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Most exchange students find the Danes very relaxed and easygoing but you should not let this fool you - we do have a temper. You will find a lot of things different from what you are used to and it is most important that you do your best to adapt. Danish teenagers have a lot of freedom. Your host parents will therefore expect you to be a responsible person who can make sensible decisions. They will also expect you to keep your word and prove trustworthy.
Try to speak Danish! Try again and again - and keep trying. You will probably feel that the Danes are trying to make fun of you - and they will! They will ask you to say "rødgrød med fløde" and they will roll around laughing as you try. Think of the most difficult sentence in your own language - and ask them to say it once they have stopped laughing. Afterwards they will certainly not be laughing at you but with you. Nobody will expect you to speak perfect Danish but you will be admired for trying to get by. And you will have good reason to be proud of yourself when you get the hang of this difficult language!
Be prepared for sarcasm. Most Danes tend to be rather sarcastic and we are very fond of irony so don't be offended and don't think that Danes mean every word they say as it may sound to you. You may think that you are being insulted but it could just be the Danish sarcasm - ask if you are in doubt rather than be offended for no reason.
Your sense of humor will be put to the test - and you will need a sense of humor. Smile and be happy! In some situations this is easier said than done, but do try. No matter how difficult you might find life in Denmark remember this: As an exchange student you have not received a life sentence - you have been given every possibility to have a fantastic cultural experience. Take the opportunity and make the most of it!!
Danish "Gymnasium " begins in August and ends in the middle of June. Students either go to a regular gymnasium or they can choose a business school, better known as HH. Students have around 30 hours a week of classes, which are completed between Monday and Friday.
During the school year there will be an autumn break, usually in the middle of October and students also have free time around Christmas and New Year. Furthermore there is also the Easter Break. Students normally stay with their host families during these vacations.
In Denmark, it is the gymnasium's principal or a guidance counselor/class teacher assigned to the student, who decides which classes our exchange students will be placed in, as well as which school year they will attend. Most of our students are placed in 2.G, the second year of Gymnasium. There are a total of 3 years in Gymnasium. From August 2005 there will be a gymnasium reform which means that the normal structure of the gymnasium is being changed. It will not affect the students placed in 2.G but it will affect the students in 1.G. For the 2.G students there will still be two different directions for the student to choose from, the modern/language direction and the science/math direction. Both directions have classes in English, Danish, History, Religion, Geography, Biology and Physical Education and one other foreign language.For the students being affected by the reform the structure will be different.The students will have several mandatory courses like Danish, English, History, Religion, a second foreign language, Math, Physics, Physical Education, Art etc. There are also 2-3 optional courses. At the business school the courses are more business oriented, like business law, business economy but also regular classes like Danish, Math, a foreign language etc. There are also some optional courses. The Gymnasium years are for most youngsters the best time of their lives, where lots of friends are made. Very often the Gymnasium arrange parties in the hopes of involving students with one another outside of classes. This usually occurs on a monthly basis.
It is not expected that our students can fully participate in their classes in the beginning, however, it is expected that our students attend their classes. Not only does it help them meet the others in the class, it also puts them in an environment where Danish is the only language spoken. Teachers do expect you to make an effort to learn Danish.
At school it is important that you do not sit back and wait for your classmates to approach you. Don't be shy - talk to them, ask them about the subjects at school, ask them for help with your homework, ask them home (pre-cleared with your host family, of course). They may seem very reserved at first, but you will find that it is mostly due to their (in their own opinion) lack of language skills. They might be shy when having to speak English. Try to explain to them that their English is much better than your Danish. You will find that once you get Danes to talk they are really very friendly and open and ready to get to know you. Most Danes are in fact fairly good at speaking English and some students also speak another foreign language like German, French or Spanish.
Don't think that your teachers dislike you if they don't seem to talk to you. Remember that they have a limited number of lessons to teach their subjects to a bunch of Danish students. Thus, they are not likely to have time to translate everything for you. You might find it a little boring in the beginning just sitting there at school not understanding half of what is going on. This is why it is so important for you to learn the language quickly!
Your class teacher is there to help you. It may appear that they do not have time during their classes to help you. However, if you put in an effort to speak Danish, show up to class, try to do your homework and show your eagerness to fit in, you will find that your teachers will be there to support and help you.
Communication is essential to a healthy student/host family relationship. Whether discussing a discovery about cultural differences, a problem, or a positive event of the day, the bonds of mutual trust and affection strengthen when the student communicates openly and freely with the family. With communication and time, the student truly becomes a "member of the family".
Rules apply in Danish homes and they are to be adhered to. It is true that Danish youngsters have more freedom than most at their age, however, it is expected that parents know where their children are and to have an idea about when they will be home. The same is expected of exchange students. Children receive respect from their parents, however, it is a two-way street. They do not abuse their privileges.
Most Danish teenagers are used to organizing their spare time on their own. They are independent and decide for themselves what they do after school. It is very important that you do not sit back and wait for your host family to plan your spare time activities - that is not the way it is done in this country. The host family will, of course, assist you but you must show some initiative and come up with suggestions.
Please be prepared to get to know a new culture and be willing to accept another way of thinking. Each family is different so it is important for the exchange student not to compare the host family to their natural family.
Students are strongly urged to become involved in extra-curricular activities outside of school such as sports, clubs, social events, art, music, or drama as long as these activities do not interfere with their academic process. Danish courses are usually offered by the local community, and are a great way to meet others whom are trying to learn this difficult language. Whereas in many countries, extra-curricular activities are tied to the school, in Denmark these activities are outside of the school arena. In many cases, it can be some friends that start up a club or the local community offers classes.
ETC's partner arranges four trips during the year programme - one to Copenhagen, one to Århus (the next biggest city in Denmark) and one to Odense, where Hans Christian Anderssen was born.
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