Danish vs American Schools (Part 1) / American in Denmark / Education Review
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- Опубликовано: 23 июл 2024
- #danisheducation #americaneducation #danishvsamericanschools
Hi! I'm Kelly, an American (ex-teacher) living in a small town in Denmark with my Danish husband and our two school-age boys. In this video, I will share with you my thoughts on Danish vs American schools from my point-of-view as a person who has taught and studied in both countries.
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My Thoughts on my 1st Semester as a Student Abroad ( • Study in Denmark / Fir... )
Danish versus International Schools: Pros and Cons (www.mynewdanishlife.com/an-ex...)
Danish Holidays from Work and School (www.mynewdanishlife.com/an-ex...)
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I went to a private 'gymnasium' (so high school equivalent, more or less), and it was very much on the conservative side for Denmark. There wasn't an official dress code, but when my male friend decided to wear a kilt one day (mid naughties metal fan), he got called to the headmaster's office and was asked to never do that again. A good chunk of the guys in the school, as a reaction to this, borrowed skirts from us girls, and the next day they were wearing them. Not kilt, outright skirts, most of them mini, no tights and hairy thighs all over the place. I tend to think this kind of mentality is why Danish schools don't have dress codes. We tend to be pretty good at doing civil disobedience right.
What was the school called
Fed reaktion.
Hvorfor skulle det også være et problem at have en kilt på?
Unless things has changed a lot since i went to school in Denmark, they'll get more homework when they get older. I personally don't remember ever having a teacher, that didn't give homework!
Because of the reform with the longer schooldays our school has almost gotten rid of homework - and I know it’s the same at other schools nearby.
kun i folkeskolen ikke gymnasiet
We dont really get homework more in schools, not the same way as before at least
My mon is psychologists who works with kids in school and how they learn. Although this not why I'm saying there has been studies made it's actually a very good thing with no homework it made the grades go in the 8th and 9th classes, they have done the same thing in some gymnasiums with same result.. all the best luck to you
My mom is a big advocate for having to teachers in each class instead of longer days. Then the kids who need a bit more help with each question can move along. It also good the good kids.
When I went to school, the teachers dress code (in Denmark) was:
Beard
Glasses
Pipe
Semi-long hair
Sandals (with socks)
Washed jeans(cut in summertime) OR “blue collar workers pants” of the brand Canvas (or something)
A purple overwashed T-shirt.
And pretty much the same for the male teachers... :-)
Federico Decara really I didn’t see my teacher have that kind of clothes tho
😂😂😂 👌
Hold up
You forgot the most obligatory accessory: A Fjällräven backpack ;-)
lol :)
As a Danish mom to a 4th grad Girl on private School and a little bit of teaching experience:
homework is often if they haven’t been concentrated in school - they have time to do it i School.
We have to read 15-20min every day and practise spelling of difficult words once a month.
We usually have a School meeting about the social element in the fall and about their skills in the spring. If there are "problems" the School will contact us.
The Danish mentality is not as competitive as in the US.
(perhaps because of the welfare state and the equality of the population🤷🏽♀️.)
So children are children and they have to build social skills through play and non-school related experiences and learning.
We dont test them before 8th grade to prevent splitting them into groups according to their skills.
We have a lot of group work both because it’s more fun for the children but the main reason is that they learn to cooperate and listen to other children they disagree with. This is a very importent skill when they continue in higher education and in their future work life.
“Despite” this the Danes are ranked high in the most educated populations in the world.
And have in mind that this is a scandinavian thing. Like many of your other considerations of Denmark and the Danes. (which I love)
Sorry for the loooooong comment. ☺️
I loved your long comment. It is great to hear your point of view. Thanks for sharing! :)
I grew up in Denmark and did grades 0 through 9 in Denmark. Then I went to the US as an exchange student. By far the biggest difference I experienced was the lack of a core "group" that you study with in the US. In DK you are assigned to a "class" of twenty-something students when you are enrolled and you typical stay with this group throughout your years at that school. You do the vast majority of your classes with this group and develop a strong bond with the others. The group also has it's own "base" room that they are taught in for most subjects, so the teachers will go to the students' room and teach there. In the US I went to a highschool with over a thousand students and each period I was with a different group of students and in a different classroom. Here the teacher has a "base" room and the students go there to be taught.
The US way provides a lot more flexibility in picking subjects to suit your preferences and skills as a student, but I really missed the social aspect of belonging to a tightly knit group while I was in the US.
So interesting! I love hearing your perspective as a mom and teacher!!
I think it’s a good think we in Denmark don’t give children in the small class’s grades. I know that grades can give a big pressure on teenagers. Good video!
Grading student is as much about grading the teachers.
In some countries, teacher are called in to have improvement meeting with teaching consulents.
Manny misunderstand the grading of children. It more a grading the quality of teaching.
That is exactly what the national test in Denmark is about.
Now it has it dis advantages as well.
Young student are not equally ready to learn different subject st the same time.
The constant testing og the teacher, mean the can focus the teaching, where the groups of children is current motivated.
You have to following the teaching plans, or you will fail you test through your students.
As a teacher in Denmark I can say that kids do get homework. Although it’s up the the teacher to determine how much or any. Some teacher prefer not to give the kids homework. Homework can also be like you said read every day or using math programs for 30 mins each week. So homework becomes more of doing something extra. I tend not to give homework ( in the lower grades) unless some students don’t do enough in the session then they might have to finish it at home. Some schools also have special session where the kids can do their homework with the help of a teacher.
I'm Dutch and the idea that teachers often can't wear jeans in the US or that pupils can't have holes in their pants is mind-blowing to me. It also sounds like a difficult situation for poor families or families that are a bit frugal/environmentally conscious. I want to wear my clothes as long as I can for the environment. So a little hole here and there doesn't bother me. I also have thunder thighs. All my jeans will get a hole in them from friction in just a few months.
OMG no homework :-O wish it was this way when I went to school (in Denmark). When I went to school there was a lot of homework :-/ .
The last part of folkeskolen is called udskolingen, as far as I remember. Which means something like out schooling, since they should prepare you for leaving the primary school system (I think).
