Facts
Description
Project formulation Kolding Language School has problems retaining its students in the Danish evening classes. Prolonged and continuous participation is threatened by the students' need for part-time work, enrolment in higher education, socialising with friends and a lack of perception of the relevance of learning the Danish language.
'Project objective / purpose
In order to deal with this problem, our design students have created a concept that requires more conversation through cooking, a concept that breaks down language barriers and creates room for people to meet – across cultures. It is an initiative that promotes integration and learning of the Danish language and also motivates the students to participate in the language school's Danish instruction.
Project methods and results
To test the value and potential of the concept, we invited young people from Kolding's student environment for an intercultural workshop where we cook and talk to each other. The basic concept for the evening is: Danish and international students; an illustrated recipe that requires communication among the participants; a certified chef; organic raw materials; a kitchen and a cultural event. The concept has one condition: That everyone attempts to speak Danish all evening.
SUMMARY
“It is much better than going to school and just sit there to learn the language. Now you have to cooperate with people, and they speak Danish, so you try to understand it, and you want to understand it.” Bartosz Stankiewicz, Poland, exchange student at University of Southern Denmark, Kolding