Is learning Danish an important life goal? Perhaps you’d like to watch Danish TV shows in the original version. Or maybe moving to Denmark is on the cards for you.
These days, in just a few clicks, you can start learning Danish on any device. But with a never-ending number of options for learning the language online, you may be wondering how to get going.
Well, this is your lucky day. I’m here to help you find your way through this array of choices and so you can find out the best way to learn Danish for you.
However you decide to learn Danish, it’s totally worth your while. Once you’re set in motion, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner.
Here’s what you’ll discover in this post.
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How NOT To Learn Danish
Why do so many people spend years learning a language at school or elsewhere, but still can’t speak it? Plenty of smart, determined people fail at language learning – but they shouldn’t blame themselves!
If learning Danish has been tough for you too, it’s not your fault. You’ve struggled with Danish because of something I like to call the old “Parrot Problem” of language learning.
The Parrot Problem is the “repeat after me, like a parrot” method based on rote memorisation. If that description reminds you of your school days, you’ve got the idea.
The issue with the parrot method is that the words and grammar rules you try to learn by heart only go into your short-term memory. That’s why it’s hard to remember them when you want to actually speak Danish.
Although Parrot approaches send you back to your school days, they’re still alive and well in a number of supposedly up-to-date Danish apps and courses.
These tools can help you “parrot” a few Danish words and expressions, but you still can’t chat in Danish over a Danish pastry or a pint of Carlsberg.
What Is The Best Way To Learn Danish?
The best way to learn Danish online is with a fun, addictive and effective method that lets you pick up Danish fast and remember it for the long haul. My unique StoryLearning method immerses you in real Danish, right from the get-go, through the power of story.
StoryLearning® is an exciting, new way of learning foreign languages. With StoryLearning, your main focus is on reading stories. As you read, you learn Danish. This is a natural way of learning. It helps you think in the language, and is how children learn their native languages.
Story is the basis of all human communication. Humans have told stories for thousands of years to entertain, educate, preserve culture and teach moral values. Storytelling is how you understand the world and communicate with others.
Learning with stories also mixes rational information with experiential parts of the brain, forming neural connections. When repeated, neural connections are strengthened. Stronger neural connections result in longer-term memory.
That’s why my StoryLearning method uses the power of story to teach you Danish from the start. The language truly gets implanted in your mind. You remember words more easily because you're so engrossed in the story. And the language makes sense to your brain naturally – on a deep level.
This fun and effective method makes StoryLearning the best way to learn Danish.
Best Way To Learn Danish Online
The best way to learn Danish online is with my Danish Uncovered courses which teach you through StoryLearning.
My Uncovered courses are based on the proven StoryLearning method, which is informed by decades of research and has helped thousands of people learn a language.
Thanks to Danish Uncovered, you’ll go from total beginner to pre-intermediate level through the power of story. Your eyes and ears will be immersed in a story specially written for your level, right from the start.
After listening to and reading the story, you watch an in-depth lesson where your expert Danish teacher teaches you all about the Danish in the story.
Instead of trying and failing to memorise words and rules out of context, your eyes and ears will be immersed in Danish. Your mind will begin to adapt. It’s just like learning a language naturally, when we were kids.
The StoryLearning method combines all of the benefits of online learning—like flexibility, modern engaging materials, and different types of media—with a fresh, motivating method centred on story.
With the StoryLearning method, you learn languages quickly through stories, not rules. So if you’re fed up with parrot methods, Danish Uncovered will finally get you fluent.
Best Way To Learn Danish Fast
Looking for the best way to learn Danish fast? Great question. The short answer is, there’s no magic pill for fast Danish fluency – you simply have to put in the time and effort daily to get there.
If you do have that time and motivation, you can learn Danish quite quickly. But if you want to be certain to learn Danish successfully, then my top recommendation is StoryLearning VIP.
StoryLearning VIP is a 10-week coaching programme which guarantees you complete Danish fluency! StoryLearning VIP enables you to learn fast by pairing you with a professional native-speaker coach to help you practise your way to fluency.
Now, let’s be straight – this programme is intense. You’ll have coaching sessions twice a week. You’ll also need to make time to learn Danish daily with my course, Danish Uncovered.
