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Meet Seungmi Nam from South Korea

Two years ago, Seungmi moved with her family from South Korea to Denmark. Seungmi’s husband had gotten a job in Denmark and Seungmi wanted one too. To improve her job prospects, she started Speak, where she has been studying Danish for 1½ years now. Recently, Seungmi got her dream job as a project manager at DTU.

Learning Danish is essential

The code to the Danish language

At DTU, there are many international colleagues and the working language is English. Nevertheless, it has been essential for Seungmi to learn Danish. “Most of my close colleagues are Danish and it’s a huge advantage to be able to speak Danish with them, for example during lunch breaks,” says Seungmi. “It’s definitely easier to become part of the community because I know the language. I can also feel that it’s nice for my colleagues that we can hold meetings in Danish.

When you come from a completely different part of the world, the Danish language is not easy. The grammar and pronunciation are so fundamentally different that it requires a lot of effort. But, according to Seungmi, the teachers at Speak have been really good and patient. – I’ve had several teachers and they have all been so kind, professional and, last but not least, patient. Thanks to them, I have gradually cracked the code of the Danish language and I am improving day by day.

Speak is more than a language

Even though Seungmi has a job, she still attends classes at Speak to improve her language and knowledge of Danish culture. As there are many different class options, the classes fit in well with her daily routines with work and children – “During the course, we also learn a lot about Danish society, for example about culture, food and politics.

In addition to her Danish course, Seungmi also attends a ‘language club’ with her classmates every Wednesday, where she speaks Danish more informally and prepares for her classes.

The Danish language opens doors

Seungmi has found that it’s harder to connect with other people when she speaks English – it’s a barrier. Speaking Danish has also been an advantage in her personal life: “For me, it’s important to be able to talk to my children’s classmates, their parents and the teachers at school. I feel that it opens doors for me and my family. Our future is here in Denmark, so of course we have to learn to speak Danish.

3 tips from Seungmi for others who want to learn Danish fast

  • Watch Danish series

    There are plenty of great Danish TV series with subtitles. They can help you learn the language and culture faster. The TV series “Borgen” is really good.

  • Don’t be afraid to speak Danish

    If you’re not completely fluent, speaking Danish with your neighbours can be overwhelming. But do it anyway – the more you speak, the faster you’ll learn.

  • Watch the news on DR

    You can subscribe to the daily news broadcast every day from DR. It’s a great way to keep up with what’s happening while also getting to know the Danish language better.