@Stine Jensen I do agree that there is a lot of studying when you get to be teenagers. I wish you well in your studies! :)
@Stine Jensen sub fellow ninener
Im danish and we are still getting homework, so that is not true :)
Thank you, you always make me smile when i watch your videos. You have so good energy and it pompes me with good energy too, keep your posetive energy everytime you upload, its so awesome!! Thank you again! :-)
This was interesting - cant wait for part II
I went to the US in TN for a year, and i absolutely hated callin my teachers mr. mrs. ms. or coach. I even asked them all not to tell me their first name so i wouldn't mess up, but one teacher thought it was 'nonesense' (with a laugh) and told me her first name, which I ended up continually calling her. I did know beforehand that that is what is expected of a student, and have always been raised to adapt to the country you're visiting. But i felt like there was such a huge gap between me and my teachers in the states, that to me seemed like i wasn't supposed to talk to the adults, because i felt so segregated from them. I know it has a lot to do with me coming from DK, but I did have a few teavhers were i felt they loved the feeling of superiority, which made me really dislike them.
Obviously you felt "segregated" from them since we have moved to a point of using first names and "du", instead of last names and "De", that when you use the formal it's one of 3 reasons, you're having fun with someone really close, you're speaking with the royals, or you're distancing yourself from someone. As in "I don't really want to have anything to do with you, but I am forced to." That's become the meaning of using the formal. So while someone not used to the danish way might mean to be polite by using the formal, they're actually being contemptuous. It'll throw most people off.
@@vrenak I think that is a very 70's way of looking at manners and civility, at any type of formality. Then it was said that it created a fake barrier between people, and we should all be natural with each other. However, any society needs to have social rules and boundaries that people respect. We don't really want people's unvarnished natural behavior all the time, but for them to have a sense of self discipline. To be able to behave themselves publicly, to be able to be nice and and polite, even if they internally may think something else. That doesn't mean that norms can't change, and that what was considered impolite is now considered less so. So the norm of addressing adults by their first name is by now so widely done, that no matter why it was started, it is bound to just feel awkward and imposingly formal for anyone who did not grow up with it. It will be the same for someone experiencing the reverse, those who have grown up with all of it as a matter of course, will also find it somewhat awkward since to them being on a first name basis can feel like disrespect. For example, I wouldn't expect to use anyone's first name in Japan unless they absolutely insisted.
Big thanks for a interesting answer❤️❤️
My daughter is in a private school and have always had a decent amount of homework. We picked a private school for her, because she needed a little more attention and freedom to be a bit different(she's hyper sensitive)
My fiancé is a teacher in public school and assigns homework to his students too, but they do have the time to do it at school(though it's not currently the ideal setup and environment for it)
Younger students don't get graded because the focus isn't on academic performance, but age appropriate development, social skills, willingness to learn in different ways and building a good foundation for education when they're older. Parent/teacher conference will let you know if your kids need extra help in any subjects or personal development, or they will contact you via the schools online system if anything urgent arise. Or call if needed.
We don't have dress code because it isn't needed. Nobody sexualises kids, boys don't get too distracted to learn by girls shoulders or bare legs, and there isn't that big of a gap in social status that clothes is an issue. Same thing for teachers.
Should also mention that sex Ed starts rather early in most schools(usually in week 6 every year). They learn basic anatomy around 5-6 grade, the reproductive process in grade 6-7, and finally 8-9 graders learn about hormones, stds, condoms and staying safe.
This is important because age of concent is 16 and we have a very low teen pregnancy rate as a result of proper education.
I am very happy with our school system, even if it can be improved upon 😊
Hello Kelly. I really enjoy watching your videos and learning more about America as well as your experience here in Denmark. I'm 22 years old and are studying law at Aalborg university. I've always had a lot of homework all throughout my school years, when I went to folkeskole, so that is really surprising to me, that you're saying that your kid in 3. grade doesn't get homework :) I know that there's been (and still are) a lot of debate surrounding grades and testing in the schools because of the added stress and pressure added to the children, but I haven't heard of not giving the children homework.
I’m 52 now and until 10th grade I would also say “mr”, “mrs” and “ms” to my teachers and I remember clearly when I had new teachers in 10 th grade who were younger I went to use their first name which was a big relief. My old teachers were much colder and I didn’t like the distance “mr” etc gave.
Enjoying your channel! I lived in Copenhagen for three years back in the early 80s, when I was in high school. I attended a unique school that had one side that was Danish, and another side that was international and taught in English. I was in the international school, but the Danish language was a part of our curriculum.
I work at a danish folkeskole, and at my school the children start getting actual homework in 4th grade. In indskolingen they will only have homework, if they did not finish the tasks that they were working on in class or if their teacher requires them to read 20 minutes every day.
Having a kid in grade 4, I can tell you that it is not true that they don't have homework. There is a big question here in regards to parent involvement, in the sense that e.g. they have math exercises, they are allowed time in school to finish them, and if they don't manage to, they have to finish them at home. Furthermore, the kids are suggested to read 20 mins or more each day at home. That means that as a parent, you do actually have the opportunity to gauge the kids skills. The kid has also just started receiving homework which is "family style" homework, where the emphasis is on completing the homework as a family to help build the vocabulary around the subject. The actual exercise is not difficult, but will be formulated in such a way that it inspires conversation.
im a 7 grader and we have homework so dont know what school your kid goes to
and i got homwork from 3th grade and up
There is private schools in Denmark that has school uniforms, rest of the schools in Denmark does not have any dresscode as far as I know though. Most schools in Denmark give out homework when they move up 4th or 5th (don't exactly remember) and then start to get grades around 7-8th grade. Some schools in Denmark does not give out homework but they will do more tests to see how they are doing.
About the time I was in 8th-9th grade there came a new law or something that included that homework was something that can be done at school before they are home, but even through that it will depend on the school and grade you're in.
I always had homework - I’m a Dane :) Maybe it comes when they get older, at least from 4-5 grade, we had homework 📚
Im in 5th grade in denmark right now and we dont have that much homework
As I mentioned in my comment, the schools/politicians are always changing their minds.......one day they will get it right (?)
