyone wishing to learn how to speak, read, and write in Danish. Students will also explore and discuss Denmark and Danish culture.

Our classes are now held online via Zoom – anyone from near and far can join in and learn Danish with us. Classes are based in Portland and Seattle (PST).

NWDA is offering 5 Danish classes at various levels for Fall 2020. Registrations for the Fall Term are now closed. Send an e-mail to seattle@nwdanish.org if you are interested in future classes.

Danish Conversation and Culture Class – Intermediate Level (Seattle-based)

Fall Term: September 26th to November 21st, 2020
Time: Saturday mornings, 9:00 am to 10:30 am (PT)
Level: Intermediate Level
For this class you must be an intermediate level Danish speaker that can engage in some conversation in Danish. Contact NWDA at seattle@nwdanish.org if you are unsure whether this class is suitable for your level of Danish.

About this class: The class will use a variety of media (e.g. news articles, poems, songs, videos, games, etc.) to engage students in conversation and learning about Denmark and Danish culture – particularly with a focus on relations to the US and current affairs.  Students will have the opportunity to improve their understanding of Danish texts, songs, and spoken Danish.  They will also be able to practice their conversation skills and pronunciation.

About the instructor: The teacher for this class is Adrian Tan, a native Dane living in Seattle. He has been teaching the class at NWDA for 3 terms and has experience teaching in Denmark.

The objectives of the class are:

  • To improve student’s conversation skills in Danish
  • To provide students with cross-cultural knowledge of Denmark and Danish culture
  • To practice talking about various topics in Danish

Danish Language Classes (Portland-based)

Image: Aase Beaulieu teaching Danish at the Danish American Cultural Retreat.

Dansk I, II, III and Advanced Danish are Portland-based classes taught online by experienced Danish teacher, Aase Beaulieu. Classes begin the week of September 8, 2020 and end the week before Thanksgiving. Note: These classes take a 2-week break in October. See below for the specific date and time for each class.

About the teacher: The teacher for the Portland-based Danish language classes is Aase Beaulieu, a Danish native.  She has taught at UC Berkeley, Berlitz International School of Languages and has been teaching Danish classes with NWDA since Winter Term 2020.

Course Materials: Classes will use the text Aktivt Dansk by Lise Bostrup which can be ordered from Denmark for a cost of about $50.  The different levels of Danish will progress through the book with each class covering a few chapters of the book as they progress from one level to the next in Danish.

Levels and Placement: There are 4 levels available for the Portland-based classes. Please contact instructor Aase Beaulieu if you are unsure of your level of Danish and need to be placed. Call Aase at (503) 320-1041 or e-mail her at aasewbeaulieu@yahoo.com

Dansk I (This class is full)

Time: Thursdays from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm PT
Fall term: September 10th to November 19th (Note: There is a break the last two weeks of October)

The objective of the class is that by the end of the term, students will feel comfortable carrying on a  casual conversation in Danish, greeting Danes at a variety of formality levels, discussing where you and they are from, as well as making and describing plans. Students will be able to use present and future tense as well as be able to read simple texts.

For more information about the class, see Dansk I Class Outline.

Dansk II

Time: Thursdays from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm PT
Fall term: September 10th to November 19th (Note: There is a break the last two weeks of October)

The objective of the class is that students will have expanded the range of topics in which they feel comfortable conducting a casual conversation in Danish. Students will expand their ability to navigate a variety of cultural situations, such as shopping, having visitors over, and discussing the weather. Students will be able to use present and future tense as well as be able to read simple texts written by and for native speakers.

For more information about the class, see Dansk II Class Outline.

Dansk III

Time: Tuesdays from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm PT
Fall Term: September 8th to November 17th (Note: There is a break the last two weeks of October)

The objectives of this class are that students will have expanded the range of topics in which they feel comfortable conducting a casual conversation in Danish.  Students will expand their ability to navigate a variety of cultural situations, such as discussing popular culture, describing places and clothing, and praising other people to strangers. Students will be able to use present and future tense as well as be able to read simple texts written by and for native speakers.

For more information about the class, see Dansk III Class Outline.

Advanced Danish

Time: Tuesdays from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm PT
Fall Term: September 8th to November 17th (Note: There is a break the last two weeks of October)

Prerequisite: Danish Level III and/or permission of Instructor (call Aase at 503-320-1041)

The students in this class will transition from studying Danish in textbooks and will begin the study of Danish literature.  At the end of the course, students will have read and discussed a complete Danish play.  They will have expanded both historic, cultural, and linguistic knowledge of Denmark.

For more information about the class, see Advanced Danish Class Outline.

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