But if guaranteed Danish fluency is your goal, the support and accountability of StoryLearning VIP won’t let you fail.
Best Way To Learn Danish For Travel
What if Danish fluency doesn’t matter to you? Maybe you’re just looking to pick up a bit of Danish for a visit to Legoland or to Copenhagen. If that's you, then you must be asking yourself – what’s the best way to learn Danish for travel?
Learning Danish for travel looks like knowing how to communicate in practical situations you’ll come across in Denmark. That means knowing a few Danish greetings as well as phrases to use when eating out or getting around.
Learning Danish for travel won’t take up too much of your time. You can actually learn travel Danish quickly, because you’re learning real-word words and expressions in a rich context.
You can use my blog post about Danish phrases to prepare for your trip to Denmark. You’ll discover 77 common Danish expressions to make small talk, greet people, ask and answer questions and more.
This no-nonsense, practical approach will ensure you’re ready to get by in travel Danish the next time you’re in Denmark.
Best Way To Learn Danish While Driving
Even if you couldn’t be more motivated to learn Danish, you’re still going to bump up against the same problem we all do – finding time in your day to study. Working full-time and commuting back and forth makes fitting Danish into your life hard.
But your commute is also a chance to learn Danish while you’re in the driver’s seat, if you know how to make the most of that time. So what’s the best way to learn Danish while driving?
Of course, I’m all about a safe commute. So I don’t condone looking at your phone or a book while driving. Your eyes should be on the road, not a screen or page.
But if you can’t look at a textbook or course or app, how are you supposed to learn? Let your ears teach you Danish!
Nowadays, you can find Danish audio to listen to behind the wheel. You could listen to Danish podcasts or audio courses for example.
Listening to Danish daily on your commute helps your brain get used to the language. So you’ll be able to learn Danish even faster.
If you’re a Danish beginner, your starting point should be a beginner audio course like the Michel Thomas one.
If you’re lucky enough to be an advanced Danish learner, then it’s time to ditch Danish listening material for learners and put on some real Danish audio designed for native speakers.
No matter what podcast app you use, you’ll be able find podcasts from your favourite Danish-speaking media companies and creators. Search for podcasts about topics that interest you so that you learn how to speak about them like a native would.
Best Way To Learn Danish On Your Own
Do you prefer solo learning to group Danish classes or rigid curriculums where you end up learning things you don’t need or already know? I’ve get it because I’ve experienced this myself.
I much prefer solo, self-directed language learning. As I always say, languages can’t be taught, only learnt. So your self-directed learning is what has the most impact on your Danish skills.
Learning languages by myself meant I could learn eight to fluency and start StoryLearning to share my wins, as well as failures, with other solo learners.
I’ve boiled down my years of solo language learning into my Uncovered courses which have been specially created for independent learners. And Danish Uncovered is no exception.
Danish Uncovered is a self-study, self-paced course you can use as the foundation of your language learning. You’ll also find savvy advice on the best way to learn Danish on your own inside the course.
Best Way To Learn Danish Fluently
If you want to experience the life-changing magic of Danish fluency, don’t learn it alone! Personalised Danish coaching is the best way to learn Danish fluently.
Thanks to regular sessions with an expert coach, coaching means you get ample 1-1 speaking practice plus support and accountability to make sure that you truly learn Danish for life.
StoryLearning VIP is my personalised language coaching programme designed to get you your big breakthrough in Danish. VIP is the ultimate investment in your language goals.
StoryLearning VIP is an intensive programme that includes not just the language curriculum (my course, Danish Uncovered), but also the 1-to-1 lessons, coaching and accountability that ensure your success.
Personalised coaching is the best way to learn Danish fluently because you get:
- Private sessions that adapt to your schedule
- Personalised guidance to target your weaknesses
- Accountability to stay on track
- Hours of 1-1 speaking practice
StoryLearning VIP is the highest level of learning support we offer and your fastest ticket to fluency in Danish.
Best Way To Learn Danish Pronunciation
Danish pronunciation has a bit of a reputation. Why are there so many vowels? And what about the stød, the Danish glottal stop?
But learning Danish pronunciation becomes even more of a hassle than it needs to be because of the Parrot Problem.