I am a teacher in denmark. the no homwork, is because the schoolday have gotten longer and you now have time in school to do your homwork and get help from a teacher while you do it.
@@navaranahertzum-hendriksen4594
But now they are questioning the long days (again). I remember the teacher protests. Do the long days work for you, at your school ?
@@icecave89 personally i think that it is too long, especially in the lower classes, where you can literally feel the energy and concentration leaving the students as the day progresses. but hey, nobody asked me i just live with the consequences.
Today I learned: Ms. Kelly was a German teacher! (Didn't know that before). I took German in High School for 4 years. And only recently began learning Danish. So, cool! Also, listening to the structure of the Danish schools, it sounds very similar to what we call "block scheduling" here in the US. I remember it went like this... Moday, Wednesday, Friday were all same classes at the same times, then Tuesday, Thursday were a different set. And it flip flopped the next week with the T R classes being M W F and the M W F classes being T R. I know its maybe not the same there, but it does sound very similar! Thanks for sharing! I Always look forward to your videos!
The only place I know that has a school uniform has been Herlufholm. Maybe some of the other fancy private schools do too but I somewhat doubt it.
one thing that I think is VERY different is that my school (I don’t know if other schools do but) we have something called “venskabsven” which is that when you reach 5th grade you get a “friend” from 0th who just started school. So you will play with them and maybe do class activities with them but that’s until 9th grade of course.
I teach, among other things, English in a 6th grade at the moment.
I will have them watch this video at some point, as it is very educational.
I feel that the reason that we use first names when addressing teachers is because we are of a culture where deference is either looked down upon or just disregarded (my personal upbringing (27 y.o.) was influenced by the philosophy that kids should not be talked down to, and therefore are respected; sure adults and kids know (and are taught) that something isn't up for debate, but some are.
Interesting video = )! I am a young Danish guy and probably not going to be the only Dane to watch this as we tend to absorb this type of content from what i've seen.
I certainly remember a few things differently but my mind is also set on 7th-10th grade and above since that was the years that really started to matter in school for many different reasons. With my mother being a teacher for kids between the age of 12-16 and my stepdad teaching the slightly older crowd between 17-21 I definitely hear more to those stories than the lower grades your kids are going through.
Hope it turns out well = ) and thanks for the video.
It's nice to seeing another person's point of view regarding this topic, because I've always wondered when I was younger. I'm a Dane and I've been at a boarding school where we had uniforms, primarly oversized sweaters, t-shirts and polo shirts, long pants and jackets with our name tagged on every piece. The school does no longer exist, sadly, but it was called Sydlangelands Maritime Efterskole. There is one private school called Herlufsholm skole & kostskole where they still practice school uniforms - it's both a boarding school and a regular school in Næstved
Wait.. In American high school schedules are the same every day? So they have EVERY SUBJECT every day? How does that fit? In my school (in the Netherlands as I've said in my previous comment) we had PE for two blocks for two times a week in the first years of secondary education (age 12-14), once a week for two blocks in the third year and zero blocks in the last three years. I can't imagine having to do one block of PE every school day in those first three years. We also had music once a week for one or two 45-minute blocks in those first years and technique for two blocks once a week in the first year. There wouldn't be enough time left for the subjects that are generally deemed more important in our education system such as Dutch, math, English, history, Latin/ancient Greek (gymnasium), French (or Spanish), German, physics/chemistry (often combined in the first one or two or three years), biology, and geography. If ALL these subjects had to be followed every day it would be a crazy busy week!
Anna133199 There might be a full year of biology then the next year would be chemistry and the after that would be physics. If you do all three over the course of three years then it would be pretty much the same kind of thing. music classes that we have in the USA are also musical theory which means they learn more about music and composers in certain time than just playing music in class. They also practice to perform concerts and perform in parades. There’s a lot to it.
There is homework in danish. It just depends on the student if they do the work at school and get it gone
Hi, I go to a Danish school. At the school I went to we had homework. But it Depends on what lessons you have and how much you get to get done in class
As far to my knowledge, Herlufholm is the only school requiring school uniform here in Denmark.
That's was the bording school I was thinking of, that use school uniform in Denmark.
As far as I know, they might be the only ones.
I went to a private charter school and we didn't have a school uniform either.
Sorø akademi has it too put its optional
The international School in Ikast uses uniforms as well.
In on a private school, where we need school uniform.
I’m a Dane, 19 years old.
I’ve always had homework, and I started getting grades by grade 3. This ‘no homework’ rule is part of the new school reform. Its really new. It began when I was in 8th grade I think? But most teachers didn’t oblige to the new rules. It’s nice to see that it’s working properly now.
Well, they also did add the "Lektiecafé" as part of the day, which is pretty much about getting homework rounded up.
In my time (I'm 32 btw), homework was more implied than actually given... Apart from "read page X to Y in a book" kind of stuff, it was more about completing what you didn't manage to do during the day.
There's still no rule against homework, but it has become more structured in when and what you have the kids take home - the main reason being that parents either lack the knowledge or the time to help their kids with homework....
In fact much of the school curriculum has become much more difficult over the years. In 7th grade, we actually had a "for fun" exercise as part of a larger group, where we had to to a 9th grade test from the 70's vs a modern one, using the grading parameters from each "era" - almost everyone aced the 70's test with the remainder still getting high grades, while the spectrum of the modern test was more spread out...
They don't have homework today? I always had homework, never really did it though, unless it was a hand in assignment.
I go to a danish puplic school and we have kind of a dresscode were we cant show our belly button or the bottom or side of our bra bra straps are allowed tho once a girl got sent home to change cause she was wearing a crop top
Hum, enjoy your videos.
Background, 36years as an American Expat, no kids, but one of my best friends is a teacher with 2 school age kids I've watched grow up. Both go to private schools by choice. After 36years I see that the Danish public Schools are almost always in a state of change. They experiment and they are not finished.
When I went to High School in the 60s, jeans were not allowed in school at all for any students or teacher. Girls could not wear pants, only skirts or dresses.
