Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen, Denmark
June 3 – 23, 2024

Department of English and Modern Languages Professor, Dr. Jennifer Keane-Dawes led an interdisciplinary group of five graduate and undergraduate students in a study abroad program in Denmark, Sweden, and Germany from June 3-23, 2024. She said that she felt that students could benefit from study abroad opportunities in northern Europe. The graduate students were Benjamin Komolafe, Priscila Kini, and Albert Ofosu. The undergraduate students were Lydia Teclar and Angelica Vilorio Rosa.

Hosted by the Danish Institute for Study Abroad in Scandinavia (DIS) which has been serving more than 200 US universities since 1959, the customized program was structured around a modified content of ENGL 330 Advanced Public Speaking taught by Dr. Keane-Dawes. The program was aimed at helping the students enhance their intercultural communication competencies, and be more proficient in public speaking. Dr. Keane-Dawes said that graduate and undergraduate students alike should know the fundamentals of human communication and should be able to speak to diverse audiences.

The curriculum included guest lectures by DIS faculty on various aspects of the Danish culture, such as, the role of immigrants in Danish Society; Climate Change Management Strategies in Denmark; and, Introduction to Danish Language and Culture. The curriculum also included experiential learning activities of guided tours of Christiansborg Palace—the center of democracy and legislative power in
Denmark; The National Museum—the archive of Danish pride; Carlsberg Byen—a model community of sustainable urban planning; Amager Bakke waste to energy plant—named the World’s Building of the Year in 2021 while it produces electricity from tons of waste; and, Café Exit—a community that helps in the rehabilitation of prisoners to lead productive lives. In addition to touring the city of Copenhagen by boat, the students toured historic sites in Sweden and Germany.

Each student researched an aspect of the Danish culture and made a speech presentation to an audience of DIS faculty, staff and students. Audience members remarked that the students did very well.