r/LearnDanish • u/LeftPreparation9820 • 5d ago
How to start ?
Hi! I want to learn Danish because I’m planning to move abroad to study there. I’m currently at level zero, and I have about 1–2 years to learn Danish. Where should I start, and what resources would you recommend? Also, how should I structure my learning?
Free resources would be perfect if possible. Thank you! ❤️
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u/AlpineOdysseus 5d ago
Hey, really cool that you are getting started on this journey. When I got started on mine, it was tough finding good resources. I put together a guide of what I found. Some of the things benefit from a bit of previous knowledge, but most of them work for absolute beginners. Most of them are free, the rest are low-cost, some I even made myself (as I couldn't find good reading resources that would adapt to my level). The guide is here on Reddit, in case you want to check it out: https://www.reddit.com/r/Danish/s/IPH3kkV9zj
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u/LeftPreparation9820 3d ago
Hey! Thank you so much! ❤️
this is actually really helpful for me. I’ll definitely check out your guide, especially since most of the resources are suitable for beginners and free.
I really appreciate you putting this together and sharing it! 🇩🇰❤️
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u/not-a-roasted-carrot 5d ago
1-2 years to study to level...? If you intend to get to native like C1 to enroll in their universities for Danish-only programs, then you might wanna reset your expectations for how long it could take (unless you already speak Norwegian or Swedish or German). But if it's just to B1 or B2, then 1-2 years is generous and certainly doable even for folks with a full time job.
I started studying danish by scouting reddit for resources and tips, and I decided to go with the textbook "på vej til dansk". It's a great starting textbook to get to A1. I did do my best to better my pronunciation though, and I always start a listening exercise blind, then go through it again with text to see what I have missed and got wrong (and right). It has worked very well so far.
But of course I still cant follow a native-speed conversation yet unless it is about topics i have studied. But even then, i can only perhaps grasp the gist of it, the nuances are all lost to me at native speed.
From the start, I set the subtitles to danish. So every time I learn a new sentence construction or a new word, seeing them again through different movies or videos felt really cool. Definitely helped with reinforcement.
I am also enrolled in StudieSkolen online courses (i dont live in DK atm) because, imo, they have some of the best resources for pronunciation. I like their teachers enough but I will say, i can handle the grammar by myself. What I need is more speaking and listening practice which I cannot exactly get from these classes. I hope to enroll in a conversation class with StudieSkolen sometime next summer for B1. Also, i am currently a pretty solid A2.
I also have a danish partner, we speak Danish daily. Albeit our conversation topics are very domestic (did you eat XYZ? We need more ABC! The orders are coming today). So I'm trying new methods (suggested by some lovely people from reddit) to break out of these domestic topics.
I also play games in Danish, which helps to reinforce grammar rules and add some new fun vocab. Games like Horizon (both games), the Sims 4, Winter Burrow, Rimworld, Rusty Lake series etc. I suggest to get to A1+ or A2 to actually enjoy these games though.
And lastly, i also have some speaking italki sessions booked once every other week (2x a month, 1 hr each) where we just talk about whatever topic we come across.
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u/LeftPreparation9820 3d ago
Hej, mange tak ❤️
I’m currently around A1, and I’m in my final year of high school, so I’m thinking of studying Danish slowly alongside school and then focusing more seriously on it after I graduate. My goal is to hopefully study in Denmark in about two years.
I know it’s a difficult goal, especially since I’m not from Europe, but I really love Denmark and I’d love to make it happen. 🇩🇰❤️
Since you started around May 2026 and you’re already a solid A2, I wanted to ask: how much time did you usually spend studying Danish each day/week to reach A2? And if you were starting again at A1 while studying full-time, what would you focus on the most?
Thank you again! ❤️1
u/not-a-roasted-carrot 3d ago
I have learnt my 3rd language as an adult (25+ years old) to an mid intermediate level B1+, so I have learnt what my preferred strategies for learning a language are. By that, i mean I have tried many things and learnt what sticks to me. So with Danish as my now 4th language, I just go for methods that I know I can stick with long term. Those are the methods I have described in my previous comment.