Dress code are more of a thing in gymnasium Galla. I graduated Gymnasium (Høje-Taastrup Gymnasium (HTG)) last summer, but we were told that some schools, not all, have a different dress code for the 1st years, 2nd years, and graduates. Some schools forbid the 1st years to wear too fancy clothes at the Galla, since it’s the graduates’ night, while the 2nd years have the same rules but with more flexibility.
In Denmark most homework is delivered to the students online by an app. no regard of age, the teachers decide what to give them in the app. Called Forældreintra and elevintra.
I have two decades of Danish schooling. I began in "børnehaveklasse" (it was called that back then and not "0. klasse" - hate that word) in 1986. We only had one teacher in børnehaveklassen and she taught every class we had. It wasn't until 1st grade, we had more than one teacher. And it wasn't until 1st grade, we've got our "klasselærer". Does the American system have "klasselærere"?
Even back then, we were on a first name basis with our teachers/professors. We we're also "Dus" instead of "Des" (T-V distinction). It has been that way for me all the way since 1986; preschool, elementary school, middle school, high school, university - even in the military.
Regarding "Kristendom" - it's usually taught during indskolingen (1st-3rd grade) and mellemtrinet (4th-6th grade) and are mostly about Christianity, since the country and constitution are founded on that. In udskolingen (7th-9th grade) it changes name to "Religion" and it starts to include other religions than Christianity. The teachers are allowed to teach about religions, but not to preach religion. A student or his parents can request for the student to be exempted from kristendom/religion.
If course the school don't decide what students or teachers wear. It's called freedom.
I had homework every day. My kids had homework every day. If there's no homework, they changed it the last 6 or 7 years.
Yes they did, it was part the reform, made by the former S regering. Aprox 6 years ago.
@@martin_hansen didn't know that. That really suck.
Honestly i think it is about cultural considerations more than anything. Im american but my impression of danish school is that it is like going to a super white, mono-cultural school. Everyone sort of thinks the same and reacts the same so u dont have to establish baseline rules so that people feel respected
@@maddencd well, that shows that you're American, not knowing anything about the rest of the world. There is nothing mono- cultural about Danish school or Denmark. The greatest difference between Danish and American school is, that we actually learn something.
I had homework from 0kl to 5kl, and the only reason it stopped is because i moved school. And in my new school i have never gotten ANY homework, only if i ask for some.
I think they start getting grades in like 8th grade in Denmark?
Thank you so much - as an American girl looking to start a family in Denmark, this is exactly what I was looking for!
I also wanted to add that, for me, growing up in public American schools - kindergarten through undergraduate - my teachers/professors never had a dress code. One of the best teachers I ever had was a high school chemistry teacher who would never be seen without his classic jeans-and-university-sweatshirt look! Granted, I grew up in Washington state, which is very influenced by its Scandinavian roots, so maybe the Danish way of thinking influenced our school system...
After finishing folkeskole I went to the US as an exchange student.
Seeing as all my days in school would be exactly the same, I tried to choose classes both familiar and new. English and american history were mandatory classes, but the other 4 I got to choose my self: PE, german, choir and spanish. I had never taken a spanish class before, but figured it would be interesting.
In High School I had 5 spanish lessons a week, all 55 minutes long. When I came back to Denmark I started gymnasium and here I also chose spanish. Here, I had 3 classes a week, all 45 minutes. When we reached the Christmas break in my danish gymnasium, we had been through all the same material, as I spent an entire school year i the US learning. 275 minutes/week vs. 135 minutes/week.
That’s when I realised, that High School does in no way compare to gymnasium. High School is more similar to 8th, 9th and 10th grade i Denmark. Your kids will learn so much more in a Danish folkeskole than their American peers who go to school the same amount of years. And if they are curious children who like to learn, they will LOVE it.
Thank you for all your wonderful videos ❤️🇩🇰🇺🇸
There is one School called Herlufsholm and its a bordingschool. They were uniforms but i haven’t Heard of any other schools
Hi Kelly.
im Claus and i study at the free teaching college here in Denmark and just wanted to elaborate on the thing about no test and exams in the first 7 years of school.
It is mostly because of a cultural and historical focus on the term 'dannelse' which is somewhat unique to Denmark. the founding of this focus comes from two guys in the 19th century called N.S.F Grundtvig and Christen Kold. A short recap: from the first høj- and friskole started the cultural change towards a national idea of education and dannelse as a necessary means to move into the future. dannelse is about preparing you to meet the world emotionally, philosophically, with moral, skills and competences. the reason why grades are left for later is to give space and focus on the social skills, emotional language, confidence and training to be empathic, have tollerance and resillience. A high focus on performance and end results rather than the process of learning and failing can sometimes give students a narrow perception of succes. which is more often the case in lower grades.
links for further information. (in Danish)
natmus.dk/historisk-viden/danmark/nationalstaten-1848-1915/faedreland-og-folkeliv/hoejskolebevaegelsen/
danmarkshistorien.dk/leksikon-og-kilder/vis/materiale/nicolai-frederik-severin-grundtvig-1783-1872/
denstoredanske.dk/Dansk_Biografisk_Leksikon/Uddannelse_og_undervisning/H%C3%B8jskoleforstander/Christen_Kold
We also didn't have grades till I was 9 (not Danish) and there were no issues later on. At the end of elementary, the was nationwide testing, as well as the end of high school. We learned to read, calculate, a bit of geography...before getting "serious" grades.
In denmark, i know atleast one School have a dress Code, but it’s a private School, so some private schools have dress codes, but i havent heard of a student rule book, and there is homework, and a lot in the older classes, the same with grades, you start getting grades in like 8 grade or 9 grade.
Did you find it distracting / just extra work needing to check clothes?
When I started in 1st grade in 1965, the teachers were all mrs. or mr. last name. I never learned the first name of our "class teacher", that is the one who taught us Danish, even though she was the teacher I saw most for 6 years. We knew the first name of most of the others, but we never used them, either when speaking to or about the teacher.
In 5th grade we got a new arithmetic teacher. He wanted to be called Kasper, which was not actually his first name. His last name was Kaspersen. We also said "du" to him (vide infra).
In 7th grade, after our first Danish teacher moved away, our new teacher wanted to be called by his first name. We did know his last name, but we did not use it.
