Learn Danish at a local level.
Photographs: Various
Text: Natália Šepitková
Taha Bilirgen is a Turkish-American living in Denmark. He studies Economics and Business Administration at Aarhus University. Alongside his studies, Taha is a student instructor for Business Economics at Aarhus University and works as a media manager at Social Mate, a digital marketing agency in Aalborg. Last year, he passed the Danish exam, the PD3.
Q: When and where did you start learning Danish?
A: I first considered learning Danish in 2020 when I began dating Astrid, whom I actually just got engaged to this February. For roughly 1 year, the learning process was primarily casual. I learned a few words, some basic grammar, etc. My first visit to Denmark was in the summer of 2021, and the trip encouraged my interest in the language. Shortly after this trip, I started taking the language learning process more seriously, using online resources and consuming more Danish media (podcasts, Danish TV shows/films, etc.) Between my first visit to Denmark in 2021 and my start at Aarhus University in 2023, I had several opportunities to visit Denmark, which accelerated my learning through immersion. During this period, I began studying Danish more intensely, committing around 1 hour per day. By the winter of 2023/2024, I had a good grasp of the language and was able to start language school from Module 5 of Prøve i Dansk 3.
Q: Are you currently learning the language?
A: Although I’m now able to use the language fluently daily, I recognise that language learning is an ongoing process; even native speakers can continually improve their vocabulary, grammar, etc. While I’m no longer at a language school, I continue to consume Danish media, use Danish in the workplace, etc.
Q: Do you think Danish is a complicated language?
A: Danish could be seen as complicated, depending on your background. My native language is English, and there are enough similarities with Danish that I was able to quickly pick up on the vocabulary and grammar. For instance, ‘hvorfor’, the Danish word for ‘why’, is highly similar to ‘what for’ - at least in terms of pronunciation. On the other hand, the language has some intricacies that make it difficult for anyone to fully master. An example is the common gender and neuter gender - what we call ‘en’ and ‘et’ words. There’s no actual foolproof guideline for determining which words fall under which category, which means that you have to have enough repetition and consistency with the language that, over time, you automatically assign a given noun to the correct gender. Lastly, some other things make learning the language a bit more challenging. For instance, the language is not entirely phonetic - which means that you cannot always pronounce a word as it’s written. For instance, a very common word, ‘hvad’ (what), is often pronounced as ‘va’. Further, as with any language, pronunciation can be seen as challenging and requires years to perfect.
Q: What were your beginnings with the language?
A: I had a daily routine where I would spend around 30 minutes self-studying through an online subscription-based language service and 30 minutes reading and translating a Danish news article. Then, depending on my free time, I would listen to Danish podcasts/music, watch Danish TV shows/films, etc. Some days, I would study more, other days less, but I was always relatively consistent. At a certain point - probably around the 1-year mark, I was finally proficient enough to ‘speak’ with Astrid in Danish, although this was mostly a novelty. Since we first met, Astrid has always been fluent in English - so much so that, even when she visited me in the U.S., I don’t think anyone could distinguish her from a native speaker. That meant that it was so easy for us to stick with English. However, today, we’ve really been good about sticking with Danish in our day-to-day.
Q: When did you start using the language "in the wild"? Do you have any funny incidents with misunderstandings?
A: I believe the first time I used the language ‘in the wild’ was over the phone with Astrid. However, the first time I really (partially) spoke to others was likely the Christmas of 2022-2023, which I celebrated in Nibe, Denmark, with Astrid’s family. My Danish was rough, but I had nothing to lose because it was a supportive environment. Like anyone else, I made a few funny mistakes when starting with the language and for instance, referring to chicken (kylling) as ‘kæll*ng’ (bi**h) or saying ‘lu*er’ (prostitute) instead of ‘leder’ (leader).
"Whatever you do, remember the 'why' behind your efforts. Learning a new language was and still is an opportunity to learn about a new culture. Since it’s my fiancée’s culture, it's a chance to better understand her and her family."
Q: What helps you most when learning a language?
A: Whatever you do, remember the "why" behind your efforts. Learning a new language was and still is an opportunity to learn about a new culture. Since it’s my fiancée’s culture, it's a chance to better understand her and her family.
To break that down a bit further, I’ve always enjoyed learning about different parts of the world. In hindsight, this probably motivated me to study Foreign Service, my first university degree. As part of that education, I studied abroad for a brief period in London. When I look back on that experience, the best part was working part-time at a cafe on Oxford Street. It took me out of my ‘student bubble’ and meant I was part of the much more heterogeneous, spontaneous real world of a new city; I felt like I was actually a part of something rather than just a spectator.
