I very much appreciate that there are Danish classes, paid by the government

Björn is associate professor at the Faculty of Life Sciences. His wish is to have a complete parallel language use context at the University. Until that happens, his best advice for other international employees is to learn Danish and get a mentor.

How does the use of parallel languages affect your work life at the University of Copenhagen?

My background in Danish is still negligible and I realise that this will need a lot of work. The language I actively use at LIFE is English, which works well on an academic level and acceptably for teaching. However, even though English is supposed to be the official language in our department, there is a gap between this philosophy and reality. I do not see a general keenness for the use of English in everyday's work-life and more often than not, our Danish co-workers switch back to their native language, or don't use English in the first place for example for non-work related communication. Consequently, I do not consider the language use at the University truly "parallel". For me as foreigner with little knowledge of the language, the lack of understanding and speaking has the most profound impact on social interaction.

What linguistic challenges do you experience in your everyday life outside the University?

I experience challenges with the rare example of public security announcements (bus, metro), speeches at functions or celebrations held in Danish only. Communication and social life are negatively influenced by not speaking the native language. Common other issues are found with bureaucracy (a lot of forms are not available in English), Danish-only websites (many banks, clubs) and interaction with officials, or private people (English emails are answered in Danish, or not at all).

What thoughts did you have about learning Danish when you came to Denmark?

If you live in a foreign country, learning the language is connected with understanding the culture and habits. I had anticipated that English would be enough for survival, but when living in Denmark, speaking and understanding of Danish is crucial. Therefore, I was (and still am) very motivated to learn the language.

What did you get/are you getting out of the course?

The course has given me already a much better understanding of the basics of the Danish language and of the culture. I very much appreciate that there are Danish classes, paid for by the government. Furthermore, highly qualified teachers do not only do a great job in exposing us to the language, but extend beyond that with a lot of cultural insights. The time investment with two evenings (plus homework) is significant, double that for a couple with other commitments, but it has paid off very much so far.

Do you have any advice for international and Danish employees working at a workplace with parallel language use?

I do have an idealistic wish for a coherent system, where the use of languages is truly parallel, a.k.a. the bilingual system. However, since people can only speak one language at a time and foreigners start with very little Danish, I see always some grief at the beginning. The consistent use of English as a common basis for all communication at the University would greatly facilitate interaction without barriers, but is probably not feasible at the moment. Until that is solved, I see one promising strategy for international employees: learn Danish ASAP, sign up for the international mentoring network and challenge the locals with social interaction.