In the gymnasium, most teachers wanted to be called by their first name, though a few of the older ones prefered last name. This was 1975-78.
Today "de", the formal you, has all but disappeared from Danish. Prince Joachim objects to journalists saying "du" to him, the Crown Prince does not. When I was in school, it was a matter of course that if you say "mrs." or "mr." last name, you use "de".
English used to have the same distinction.... Thou=du and You=de, they just went with the honorific instead :)
Calling teachers by their surname and using honorific "de", pretty much disappeared with the "youth revolution" of the 70's. First in higher education, then it kind of "seeped" into the primary school system. My dad went to school in the 70's - he's never had to use "de" and experienced the removal of using last names - by the 80's when he went to college, it had pretty much disappeared there. My mum (who's almost a decade older) had to use "de" and last names until her 10th grade year.
As for out Crown Prince - dude is a pretty chill guy. A few years ago, I literally bumped into him on the Aarhus-Odden boat at the buffet... Dude was just dressed in a t-shirt, shorts and sandals, and it wasn't before we talked that I recognized who he was :D
Not like his brother or mum at all ;)
I’m a danish student in 8 grade. I have always been giving homework and i know my friend from other school also get homework. It shocked me a little because I have always heard/thought that all got it, but maybe me and friends just have been unlucky.
:) Maybe!
I sometimes ger homework, but I’m the 9th grade at the moment. My best friend lived in America for some years, and she told me that it was so weird to go back to Denmark and don’t have to do homework. I personally liked that I didn’t get grades in the younger classes, since it didn’t put extra stress on me
I go to a Private school in Denmark and i am DROWNING in homework. I'm in 8th grade btw. And we have gotten grades since third grade
What is your experience with substitute teachers?
And yes, we do have homework. No, repportcards aren't a problem. And well, have you ever cosidered the Gymnasium and University aspect of the Danish system? I'm mainly talking about SU ;)
I'm 19 years old and I've lived in Denmark my whole life. I've also been in the Danish school system for the past 14 years, first 10 years of Folkeskole, then 3 years in Gymnasium and now as a substitute teacher in my old Folkeskole.
Also, have you heard about the Danish Elevråd? (Student Councils)
In the US, you have to have a bachelor's degree to be a substitute teacher in a school, because they are actually expected to teach the students. It is very strange here that the teachers can be young people who just sit in the room. It is not what I am used to!
@@MyNewDanishLife That's so strange and I do agree with you. Some substitute teachers don't do enough and let me tell you this, we're paid almost too much. It's not too much for those of us, like myself, who prepare and engage in the classes and go the extra mile but some, even my coworkers just sit there and stare. Sometimes it's easy to be a substitute teacher and sometimes it is so difficult and you're bouncing around between different classes and sooooo many names xD
Herlufholm is Private school in Denmark which have school uniforms. But it's more like an international school, it goes from 0. grade till 3.g or end of college :) But i think they are the only school in denmark where there are required to have uniforms on :)
Yeah om going on a diffrent kind of school ist called a friskole a lot of peaple say its just like a private school but in a friskole you Are more allowed to choose some stuff more than a private school and stuff
I dont know how it is in other friskoler but in mine we as studens are actuly a part of the year schedule and can choose some of the stuff we Are going ti do that year
I went to school and high school (gymnasiet) during the 70's and the 80's and we always had homework, and the amount of homework kept growing until I ended highschool in 1985. It seems like things have changed a lot since I went to school, and maybe its because children learn in different ways, so there is possibilities for all children to learn.
This is actually homework for me right now, I have to take notes to differences and similarities between the nations.
Don't forget to check out part two as well! :)
Hi :)
I'm a 50 yo old Dane, just stumbled over Your channel, which i quite enjoy. Very good and informative, and you are a good presenter.
I do wish to correct some misinformations thoug.
1. Until 4-5 Years ago, children in the first 9 grades (Indskoling, mellemtrin, udskoling) did have a lot of homework. Like a lot. They were 18-24 hours in the school at max. at that time, and could expect mimimum 2-3 hours of homework every day.
Then the politicians made a school reformation (Which failed like everthing runned by the state does). The reformation was that schoolkids were to have 35 hours in school instead of 18-24, and the approx. 10 hours should be used as 2 hours of more breaks, but the majority would be used in something called "lektie-cafe" which is an environment for students to sit at school making their homework, with the assistance of teachers around. Therefore danish schoolchildren make no more homework - they do it at school.
And then you mention "efterskole", and that i must correct that a majority of the pupils take their 9'th year there, and therefore graduates from the efterskole. Some also takes 10'th in efterskole, but 10'th is voluntarily in Denmark, and is beeing considdered goog for youngsters not quite ready for Gymnasium/HTX whatever. Some also take both 9 an 10'th at efterskole, but bare in mind the efterskole is the only education you pay for, so it can be costly with 2 years.
🤔 I had lots of homework
We also have 10th grade, but it’s optional. I choose to have 10th grade because I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, and also the lure of the student trips to Berlin, London and Copenhagen that my school did during 10th grade got me 😜 It is by far the most relaxing school year, and that was great for me, because I was really tired of school at that point. It’s a breather that’s for sure.
A lot of private schools in Denmark have uniforms. My niece and nephew go to an international school where they do use uniforms.
Grades are introduced in the 8th grade when the kids are 13/14 years old.
That’s doesn’t mean that the teacher I sent evaluating the kids. It just means we don’t think it’s necessary for the younger kids to know whether they are a C or a B student. What’s important is if the kid is learning what they should.
The vast majority of schools in Denmark do have homework! If one of your kids don’t have homework, then it’s a rare exception.
Some schools have a study hour after regular class where they do their homework with a teacher available to help if needed. This especially helps kids that don’t have strong academic support at home.
I don't know how it is today but when I went to my folkeskole, we did get homework pretty early from what I remember, though you are right that that the homework philosophy is different than many other places. I had a little book where the teacher would write to my mom what was happening, what they needed from her and how I was doing in my classes. The teachers always got annoyed when I forgot to give it to her, I remember xD I also remember that we had those work weeks and I absolutely adored when they rolled around. And reading week was the best!
