Companies focus on social aspects

Being able to speak Danish opens doors both professionally and privately

By Christian Wenande christian@cphpost.dk

Danish companies are becoming more aware that learning Danish at some level, even if it’s an English speaking company, can strengthen the environment at the workplace.

“Many of the social aspects occur in Danish,” says Jacob Madsen, a co-partner at Danskbureauet, a language school that has taught Danish to internationals for decades.

In many cases, Danskbureauet’s services, according to Madsen, are requested by companies looking to focus mostly on the social aspects at the workplace.

But for others, such as researchers and health sector workers, internationals can be expected to be able to speak or teach in Danish.

Risk Of Missing Out

Furthermore Madsen explains that speaking Danish can be particularly relevant in relation to changing jobs or management positions, or contacting the public sector.

And for doctors and nurses, for example, it’s virtually impossible to have a long term career in Denmark if you don’t master the language –due to the client group or patients that they deal with.

“There are simple things you cannot partake in or fully have responsibility for if you don’t speak the language at some level,” Madsen says.

The same can, according to Madsen, be said for internationals with children. It can suddenly become very monolingual when navigating Aula or having contact with teachers and other parents. 