{"id":171756,"date":"2025-01-06T10:10:16","date_gmt":"2025-01-06T09:10:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/sprogloeftet-sloejfes-fra-2025-det-vil-koste-paa-slutresultatet\/"},"modified":"2025-01-06T14:08:09","modified_gmt":"2025-01-06T13:08:09","slug":"denmark-to-stop-its-language-boost-will-affect-students-results","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/denmark-to-stop-its-language-boost-will-affect-students-results\/","title":{"rendered":"Denmark to stop its language boost: \u00bbWill affect students’ results\u00ab"},"content":{"rendered":"

A unanimous Danish parliament opted in 2021 to give a financial boost to universities’ language programmes. Three years later, and the funds have now run out. But there is no sign of further financial support.<\/p>\n

\u00bbLanguage provides access to knowledge, culture, and history, and is essential for Denmark\u2019s trade and cooperation with the world,\u00ab was the original justification<\/a> for the initiative, which aimed to make German and French language programmes more attractive.<\/p>\n

But despite protests from various stakeholders in the form of opinion pieces, and an open letter<\/a> from the DM trade union’s university section president Brian Arly to the Danish parliament, the language boost is not included in the new national budget.<\/p>\n

Kirsten Kragh, Deputy Head of the Department of English, Germanic and Romance Studies (ENGEROM) at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH), regrets the decision, and states that the funding has been invaluable for the programmes over the past three years.<\/p>\n

A much-needed boost<\/h3>\n

According to Kirsten Kragh, language studies are both demanding and complex. In addition to mastering a foreign language, students must also immerse themselves in the culture and literature associated with it.<\/p>\n

\n

40 million<\/p>\n

In 2021, the language boost funds were introduced to improve students’ skills in German and French. The initiative was based on a broad agreement involving all political parties in the Danish parliament.<\/p>\n

A total of DKK 40 million was allocated over three years to enhance the quality of language education across both universities and university colleges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u00bbIt takes many hours to learn a new language. Just like learning to play an instrument, language studies have a skill-based dimension. There haven\u2019t been sufficient resources to meet the actual need for language training,\u00ab says Kirsten Kragh, who believes the financial support was necessary.<\/p>\n

The funds were largely used to develop and test new teaching methods, she explains. Specifically, smaller class groups were created, and students received more language practice hours.<\/p>\n

Kirsten Kragh points out that students start their studies with very different language skills. Some have a background in the language from home, or have been on exchange programmes giving them a head start. Others come straight from secondary school.<\/p>\n

READ ALSO:<\/strong> German language studies accepted 23 new students in 2019 and that is far too few<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00bbIt\u2019s important that students with a secondary school language background can keep up. That\u2019s why it makes sense to introduce level-based group teaching, particularly at the start of the programme, where students now receive a four-week intensive language boost at the beginning of their studies,\u00ab says Kirsten Kragh.<\/p>\n

\u00bbThe smaller groups create a safe learning environment and strengthen the sense of community within the programme.\u00ab<\/p>\n

She adds that the funds have also been used to create a resource bank of learning materials to support students’ independent study. Additionally, all new students have been offered a tailored language school stay in Germany or France at the end of their first semester.<\/p>\n

How has it worked?<\/h3>\n

According to Kirsten Kragh, the language boost has already had a noticeable impact on students\u2019 evaluations of their studies.<\/p>\n

\u00bbIt has helped retain students and improved their academic confidence. In their evaluations, students report that they don\u2019t understand how they could have completed their studies without the extra language practice hours.\u00ab<\/p>\n

The initiative has also been well received by Kirsten Busch Nielsen, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH), and Maja Horst, Dean of Arts at Aarhus University. They write in an opinion piece in Altinget<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u00bbIt takes time to master a foreign language to a level that fosters connection, trust, and respect. Ongoing evaluations show that the temporary funds make a significant difference.\u00ab<\/p>\n

What happens now?<\/h3>\n

Asked about the consequences of the now-missing funds, Kirsten Kragh says:<\/p>\n

\u00bbThat\u2019s an important but difficult question to answer. I feel sorry for the students. I imagine it will affect their final results.\u00ab<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve been very vocal about how valuable the work funded by the initiative has been.<\/p>\n

Kirsten Kragh, Deputy Head of the Department of English, Germanic and Romance Studies<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u00bbWe are, of course, puzzled by the decision to discontinue the funding. We know it works. Naturally, we\u2019re exploring every option to maintain the initiatives. The positive experiences have been incorporated into the development of new study programmes, but it\u2019s a challenging situation to secure more teaching hours without additional funding.\u00ab<\/p>\n

READ ALSO:<\/strong> Death of languages continues: So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Kirsten Kragh acknowledges that the department can manage with fewer funds, partly because much of the language boost funding was used for developing new teaching methods. However, to ensure that the initiatives continue, additional financial support is needed.<\/p>\n