About our schedule: it's, to me at least, much more interesting to have different classes each day, than doing the exact same thing each and every day. You should also point out frikvarter is different between each class during the day
You bring back memories.
I am 59 and started early in 1st grade age 6 in 1967. I could not wait. We did not have kindergarten as an option in my first school - the "village school." It came later.
We addressed our teachers with Hr. (Mr.) and Fru (Mrs) and "De" (the formal You) to older teachers and ""du" (the informal you) to younger teachers.
In the 7th grade we got a young teacher, who wanted us to call him by his first name. My mother was horrified. This school finished with 7th grade.
In 1974 I started in 1st Real. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Real classes were for "smarter" students, compared to "regular" 8th, 9th, and the optional 10th grade.
The school master in the "village school" had much to say whether you were recommanded for 1st Real or the "regular" 8th grade.
My best friend, who started in school a year after me, because he was born 3 months later, was very smart, but the school master would not recommand him for 1st Real.
His mother was devastated. My mother told her to ignore the school master and demand that her boy started in 1st Real, but she, as a single mother, was afraid of the school master.
1975 was the last year of the Real classes. The 1976 school reform would make everybody go to 8th grade, where you could choose higher levels in some subjects.
If you were a really "smart" student, you could skip 3rd Real/10th grade and go straight to Highschool (Gymnasium), but most students would finish their Real Examn with 3rd Real first.
In the Real school we would still address the school master with "De" (the formal You) and last name. The teaches you would address with "du", but whether you called them by their
first or last name al depended. Some you did the one, others you did the other. We had a young teacher for Danish and Religion fresh out of college. We addressed him with "du",
but called him by his last name, but that was mostly because he had a special last name.
In Highschool it was a mix again. The shool master we addressed with "De" and last name, the teachers we addressed with "du" and some with last name and others with first name.
Again the use of the last name could be because it was special. Not so much that the teacher wanted to be addresssed in a formal way.
As for homework, I have always had homework in school. I think you have to get up into the 1990's, before some teachers chose to not give homework.
During 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Real, my math teacher would give us so much homework, that it got my mother worried, why she wrote him a letter.
As for foreign languages, we started learning English in the 5th grade and German in 7th grade. English spoken in English classes was British English. American English was NOT accepted. This got me in trouble, because Danish Televison was un-dubbed and with subtitles, why I picked my accent from watching in particular Sam McCloud and Kojak - along with listening to Elvis records.
I could not believe it when my niece went to school in the 1990's and was allowed to speak American English.
German was a different story. We could watch three different German channels on our TV, but not when my parents were in the livingroom, so I got myself an old TV in my own room and built my own antennas, so I could watch my favourite American series like Kojak, Streets of San Francisco, Rockford, and Cannon, dubbed into German and learn the language that way. It did help my German a lot, but today I cannot stand dubbed Television.
No homework??
Back in the 80ies/90ies I had quite some homework.
Now my kids in 6th and 3rd grade have less, but still some homework - including the 20 mins of reading, they probably end up on an hour/day of homework...
Danish school system is undergoing a lot of changes. You may want to check with the school board what it is suppose to be regarding homework.
I've never personally been too America, but I have 2 friends who went as foreign exchange students for 1 year. They had to wear uniforms and follow certain dress codes, and had homework every single day xD They missed Denmark because of the relaxation around the whole clothes situation :p - Now, for the homework situation. I've always had homework to do. Every single day, during my time in primary school. And I got more when I went to VUC, to get my HF! And I have EVEN MORE homework now, since I started at Professionhøjskole Absalon, going for my bachelor.
I don't know which school your teaching at, or which your children are attending. But if there is no homework, some thing is wrong like, really wrong :p
Anyways, I think your videoes are awesome! Showing the differences between our 2 countries, I always learn something new :) Keep up the awesome job :D
I remember it being a little shocking when you reach 8 grade and suddenly get grades.
Kids start getting grades when they hit about 7th grade. I personally go to collage in Denmark. And we have daily homework which is at least 3 pages of reading and some other small assignments.
The homework aspect of school depends so much on the school, i've been used to a bunch of homework. But the pressure begins in 7th grade 100%
Great video tho!
True that many starts to feel pressure in 7th grade, but the "official" pressure starts in 8th grade imo. In 8th grade you will begin to receive "standpunktskarakter" (Continous assesment mark) that will give you official grades on your subjects. In many schools, its not allowed to give grades to classes under 8th grade. In mine, we received 2 times in 6th and 8th grade, only realy because we begged our teachers for it. It is hard to grade 7th graders though, since there is no guidelines, as official grading starts in 8th grade. Id like to see this lowered to 6th grade personally though. My teachers spent a lot of time explaining that we should not care too much about our grades and the "Education readiness "test"" (no translation) i will explain in a bit. In 8th grade, there is a lot of focus on your further education. You will have to make a temporary choice (can be changed ofc) of what you want to do after you graduate, you will receive grades and you will have the test of readiness for education. This test basically judges you on 3 different things. Subject knowledge/grades, how you are socially, and if the teachers think you would personally fit into that further education. If the teachers deems you ready, they will mark specific areas green, if they dont it is red. If you get marked red, you will need to receive extra help by education advisors and teachers. Also, the first trial exams start in 8th grade, and will probably happen 2 times that year.
Personally i have never felt pressure. Probably mainly because i dont care too much about my grades. Its more of a race for myself, to see how "good" i can get. But i am also receiving okay grades, so it might be different for individuals with problems in that regard, who wants to get into their dream education. This can be stressful though, since the "kvote 2" isnt explained very well to students.
7th-9th grade are called: "Udskoling" (out schooling). 10th grade is called: "Overbygning" (build upon). 10th grade is optional.
Im in a danish public School and im in 7th grade My experience is that there is to much drinking and smoking in school. And snus idk what snus is in English
It really depends on what school you're attending when it comes to tests, homework, grades, etc.
I went to a private school and in the first couple of years, it was more about developing social skills and learning in a more playful way. It's not as strict and for children that age, concentration isn't what their best at. Instead of them listening to a teacher and not get anything from it, they combine learning with playing.
