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Guide: Language schools to learn Danish in Copenhagen

Danish — A guide to Danish lessons in Copenhagen for everyone interested in having a couple of phrases in their pocket for daily conversations in class, or maybe just for picking up the cute Dane at the Friday Bar.

This article is a list of language schools. If you need tips on how to learn Danish, read the guide here.

Newcomers to Denmark used to be able to learn Danish for free. In Copenhagen, around 12.000 foreign citizens benefits from government-funded lessons each year. Unfortunately, a new tax-agreement means that international students, workers and self-supporting foreigners will now have to pay for their own Danish lessons. Luckily there is still plenty of places to learn the tongue-twisting language, for those who are interested in having a couple of Danish phrases in their pocket for daily conversations in class, or maybe for picking up that cute Dane at the Friday Bar. Here is a student’s guide to Danish lessons in Copenhagen:

 

Public Language Schools

Two Language Education Centres, ‘CLAVIS sprog og kompetence‘ and ‘UCplus‘ have won the tender bid for government-subsidized Danish classes. As a student at KU, you are eligible for subsidized Danish classes (up to 3.5 years of education within a 5-year period) and you will receive a referral letter from the City of Copenhagen after your CPR registration. Upon receipt of the letter, you have 30 days to contact one of the centers to sign up for classes.

How it works? The 3.5 years of Danish education is comprised of 6 modules, roughly corresponding to levels A1-C2 in the CEFR framework. As a student at KU, you will be taking the ‘Danish language course 3’ (Danish 3), which is designed for students with more than 12 years of schooling. Note that the expected duration for completing each module is different. It will take 2 months to complete Module 1 (level A1), while it will take 5 months to complete Module 2 (level C1), for example.

Costs: A user payment of DKK 2,000 for each module started, and a deposit (refundable upon passing of the module test) of DKK 1,250 for each module started.

 

Private Language Schools

The following 5 private language schools (sprogcenter) provide Danish 3 classes for international students with or without a CPR number in Copenhagen. They are ranked from cheapest to most expensive on an hourly basis, and you can also check out their class sizes and when their next course starts.

IA Sprog

How it works? IA Sprog offers ‘Flexible’ Danish courses (meeting once a week) and ‘Intensive’ courses (meeting twice a week), as well as courses tailored to Scandinavians, German and Polish speakers. The courses are organised based on the official module system. However, not all modules or intensity levels are offered at the same time. Both the flexible and the more intensive class costs you the same per hour, but you have more lessons in the intensive module, rendering it more expensive.

Costs: Flexible Module 1: 1500 kr/12 weeks (2.5h/week) = 50 kr/hr.

Next course starts: November 28

*Books and online learning materials included.
*Not all modules cost the same.

Studieskolen

How it works? Studieskolen offers more class options in terms of intensity and meeting times. There are Danish for Scandinavians courses, as well as purely online courses. The courses are divided into six levels, each corresponding to the official module system. However, each level is divided into two courses, students must take both courses to complete a level.

Costs: Danish for beginners 1.1 and 1.2 (one level): 2900 kr/8 weeks (6.75h/week) = 53,7 kr/hr.

Next course starts: November 12

*Books and online learning materials included.
*Not all modules cost the same.
*Class size: 10-18.

Copenhagen Language Centre

How it works? Copenhagen Language Centre offers ‘Standard’ Danish courses which divide each module into two levels; intensive online Danish courses, Danish for Scandinavians courses, as well as courses focused on pronunciation and speaking. The courses are organised based on the official module system.

Costs: Beginner course one A1.1: 998 kr/6 weeks (3h/week) = 55,4 kr/hr.

Next course starts: November 12

*Course materials included, except textbooks which should be borrowed or bought.
*All modules cost the same regardless of level and difficulty.

Danskbureauet

How it works? Danskbureauet has a stronger focus on learning Danish fast and for immigration purposes. Hence it offers courses only up to level B2, and they are more exam-oriented. The centre claims to enable students pass the PD3 exam in 8 courses of 6 weeks each.

Costs: Direkte dansk 1 is 2980 kr/6 weeks (4h/week) = 124 kr/hr.

Next course starts: Depends on registration.

*Course materials not included.
*All modules cost the same regardless of level and difficulty.
*Class size: 6-8.

Copenhagen Danish Courses

How it works? Copenhagen Danish Courses is a smaller school focusing on teaching students with a secondary or tertiary level. However it only offers group classes for beginners, then students will have to proceed with private lessons or lessons focused on pronunciation or writing. The beginner’s course corresponds to the completion of Module 1.

Costs: Danish for Beginners is 5980 kr/4 weeks (8h/week) = 185 kr/hr.

Next course starts: November 26.

*Course materials included.
*Class size: maximum 7.

This article is a list of language schools. If you need tips on how to learn Danish, read the guide here.

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