Danish with Melissa L.

Goddag! I am a Danish speaker and teacher, and have been for 15 years. Before that, I taught Linguistics with a special emphasis on Phonetics (the sounds of speech and how they are produced). I have also been a speech pathologist since 1994, working with adults who have speech/language challenges due to stroke, Parkinson's, MS, etc. I first learned Danish as a student in a total-immersion program in Denmark. First, I lived for 3 months with Danish families who spoke only Danish with me, and then I went to Silkeborg Folkehøjskole, where I was the only native English-speaking student. Prior to living in Denmark, I studied German (my major in college) and intensive Swedish, so I had a leg-up when I arrived, but it was still a long process of learning - one which I loved! From the first day to the last, I resolved only to speak Danish (and to use pointing, facial expression, tone of voice, body language, and any other means to communicate except English). It paid off, and by the end of my time in Denmark I could hold complex conversations with nearly everyone. In 2004, I began teaching Danish at the Nordic Museum in Seattle. These weekly adult-ed evening classes have been a joy to me, and my students have taught me a great deal about teaching effectively. I continue to teach at the Museum to this day. A couple of years later, I went to the University of Washington to continue my studies of the Danish language, during which I taught Danish to undergraduates. Then I lived in Copenhagen and Århus while doing research for my dissertation and refining my command of the Danish language. Though my love for Danish is intense, my teaching style is laid-back and flexible. If you LOVE grammar, I will jump in there with you and help you intellectually understand the finer points of Danish syntax, but if the word "grammar" makes you break out in a sweat, then why should I force it down your throat?! Generally, I like to move students from learning vocabulary via pictures and games, to reading/using dialogues. Students can then use what they know to communicate in less structured tasks. I also like teaching students to use paper and digital resources to teach themselves ("teach a man to fish...") Other activities include using audio/video clips, writing letters, reading articles, and on and on! Every task should be engaging, and hit that "sweet" spot of challenging-yet-not-overwhelming. How can I help you engage with the Danish language? Let me know!