Could you have done more to secure the extension of the funds?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00bbWe\u2019ve been very vocal about how valuable the work funded by the initiative has been. We\u2019ve conducted evaluations, written articles, and held meetings with key figures in the system. So, I believe we\u2019ve done what we could. But the message has to reach the right people.\u00ab
\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Danish parliament allocated DKK 40 million to strengthen language programmes in 2021. 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A beautiful study environment motivates students to stay longer inside the University buildings, says management","caption":"","name":"03_-_rogvi_annes_sofie_maja_and_alexandra-1","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":171559,"date":"2017-01-19 08:15:58","modified":"2025-01-06 09:59:58","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":800,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/03_-_rogvi_annes_sofie_maja_and_alexandra-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/03_-_rogvi_annes_sofie_maja_and_alexandra-1-480x360.jpg","medium-width":480,"medium-height":360,"medium_large":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/03_-_rogvi_annes_sofie_maja_and_alexandra-1-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/03_-_rogvi_annes_sofie_maja_and_alexandra-1.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":600,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/03_-_rogvi_annes_sofie_maja_and_alexandra-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":600,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/03_-_rogvi_annes_sofie_maja_and_alexandra-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":600,"featured-soft":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/03_-_rogvi_annes_sofie_maja_and_alexandra-1-290x218.jpg","featured-soft-width":290,"featured-soft-height":218,"featured-hard":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/03_-_rogvi_annes_sofie_maja_and_alexandra-1-290x180.jpg","featured-hard-width":290,"featured-hard-height":180,"narrow":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/03_-_rogvi_annes_sofie_maja_and_alexandra-1-700x525.jpg","narrow-width":700,"narrow-height":525,"extended":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/03_-_rogvi_annes_sofie_maja_and_alexandra-1.jpg","extended-width":800,"extended-height":600}},"style":"extended","text_placement":"metadata-below","image_link_url":"","image_link_title":"","caption_prefix":"","enable_alternative_caption":true,"alternative_caption":"The boost to language funding has enabled the set-up of smaller class groups. Here students are seen at the ENGEROM library on South Campus."},{"acf_fc_layout":"Standfirst","subject":"Language crisis","text":"I 2021 besluttede et enigt Folketing at afs\u00e6tte 40 millioner kroner til at styrke sproguddannelserne i fransk og tysk. Midlerne er ikke blevet forl\u00e6nget p\u00e5 finansloven for 2025.","use_post_excerpt":true},{"acf_fc_layout":"Byline","is_author":true,"contributors":false},{"acf_fc_layout":"Content","content":"<p>A unanimous Danish parliament opted in 2021 to give a financial boost to universities’ language programmes. Three years later, and the funds have now run out. But there is no sign of further financial support.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbLanguage provides access to knowledge, culture, and history, and is essential for Denmark\u2019s trade and cooperation with the world,\u00ab was the original <a href=\"https:\/\/ufm.dk\/aktuelt\/pressemeddelelser\/2021\/politisk-flertal-vil-lofte-studerendes-evner-i-tysk-og-fransk\">justification<\/a> for the initiative, which aimed to make German and French language programmes more attractive.<\/p>\n<p>But despite protests from various stakeholders in the form of opinion pieces, and <a href=\"https:\/\/dm.dk\/nyheder\/2024\/dm-universitet-sprogfagene-skal-udvikles-ikke-afvikles\/\">an open letter<\/a> from the DM trade union’s university section president Brian Arly to the Danish parliament, the language boost is not included in the new national budget.<\/p>\n<p>Kirsten Kragh, Deputy Head of the Department of English, Germanic and Romance Studies (ENGEROM) at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH), regrets the decision, and states that the funding has been invaluable for the programmes over the past three years.<\/p>\n<h3>A much-needed boost<\/h3>\n<p>According to Kirsten Kragh, language studies are both demanding and complex. In addition to mastering a foreign language, students must also immerse themselves in the culture and literature associated with it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\">\n<p class=\"factbox-header feature-color\">40 million<\/p>\n<p>In 2021, the language boost funds were introduced to improve students’ skills in German and French. The initiative was based on a broad agreement involving all political parties in the Danish parliament.<\/p>\n<p>A total of DKK 40 million was allocated over three years to enhance the quality of language education across both universities and university colleges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u00bbIt takes many hours to learn a new language. Just like learning to play an instrument, language studies have a skill-based dimension. There haven\u2019t been sufficient resources to meet the actual need for language training,\u00ab says Kirsten Kragh, who believes the financial support was necessary.<\/p>\n<p>The funds were largely used to develop and test new teaching methods, she explains. Specifically, smaller class groups were created, and students received more language practice hours.<\/p>\n<p>Kirsten Kragh points out that students start their studies with very different language skills. Some have a background in the language from home, or have been on exchange programmes giving them a head start. Others come straight from secondary school.<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ ALSO:<\/strong> <em><a href=\"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/23-startede-paa-tysk-i-2019-og-det-er-alt-alt-for-faa\/\">German language studies accepted 23 new students in 2019 and that is far too few<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u00bbIt\u2019s important that students with a secondary school language background can keep up. That\u2019s why it makes sense to introduce level-based group teaching, particularly at the start of the programme, where students now receive a four-week intensive language boost at the beginning of their studies,\u00ab says Kirsten Kragh.