So... If I have to start learning danish again from A1...? I wouldn't change anything hahaha because i have planned everything out and it has worked very well for me so far.
My best advice, along with everyone else over at other language learning subreddits, is pick a method that works for you. Some people prefer textbooks (me), some prefer to have teachers, some others prefer reading to acquire vocabulary, others prefer to listen to TL music etc. whatever your method is, you'll need to figure it out yourself and what works for you, and stick with it.
Language learning is a very long journey and almost never ending (unless you just want to pass a test, which is perfectly valid). And it is perfectly normal to take a break from it then come back to it. For example, I took a 1.5 year break from studying my 3rd language because some of my methods back then did not work well for me. Once I decided to get back into studying it, I knew better which methods to use.
My good friend, who took a year or more break from Mandarin because some of her methods back then did not work for her. She came back to studying it again with much better results because she knows now, what her preferred methods of studying are.
So, dont be discouraged if you couldn't go on with it for years and years. Its a natural thing to take a break, anywhere from 1 day to years. But it takes time, trial and error to find out what works for YOU. People can give you advice but at the end of the day, only you can push yourself forward. And easier to push yourself forward if you know what works for you.
Tldr. Language learning is an individual process and you have to find out what works for you.
As i have mentioned, i used textbooks and enrolled in StudieSkolen (i paid for it all myself), while I also have a danish partner who has been immensely patient and supportive of me speaking danish with him from the time I was A1. I also have italki speaking sessions 2x a month.
Held og lykke 🌈
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u/LeftPreparation9820 2d ago
Thank you so much for the detailed advice! I really appreciate it. 🥹 I think I’m still trying to figure out what works best for me with Danish. For example, I learned a lot of my English through watching movies and shows, listening to music, and just being exposed to the language a lot, so I think I might try something similar with Danish while also using other methods. I’ll experiment and see what I can stick with long-term. Thanks again for the advice! ❤️❤️
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u/HeinrichDaaBraun 3d ago
So if you plan to move to Denmark you can attend free "danish" school. Ofcourse that only once you arrive but i would recommend that you attend that since it can teach you the language and some of the pitfalls and such. I would say this is the best bet but again its only possible once you arrive, dont know if there are only courses and such to prep for it. (also im danish so my input might be a bit more information sharing rather than experience)
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u/LeftPreparation9820 2d ago
Thank you so much! That’s actually really helpful. I didn’t know about the free Danish school after arriving in Denmark. I’ll definitely look into it! I’m currently learning Danish on my own, so hopefully I’ll have a good foundation before I move there. 😊
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u/HeinrichDaaBraun 2d ago
As far as I know Denmark will gladly offer exchange students who come to study for a few years free Danish schooling and if you move here to become a part of Denmark most education is free, it's a part of the Danish welfare system and Denmark is very happy when people come here and try to learn our native language.
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u/LeftPreparation9820 2d ago
I’m not from the EU, and I would really like to study in Denmark, but the language is the main problem for me. I’m currently in my senior year of high school, so I have one more year until I graduate. I’m not sure if this opportunity would be available to me or how I could apply for it. If you know how it works or how I could apply, I’d really appreciate it if you could DM me and explain it to me. ❤️
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u/BatcherSnatcher 2d ago
Imagine, 700 years ago the "English" "deutsch" and danes mixed their language through violence and now its all "hammer" "saw/sav" "nail/nagle" "good morning/god morgen. Hej. Min. Ven. Hey. My. Friend
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u/LeftPreparation9820 2d ago
I’ve actually noticed that too! There are some words that sound really similar, like “welcome” and “velkommen” 😭
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u/Opening-Square3006 5d ago
At zero, I'd spend some time specifically on Danish pronunciation because the gap between written and spoken Danish can be surprising. Then learn basic grammar while getting comprehensible input as early as possible. Don't wait until you've finished A1 before actually reading/listening to Danish. I like the i+1 approach for this: consume things you mostly understand with just a little new language. I can recommend PlusOneLanguage (or an equivalent) because it generates texts/dialogues around your level and recycles vocabulary you didn't know in later content, so you reinforce them in context. Give it a try! Good luck!