As the years went by more homework and assignments were given, and in 6th we got our first test, but it wasn't until 7th grade we got our first grades and the tests became more regularly. However in the 8th and 9th, especially in 9th, preparation for the final exams in 9th grade was mostly what we did.
I guess the Danish school system isn't as competitive and strict as in the US. It's not just all about the school and knowledge, it's about the whole student/person and developing them so be good citizens in Denmark and worldwide.
I'm not sure how old your kids are, but when they get older I guarantee you they will get homework and the grades will come. But again, the amount of homework does really depends on the teacher as you said.
Some private schools do have uniforms in Denmark. I have seen and met several teens in Næstved that do wear uniform from a private school in the area. :)
I forget myself, but homework probably starts becoming a real thing from like grade 4+
Its usually not a big thing in the first grades :D
i like when you tolk about the difference because i dont know about the USA, i like that you give os your apinion about Denmark.
I am currently seventeen and a danish student. I can tell you from personal experience, that danish kids get plenty of homework later on, as well as grades and exams.
About the mr/miss names, we acturlly did use for the older teachers when i went to school, my grandmom, was a what we called (overlære) on My school and we always used her miss name, Even i did. But that was back in 2001 to 2004. I was Also schooled by her at home somtimes so she had a big influence on My traditionel Danish behavior, witch was pretty strikt.
My little sisters in 1-2 grade, get homework like reading avery day, they do also get math homework.
About school uniforms there is some boarding schools who uses uniforms for examble Herlufsholm kostskole
I know this has nothing to do with Danish schools, but one of the curriculum I used homeschooling my kids was that there were no grades, per se. Each subject was at a different level according to how well they did. They only moved on to a higher level book (more like a workbook) if they got an 80% or better on a test, which indicated they had sufficiently learned the lessons in that book. If they didn't get 80%, they repeated that book until they did. One subject might be at number 53, another might be at number 61, etc. But there were no, for instance, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 10th, etc. grades. They just did whatever workbook they were on for that subject, however slow or fast they understood it. So besides a passing percentage, there were no As, Bs, Cs etc. I used that type of "non-grading" for every curriculum we had, because it simply worked. Only on teacher records that had to be turned in to state education authorities (if the state had one), did I write down grades.
very interesting!
Hi Kelly!
Thank you for your informative videos! I will be moving to Denmark shortly (probably in August) as my husband has already started his MA in DTU and has no plans of coming back home ever again, so... we're moving!! Your videos are a great help to me, they help me get a glimpse of what my life might be like in the near future and I am learning so much!!
I would like to ask for your advice since you are a teacher...I am Greek, but have been an English (and Spanish) teacher for about 20 years and have been running my own language school for the last 10 years... I am so worried about finding a job as a teacher in Denmark! I have been granted permission by the Danish Ministry to teach English in the last 2 grades of Gymnasium, but I should speak good Danish. I have been taking Danish classes for over 2 years now and I'd say I am at an A2 level... is that good enough? And then, international schools... although I have extensive studies and a really good accent (you couldn't tell I'm not British if your listened me speak), I have no formal IB training or international school experience, my background has always been language schools, so I think they would never hire me...As a teacher yourself, what do you think I should do? Should I give up on teaching altogether? Should I try my luck at an aftenscole instead? I'm kind of heartbroken at the prospect of giving up teaching, but if that's what it takes...
Please help, any advice will be helpful! :-)
If you move to Copenhagen, I am sure that you will have a lot of options. Efterskole, gymnasium or even teaching English somewhere. I know that there have been a lot of cuts at that level, so I am not sure if it will be easy for a foreigner to get those jobs. In my opinion, they will take a Dane over a foreigner. Just speaking from experience. As far as international schools go, I never had any experience teaching in one, and I got a job fairly easily. I would work the Spanish angle. You will probably get a job teaching Spanish in any of the places I already mentioned. I can't imagine that finding Spanish teachers would be easy in Denmark. Just contact schools in the area where you'll be living and ask if they are in need of an English or Spanish teacher. Good luck.
@@MyNewDanishLife Thank you so much, Kelly!❤❤❤
I went to school in the 80's, about half the teachers we called mr and mrs, and last name, and 50 % was first name, i gues all were mr and mrs in the 60's and before
We had homework everyday, and i HATED it, wanted to be free, like adults, vhen school was finish, made about 10 % of homework, in my freetime, rest in breaks, and in schoolhours :D
Well most of our teachers went by first name, some was mrs. but I didn't had those teachers. Some few wanted the full name (first and last). But then they were almost all my parents age and from the hippie generation and a lot of the teacher had their own children in school as well. I was schooled in the 80's too.
I hated homework, found it annoying and unfair. Always the last thing I did before bed and pushed it to the very last days it was due. Mostly i just did as much of it in recesses or during other classes. German I just kinda skipped making I just didn't care enough.
I’ve been a teacher for 14 years and I have rarely given homework. When I do it is because I know the kids have a grasp on what they need to do. The reason is that I work at a school where we cannot rely on the parents helping the kids with their homework for various reasons which is why it is important the kids can do the work themselves. If not they just become frustrated and do not do it, making it useless.
I had homework ever since i started school (the first 2 years was more about building up the habbit and learning how it works because it wasnt real homework) and about the grades - we still get evaluated just not on a 12 scale system more on the lines of how well we did in the sense on Great, good, medium, bad, horrible. Every piece of work we turned in to the teacher was always given back with a pseudo grade. (i btw went to a normal public school)
Its so funny about some of these things and how they have changed over the years :) I remember having a few teachers who were (teacher) lærer xxxx or mr or ms xxxx but the majority was first name which for me at least helped me not fear school and to actually feel connected to the teacher and trust them and be interested in their classes even if i hated the subject :)
I think in the end its just different depending on which region you live in :) I live in west jutland
Homework depends on the school and teachers. Uniforms Check out Herlufholm: herlufsholm.dk/
I enjoy your videos Kelly.
Although a born and breed Dane, I’m actually also a foreigner in Denmark and have been for +40 years, 14 months in Australia did that to me.
