Skip Bowman's Page

Hi.. can you guide me and let me know ... which skill is sofware required more in denmark.. is it DBA, dvelpment , testing.... it will be very helpful if you reply to my query

Hi Mate

I am coming along to the get together on the 14th, but I couldnt for the location!. Where abouts are you meeting?

Cheers

Hi Skip
Where is the Life Cafe being held?
Thanks

Dear skip, I have got a work permit to work in denmark. I am an ICT professional. I would like to know the bassic expenditure that occurs per person for living in denmark( accomadation, food, telephone,mobile,local travelling in denmark,).
I woluld be really greatful to you if you can advise about this.

Hi skip, thanks for your advise. bye

Hi Skip,

Thanks for the note, sorry its been a while - work is crazy and I havent been online very much recently.

In regards you enquiry about learning danish:
Danish is not exactly the simplest of languages to learn but i did not find it to hard either.I think i had a little head start in as much that my local dialect from the north east of scotland can often sound a little danish. Being a computer programmer my have also helped as I am used to learning lots of new computer languages.

The biggest issue with danish, and I guess many other languages, is the Eh? factor - or what I like to call "language shock". When you finally get to a point that you start talking danish in an environment that previously you talked english in your mind is expecting to hear english - so when people talk to you in danish it takes a few seconds just to realise they are not talking english, consequently, you miss what they say. The normal reaction is "hvad?" to which the dane thinks you simply dont understand and they then repeat themselves in english - which isnt really as much help as they think it is !!

Once your brain gets over the fact that people will be talking to you in multiple languages, your half way there.

With regards the actual learning, I spent about 6 weeks at a private course by ES Sprog in Århus - just a couple of evenings twice a week. Half the time was spent in a language lab with headphones & tape recorder type equipment and half with a real person. I am sure they do other courses, but the one i took seemed more like a danish for holiday makers. The good bit was it was a small class and the teacher was excellent, my advice on the private courses - check the content before you pay up !

Following this, i spend about 4 months at the kommunes language school. The content was excellent in as much as it spend a lot of time on grammer and basics, the vocabulary list was expanding over time (though i felt it was a bit slow). The biggest issue with the kommune based course is the class - if you are lucky, you get a good class (mine was mostly foreign students). I know a lot of people who have had bad classes, and it has taken them a while to get anywhere.

During this time i worked mainly in an english pub in Århus and at a local hotel, I also got some work in copenhagen at the Dansk Evaluarings Institute through a friend. This gave me the oppertunity to hear a lot of danish and slowly start talking a bit more. Chatting to your ex-pat freinds in danish just doesnt help, and forget trying with an danish girlfriend/boyfriend - that just seems to end up in arguments !!

My advice to people learning danish, dont worry about talking "danglish" - drop the english word in where you dont know the danish one, dont worry about your accent - there are so many accents amongst danes across the country that they are used to it. Grow a slightly thicker skin and get out there.

I am told by others, that my danish is very good, this is often a comment i hear from customers - both in Jylland and in Copenhagen. Though I do find that some still have problems with my accent. I certainly feel confident enough to read, write and talk it as needed - whether that be a chat in the pub with friends or a letter to the tax office.

If I can offer any assistance in the Århus area, please feel free to get in touch...

HI skip,

really great to see your profile,hope you will help me regarding denamrk.

I am sarathi krishna, from Bnagalore, INdia, working as a software enginner, i am planning to move to Denmark to work and to live. Please give me an overview of the denmark IT.Software job market.

Is it possible to do parttime jobs in denmark for living,please write me in detail about the life and living in DEN.

waiting for your reply

sarathi krishna.M

Great. I'll call you tomorrow. Have a good evening.
Regards
Nivedita

Dear Skip,
Was wondering if you could help me. I am studying a Masters in Culture, Communication and Globalisation at Aalborg University, and I would very much like to do a project on expats in Denmark. Is it possible to call you at all to discuss my possibilities?
Thanks
Nivedita