Submitted by Brooke Levinson on the 2018 fall semester DIS program in Copenhagen, Denmark…
After my second week in Copenhagen, I truly feel like a student studying abroad. This week brought on the first full week of my new set of classes. New classes in Denmark really means being introduced to a new education system. One of the reasons I decided to come to Denmark to study abroad was because this country was ranked the third best higher education system in the world. I found this fact very intriguing since I am studying to be a teacher and I will be partaking in their education system as a student myself. I was shocked by even the most minute differences.
The DIS campus is mainly located on a street called Vestergade. This street is right in the middle of downtown Copenhagen. The educational buildings are surrounded by restaurants, coffee shops, stores and historic landmarks. It is amazing to go to school in the epicenter of the action and be able to truly immerse yourself in the city life. Sometimes when store owners start conversations by talking to me in Danish, I feel as if I am starting to fit in. During my commute to school, I feel less like a tourist and more like a Danish student with every passing day.
My core course is children in a multicultural context. This course entails a three-hour class and has a related practicum. The class itself is very laid back, the teacher even has us refer to her by her first name, Maja. Many Danish educators do not believe in written exams, instead, they asses their students based on participation, essays and observation. In one class session, my core course professor explained the entire Danish school system. I thought it would be very difficult to pay attention during such a long class, but Maja made sure to incorporate breaks, group work, time for lunch and interactive lessons. Maja explained that she could not sit through a three-hour lecture and pay attention the entire time so she does not expect that from us. Maja made us feel like we were equals, she is very relatable to our situation. I found that the spaced out structure made the long class fly by.
I am also taking a class called Art in the Making. I have always been intrigued by art and have been eager to enhance my artistic abilities. I figured why not take an art class in a city that is known for its architecture and art. The class itself is located in one of the most beautiful classrooms I have ever been in. Surrounded by windows, in a picturesque courtyard, the classroom is the perfect place for inspiration. Art in the Making is a course meant to expand one’s creative nature.
Although I sometimes pretend to be a native Dane, there is one distinct imperfection that gives me away every time. This flaw is the exact reason I am taking Danish language as a course. The class is a hybrid between learning Danish and understanding the culture of the Danish people. The Danes have three more letters in their alphabet and their pronunciation is hard to replicate, but I am invested in learning more.
My first week of classes has intensified my hunger for new experiences. The fact that each core course takes their students on field trips makes me incredibly eager for the times to come. I feel so lucky that I have the opportunity to study in this amazing place and who knows, by the end of this abroad experience, I might be able to pass as a Dane.