Until my 13th year in Danish schools I learned more or less nothing, I did in Australia tho and not because of the cane. Coming back to Denmark and attending school again I learned nothing, except from Ellen my American English teacher passing me uni-books instead of normal English school books to study. It wasn’t until I started studying engineering the boredom began to slide away in my earlier mid twenties and later on when I studied Electronic Designer in my late twenties.
What bothers me is that today’s students are paced so much they apparently haven’t got time to learn the mere basics. As an example, 30 years ago approximately 20-25% of Electronic Designers and Engineers didn’t understand that a computer in fact is analog, 10-12 years ago when interviewing Designers and Engineers for a new firm it was +51%, I wonder if we have reached 70% now? Not that it matters that much for me anymore as I’m retired now and only study Crypto Management and Programming.
But it sure would be nice to hear your take on the evolution of knowledge passed on from the school’s/Faculties, my girlfriend a Vet in Ohio, keeps saying the young Doctors are becoming dumber and more or less literally know nothing today.
Times are definitely changing. I think that technology has made things so easier for us, that we don't feel the need to learn things. It is a shame. That is why I still make my kids read everyday. I'm hoping that they will learn to love learning! :) Thanks for being here.
Most adult Danes can show you where New York is on a map, very few americans can show you where Copenhagen is.
Almost all danes can point out almost all countries and almost all States on a Map. Americans can barely show their own state
Bare Oli Bare Oli I would not be so sure about that. It is true that it seems that the average American is less familiar with the map of the world, countries, capitals, flags etc. compared to Danes or many other nationalities.
Maybe Europeans tend to know more due to being much closer together, whereas the US only has two direct neighbours.
However, I believe it is generally the same for most people to not be very aware of those aspects of geography.
There aren't any schools i denmark that use school uniforms
Hey there! I go to Tietgen Buisness in Odense. They have a dress policy for the male teachers only. They are not allowed to wear shorts but the women teachers are allowed to dress as they like :) We have talked about this several times cause we find it pretty funny ourself haha
Hvor mange år skal man gå i skole i USA?
Du er i "elemental school" fra "kindergarten" (0. klasse) til 6-7.klasse (det varierer alt efter bl.a. staten) - Børnene starter som regel ved en 5-6 år
Middle school fra 6/7.klasse til 9. klasse
High school er 10. 11. og 12. klasse - så 13 år i alt - også kaldet K-12
derefter gerne 4 år på "college".
Der er også mulighed for at vælge "preschool" for børn i alderen 3-5. Det svarer til at sende sine børn i børnehave herhjemme, men modsat en dansk børnehave er der en smule undervisning med i planen, som fx. farver, meget basal læsning (pixie-bog niveau), genkendelse af ting og alfabetet.
Australien (hvor jeg har gået i skole i et par år), har næsten samme system, blot at "middle school" er skåret væk - I stedet har de "Primary" som er K-5 og Secondary/High school som er 6-12
Dog, modsat herhjemme, er der mulighed for at specialisere sig i større grad via valgfag fra High school og opefter. Herhjemme specialiserer vi os først rigtigt efter 9. klasse (hvis man tager en erhvervsuddannelse) eller gymnasiet (erhvervsakademiuddannelse, Uni og andre videregående uddannelser)..
Gymnasiet herhjemme svarer lidt til en mellemting mellem de sene år i high school og de tidlige år på college.
Godt nok kommer vi et par år tidligere igennem det grundlæggende skolesystem, men videre uddannelse er derimod også mere "strømlinet" til den branche eller faggren man uddanner sig til.
The school that I went to, growing up, (which is Danish) had a pride in not having a lot of rules.
I'm from Russia and we have the exact same thing with school schedules. 45 minutes lessons and schedule is the same for every Monday, but different from Tuesday ect. And during the week we have for example 6 lessons of Russian language and only 1 geography lesson. And I had homework and grades from the 1st year in school, but now they tend to do not have homework and grades until year 5, I think.
But situation with school uniform is more like in US. Some schools have it, some - don't, and some have their own dress code.
I'm 22 years old, and i'm very familliar with that schema with majority of danish spread throughtout the week sprinkled with history, religion, english, billedekunst, music and sports. And the activities with 0 through 9th grade called aktivitetsdag! Never got to experince it past 6th grade however. When I went to 7th grade all grades from 6 and down was transferred to a new school where all 0 to 6th grade was collected in my local commune. and so was 7th and up at my school and instead of having a single class room for our class it became like in america where you had to move to specific rooms for english and danish etc.
I'm 44 years old, attended a private school, and we were acquired to use Mr and Mrs + surname, one teacher even wanted to be addressed Mr + teacher + surname.
Danish former student here, about dress codes, I've had a few teachers pushing their own opinions of respectful clothing, such as wearing caps or beanies not being allowed, but if you as a student insisted enough and would go to the administration, the teacher would be told they were in the wrong and that student basically can wear what makes them comfortable, as long as it does not disturb the class they attend. Tho as you say some private schools in Denmark do have a dress code or even school uniforms.
WHAT, we have homework in Denmark, maybe it is not so much in the first year in the school, but I have lot of homework, when I was in school for many years ago...
About teacher clothes.
In Denmark men an women are allowed by law to wear the same clothes.
Some year ago a male taxidriver wanted to wear shorts during a hot summer - but the Company rules wouldn’t allow that.
So he just bought a skirt, which was allowed.
About homework - I’ve have kids in starting in School 25 and 10 years ago - and they were all told to read every day.
They didn’t have much homework- but partly because of their personality- the ones who are focused in school had none - and the ones who where more focused on the class mates than the work had some.
I remember one of the first parent meetings- 25 years ago another parent said they had to much homework- and at another school they didn’t- I was - what homework - I’m a bad parent - I was saved by another parent who said his kid didn’t have homework- and the teacher explained that the homework usually was what they didn’t finish during classes.
Dane with two daughters age 18 and 22. Public schools definitely have homework; but it's more frequent as the kids get older. There's an ongoing debate on the benefit of homework. One of the claimed benefits of homework free (or reduced) school is being better at helping the weak students. I can't say for sure if it's true or not.