Can we live and find work in Denmark by speaking English without learning Danish?
Our family is checking the feasibility of living in Denmark under Danish Green Card Scheme. I want to ask whether we can live and find work in Denmark by speaking English? I have learnt that majority of Danes can speak English but learning Danish is considered necessary for finding work in Denmark. In other words, can we live and find work in Denmark by speaking English without learning Danish? http://www.pakistannewsarticles.co.cc/crimes_in_Pakistan_mindcontrol_brainwashing.htm
Immigration - 9 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
if they allow it i would say yes, if not you need to learn the language. after all you are in their country.
2 :
I hate to sound like a bitch, but you can take this however you want: I strongly believe you should speak the language of the country you reside in. They should not have to accommodate you. Like when Mexicans come over here and expect us to learn Spanish to accommodate them, no that's not how it works. They need to speak English, that's what we speak here, if I were to move to Mexico or any other country I'd definitely learn their language. Sorry if that sounds bitchy but I'm telling you the truth. Good Luck.
3 :
and... what about heading back to Pakistan? Legally, nothing compels you to learn Danish to be granted a temporary stay in Denmark though
4 :
definately you must learn the language of the country where you are, coz communication gap is the biggest gap. so learn the language of the country where you intend to go
5 :
I went to Sweden about 25 years ago (I was 18). At the time English was a mandatory school subject. Everybody under 40 could speak English and we found the same to be true in Denmark. The friend I was staying with was fluent in six languages. He had learned them from watching TV as they received many stations from different countries including Russia. I don't think you will have a problem with language barriers except with the elderly.
6 :
you probably can get through if you can find a job in a field where fluency in English is more or less required e.g. in academia (at least in natural science it would not be a problem) but it would be exceedingly rude. It would also lead to a lot of social isolation as your circle of friends would be very limited. You'd be excluded from all conversations which are going on around you and unless people directly talk to you, you would have no clue what's going on. That can be very unsatisfactory. Generally, if you are not willing to try to learn the language of your proposed country of residence, don't even go there. Not everybody will learn the language equally fast, but the attempt is everywhere appreciated. It also will make your life in that country much easier and you will find yourself much more appreciated as a visitor.
7 :
I'm Danish and not all Danes speak English. No it not possible to live in Denmark and just speak English. If that the case then I suggest you look for work in the UK. We Danes have the strictest immigration policy in Europe. Ja du har hen til lære Dansk selv om jer ville gerne opholde sig her ovre. I'll translate it for you. Yes you have to learn Danish if you want to live here. Also you have to prove that you have worked and use Danish language for a year. Det er en del af reglerne for udlændinge, som de skal lære Danske sprog. Translated for you. That is part of the rules for foreigners that they must learn Danish language. Good Danish language skills are essential to engage effectively in the Danish labor market. We Danes are not fond of muslims. I tell you why the muslims protest over the cartoon, burning Danish flag and violent Pakistan cartoons protest in your country. We Danes don't forget. That why Danish make it tougher for immgrants to come here. As an alternative to a language exam, you can document your language skills with a statement from a previous employer attesting that you have used Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or German on the job for at least one year, or by presenting documentation that you have completed at least one year of studies at a higher educational programme which was taught in one of these languages. This will be accepted as a level corresponding to that of Study Test in Danish as a Second Language (Studieprøven). Points are given as follows: Level corresponding to Danish Language Test, Level 1 (Prøve i Dansk 1): 5 points. Level corresponding to Danish Language Test, Level 2 (Prøve i Dansk 2): 10 points. Level corresponding to Danish Language Test, Level 3 (Prøve i Dansk 3): 15 points. Level corresponding to Study Test in Danish as a Second Language (Studieprøven) or higher/one year's study or work: 20 points Held og lykke = Good luck
8 :
more american arrogance - americans who are too lazy to learn another language but expect the entire world to speak theirs. we all know all the americans (on this forum) demand that mexicans and other foreigners MUST SPEAK english if they want to live in USA. therefore all other countries have the same right to demand and expect americans to LEARN the language of the new country, if they want to live there. This is a common courtesy AND it is required by most immigration departments. YES you HAVE to learn DANISH.
9 :
in view of the fact that only about 5 million people in the world (less than the population of New York City, where i live...) speak Danish, and most Danes speak some to excellent English, you can most likely live and work in Denmark without ever learning Danish. but why would you not want to learn Danish? even i, as an American, would consider it disrespectful on a basic human level not at least to try to learn the language(s) of a place in which it was not native to me. as a matter of fact, i have no need to emigrate (yet), but i myself will be travelling to Denmark in 2010 just to learn Danish. so i would encourage you to learn Danish for its own sake if you do end up living there permanently.