When you learn Danish pronunciation like a parrot, through rote memorisation, you put the sounds into your short-term memory. So they don’t come out right when you actually speak Danish.
The best way to learn Danish pronunciation is to forget rote memorisation. Of course, you can read or watch an explanation of Danish pronunciation. But then stop listening to and repeating sounds individually like a parrot.
Once you’ve got the gist of Danish pronunciation, you need to hear the sounds of Danish in their natural habit, in real Danish speech. And most importantly, in relation to each other. The best way to do this is to read and listen to short stories in Danish.
By reading and listening to Danish stories pitched at the right level, you’ll get used to Danish pronunciation. When you read and listen together, you link the words and their pronunciation in your mind.
So, when it comes time to speak, you’ll sound right, because you’ve absorbed the sounds of Danish in context.
If you’re wondering where to find Danish stories at the right level for you, my top recommendation is my short story book, Short Stories in Danish.
Best Way To Learn Danish At Home
Some false notions about language learning just won’t go away. And one of the big ones is that you need to move abroad to get fluent. But it’s not true, so please don’t move to Denmark or another of the Danish-speaking countries to learn Danish!
I’ve learned many of my languages successfully from home. That’s because at home, I’m in control of my language learning routine.
A move abroad completely upends your routine and distracts you from studying. And don’t count on the locals talking to you in Danish, especially if you’re a beginner.
So if moving abroad isn’t the way to go, how can you learn Danish at home? The best way to learn Danish at home is to read and listen to Danish at your level for an hour daily. You can read a beginner book, work through a StoryLearning Danish course, or listen to Danish podcasts.
This type of daily immersion in Danish is known as an “input method”. An input method means that you learn not from deliberate study, but by reading and listening to material that you want to understand.
And if you do move to Denmark one day, or if it's a holiday destination, you’ll improve faster on the ground thanks to the foundation you got from your at-home immersion.
Best Way To Learn Danish FAQ
What Is The Best Way to Learn Danish Online?
The best way to learn Danish online is with StoryLearning’s Danish Uncovered course. Uncovered is a natural, brain-friendly way to learn Danish thanks to the power of story.
What Is The Best Way to Learn Danish While Driving?
The best way to learn Danish while driving is to listen to Danish audio for designed for Danish learners, like podcasts or audio courses.
What's The Best Way To Learn Danish Pronunciation?
The best way to learn Danish pronunciation is by reading and listening to Danish daily. As you immerse yourself in Danish, you’ll start to pick up the pronunciation intuitively, which is much more effective than just listening to and repeating sounds in isolation.
What's The Best Way To Learn Danish Fluently?
Personalised Danish coaching is the best way to learn the language fluently as it provides a structure as well as support and accountability plus plenty of speaking practice.
Ready To Start Your Danish Learning Journey?
Learning Danish isn’t always a walk in the park, but it’s so worth the effort.
That’s why knowing the best way to learn Danish is essential, so that you forge ahead fast on your path to fluency.
The best way to learn Danish is through an input method, by reading and listening to stories designed for your level. This type of story-centred immersion is the core of the StoryLearning method.
A story-focused approach is nothing like the Parrot methods you remember from school where you had to memorise words and grammar rules.
But even if a story-first method is working for 1000s of learners around the world, it’s new and different. And new and different can be uncomfortable as well as exciting.
But your initial discomfort will melt away once you start learning through story. You’ll be motivated to find out what happens next. And once you’re hooked, there’s no going back.
Danish will soon become instinctive to you. You won’t need to translate in your head because your brain will have got used to the language, thanks to your immersion in the story.
That’s what makes stories the best way to learn Danish fast.
Olly Richards
Creator of the StoryLearning® Method
Olly Richards is a renowned polyglot and language learning expert with over 15 years of experience teaching millions through his innovative StoryLearning® method. He is the creator of StoryLearning, one of the world's largest language learning blogs with 500,000+ monthly readers.
Olly has authored 30+ language learning books and courses, including the bestselling "Short Stories" series published by Teach Yourself.
When not developing new teaching methods, Richards practices what he preaches—he speaks 8 languages fluently and continues learning new ones through his own methodology.