That same idea applies here in Denmark and motivates me to master Danish. The ‘Julefrokost’ (Christmas lunch), for example, is an essential aspect of Danish culture - and something I’ve wanted to experience since watching the 2009 film ‘Julefrokost’ with Mick Øgendahl, Dick Kaysø, Kim Bodnia, Søren Malling, and others. Because I invested the time and energy into learning Danish, I was able to enjoy an authentic experience with my colleagues this past December.
My point is that while I was learning the language, it was tough. Remembering why I was doing what I was doing allowed me to push through and be consistent. Now, about 2-3 years after I started in earnest, I’m finally seeing the payoff in my day-to-day life.
Q: Do you have any advice for those learning Danish?
A: Make sure you have the right level of commitment. Like any language, Danish is not something that can be learned casually, at least at the beginning. Treat it like any other challenging academic subject. Put pen to paper—set milestones for yourself. Over time, language learning becomes more fun - you get to do it by interacting with people, watching movies, etc. But you need to overcome the initial phase first.
Q: You passed the PD3 test. What was the most challenging for you?
A: The writing section of the exam was more difficult for me (compared to reading comprehension or the verbal section) because it was tough for me to decide on my topic. I also spent too much time planning, which left little time to write. I recommend using the weekends before the exam to do several practice essay responses. You must have a good understanding of how much time you actually have.
Q: Did you need the Danish language for your study or work?
A: I do need it for my work as a media manager. While we could speak English in the office, it would require some changes/adaptations. Moreover, I specifically asked that we stick to Danish, mainly to improve my language. Since my study program is in English, Danish is not strictly necessary for success, although it does help when a Danish word or two appears in the slides, homework, etc. Lastly, as a student instructor, Danish is also important. While the classes themselves are in English, I use Danish when it comes to some of the administrative aspects of the job - for example, communicating with certain colleagues.
Q: Many internationals complain that even when they try to speak Danish with Danes, they automatically switch to English when they see they are not fluent. How is your experience?
A: I found this more common as I was learning the language and had a thicker accent. It’s important not to take this personally, as it comes from a good place. Moreover, it’s a privilege to have English as a backup whenever you need it.
When starting, request that conversations remain in Danish. Understand that some English sentences may still find their way through the cracks or that the conversation may quickly end up back in English, regardless of your request. There’s no reason to make it awkward, but you can try to nudge the conversation back to Danish appropriately. At the end of the day, there are unlimited opportunities to practice Danish, so missing one or two opportunities will not make or break the learning process for you.
Also, try to use it as motivation. Danes often switch to English if they feel it would be easier for you. They get to do that because they have studied English since childhood as a formal part of their education. Many Danes have also consumed English/American media since childhood. So, in a sense, they’ve invested the time. While reaching an equivalent level of Danish (as Danes have English) is a challenge, you can’t expect the same outcomes as others without investing the same amount of effort. Anyone who has learned anything difficult knows it takes time. That understanding is what makes the best learners humble as they approach anything new.
Q: How many languages do you speak? Do the other foreign languages you know help you learn Danish?
A: I speak English & Turkish natively. I’ve also studied Spanish for many years and consider myself workplace proficient. The similarities between English and Danish have made learning the latter relatively easier for me. However, many languages share specific rules, which means that my Turkish or Spanish knowledge may also have helped me.
Q: What is your current level of Danish?
A: I consider myself completely fluent. By the time I graduate from Aarhus University, I hope to be at a ‘native’ level. Something I’m focusing on right now is really incorporating the little details that are not necessarily taught but appear in day-to-day speaking. For instance, sprinkling in a ‘jamen, altså’ (i.e., 'well, I mean') can make you sound much more native.
On one hand, there is a point of diminishing returns. The gains you make in year 1 will often be smaller than in year 2. However, with language, we need to approach the concept of diminishing returns differently. Once you reach a certain point with a language, provided a sufficient level of immersion, your learning takes place automatically and often in the background. Therefore, I’m finding that my language is improving much more rapidly now than in the beginning.
Q: Are you planning to learn another language?
A: I don’t plan to learn a new language, although I’d like to. Having learned Danish, I could consider learning Swedish or Norwegian just because I find the similarities, differences, and history of the languages interesting.