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbThe smaller groups create a safe learning environment and strengthen the sense of community within the programme.\u00ab<\/p>\n<p>She adds that the funds have also been used to create a resource bank of learning materials to support students’ independent study. Additionally, all new students have been offered a tailored language school stay in Germany or France at the end of their first semester.<\/p>\n<h3>How has it worked?<\/h3>\n<p>According to Kirsten Kragh, the language boost has already had a noticeable impact on students\u2019 evaluations of their studies.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbIt has helped retain students and improved their academic confidence. In their evaluations, students report that they don\u2019t understand how they could have completed their studies without the extra language practice hours.\u00ab<\/p>\n<p>The initiative has also been well received by Kirsten Busch Nielsen, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH), and Maja Horst, Dean of Arts at Aarhus University. They write in an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.altinget.dk\/kultur\/artikel\/dekaner-sprogkrisen-truer-danmarks-internationale-position\">opinion piece in Altinget<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbIt takes time to master a foreign language to a level that fosters connection, trust, and respect. Ongoing evaluations show that the temporary funds make a significant difference.\u00ab<\/p>\n<h3>What happens now?<\/h3>\n<p>Asked about the consequences of the now-missing funds, Kirsten Kragh says:<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbThat\u2019s an important but difficult question to answer. I feel sorry for the students. I imagine it will affect their final results.\u00ab<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>We\u2019ve been very vocal about how valuable the work funded by the initiative has been.<\/p>\n<p class=\"quotee\">Kirsten Kragh, Deputy Head of the Department of English, Germanic and Romance Studies<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u00bbWe are, of course, puzzled by the decision to discontinue the funding. We know it works. Naturally, we\u2019re exploring every option to maintain the initiatives. The positive experiences have been incorporated into the development of new study programmes, but it\u2019s a challenging situation to secure more teaching hours without additional funding.\u00ab<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ ALSO:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/death-of-languages-continues-so-long-farewell-auf-wiedersehen-adieu\/\"><em>Death of languages continues: So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Kirsten Kragh acknowledges that the department can manage with fewer funds, partly because much of the language boost funding was used for developing new teaching methods. However, to ensure that the initiatives continue, additional financial support is needed.<\/p>\n<p><em>Could you have done more to secure the extension of the funds?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u00bbWe\u2019ve been very vocal about how valuable the work funded by the initiative has been. We\u2019ve conducted evaluations, written articles, and held meetings with key figures in the system. So, I believe we\u2019ve done what we could. But the message has to reach the right people.\u00ab<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"ArticleEnd"},{"acf_fc_layout":"Newsletter","lang_select":"en","identifier":"Newsletter","headline":"Get an email with our top stories","button_text":"Sign up here","class":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"OtherStories","headline":"","hand_picked_posts":false,"references":false,"category":false,"theme":false,"number_of_posts":"4","style":"default"}]},"taxonomyData":{"category":[{"term_id":42,"name":"Education","slug":"education","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":42,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":661,"filter":"raw"}],"post_tag":[{"term_id":773,"name":"Finanslov","slug":"finanslov-en","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":773,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":7568,"name":"finanslov 2025","slug":"finanslov-2025-en","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":7568,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":7569,"name":"germansk og romanske sprog","slug":"germansk-og-romanske-sprog-en","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":7569,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":176,"name":"Sprogd\u00f8d","slug":"sprogdoed-en","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":176,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":4,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":7570,"name":"sprogl\u00f8ftemidler","slug":"sprogloeftemidler-en","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":7570,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":7571,"name":"uddannelsespolitk","slug":"uddannelsespolitk-en","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":7571,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"}],"post_format":[],"expression":[{"term_id":15,"name":"News Article","slug":"news_article","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":15,"taxonomy":"expression","description":"","parent":0,"count":11488,"filter":"raw"}],"translation_priority":[{"term_id":5468,"name":"Optional","slug":"optional-en","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5468,"taxonomy":"translation_priority","description":"","parent":0,"count":672,"filter":"raw"}]},"featured_media_url":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/03_-_rogvi_annes_sofie_maja_and_alexandra-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171756","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=171756"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171756\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":171770,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171756\/revisions\/171770"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/171569"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=171756"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=171756"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=171756"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}