Learning structure at the Language Center

Part of Language Center learning occurs after regular school hours because students come from many schools. Students also study at their home school while classmates are in Danish. As students meet only once a week or less, the teacher assigns projects for students to work on during Danish lessons and/or at home. This helps meet the time requirements of the Compulsory School Act.

Attendance

Students must attend all classes, even those held after regular school hours. For distance learning, logging in and completing weekly assignments counts as attendance. Notify the teacher of illness or absence on the same day. It's also important for guardians or schools to inform teachers of special events or circumstances affecting a student's ability to participate.

Course offerings and teaching methods

On-site learning in Norwegian, Polish, and Swedish is for students in the capital area. This teaching is for students in the grade where schools start Danish lessons, usually 7th grade. The in person lessons are held in different places and at different times. Students are grouped by location, but parents can contact the project manager for the language to change groups if there's a schedule conflict. Distance learning is for students in grades 9 and 10.

Grade 6 in the capital area

  • Grade 6 students meet once a month after school for two hours, or one lesson every other week.

Grade 7 and 8 in the capital area

  • In-person classes are for 7th and 8th grade students in the capital area. Classes are held at different schools and times. The project manager for each class/language informs students of locations and times each semester. Grade 7 and 8 students attend once a week after school for two lessons.

Grade 7 and 8 outside the capital area

  • The Language Center offers Norwegian and Swedish teaching advice for schools outside the capital area that have qualified teachers. Otherwise, distance learning is available.
  • Polish lessons aren't offered for 7th and 8th grade students outside the capital area.

Grades 9 and 10

  • For 9th and 10th grade students, learning is entirely online during regular school hours, except for class meetings teachers may schedule. These meetings are held after school via Google Meet (or similar platform).

Workload

Students should work as much on the material as their peers do in Danish. As lesson distribution varies by school, Language Center students should work:

  • 80-120 minutes weekly in 7th and 8th grade
  • 120-160 minutes weekly in 9th and 10th grade

Required or optional?

Students can choose Norwegian/Swedish instead of Danish, but it's not optional – it's required. If you don't take Danish, you must take Norwegian or Swedish, and vice versa. Students study at their home school while classmates are in Danish.

Polish is optional, but as it exempts students from Danish, most work on assignments during scheduled Danish lessons.

Collaboration between home, school, and Language Center

Working together: the students

  • regularly read, speak, and listen to the target language
  • attend all lessons, work at home weekly, submit assignments on time
  • remember they can work during Danish lessons
  • participate in classes or online assignments
  • stay informed via the website

Working together: parents and guardians

  • speak the target language at home – sometimes/always
  • provide access to TV, books
  • inform about students' special needs
  • remind home schools that students can use Danish lessons for study
  • message the teacher if a student can't attend or has permission to be absent

Working together: teachers

  • follow the current curriculum
  • prepare and select materials based on ability and needs
  • inform parents and students about teaching matters
  • provides home schools with information on absences, assessments, and progress
  • teach and guide students in class, by phone, by email
  • stay updated on the subject and current events in Norway, Sweden, Poland

Working together: schools

  • register students
  • provide students with workspace and computer access during school hours
  • follow up on online teachers' suggestions
  • inform about students' special needs
  • record grades on report cards