|
Denmark
is one of the smaller Scandinavian countries with strong
historical ties to especially Sweden, Norway and Finland. The
country is situated just north of Germany, where it has a
Danish-speaking minority in the northern part. Denmark is a
member of the European Union and prides itself with one of
the most developed social welfare systems. It is a very
egalitarian society with school, further education and health
being based on an elaborate public system. The economy is
very strong due to a high degree of industrialization and an
educated workforce.
Denmark
consists of the mainland Jutland, a peninsula bordering with
Germany. The second largest Danish city, Aarhus is situated
on the east coast of Jutland. The many Danish islands include
the two largest, Sjaelland with the capital Copenhagen
(approximately 1,4 million people) and Funen with the third
largest city Odense. The climate in Denmark in temperate with
cold and often wet and windy winters. The summers are mild
with some warm or hot days at times.
AFS in Denmark
AFS in
Denmark (AFS Interkultur) has been in existence since 1957.
There are 50 chapters and committees throughout Denmark, The
Faroe Islands and Greenland. AFS Denmark counts around 2000
members. There is a National Office in Frederiksberg, near
the Danish capital Copenhagen. The office employs 11 staff.
The school based program offered includes a language camp on
arrival for about ten days, orientation camps during the stay
and an end of camp stay before the departure. AFS in Denmark
sends out a monthly Newsletter to students with information
about various activities and their camps.
Host Schools
Most
placements in Denmark are in public schools. The Danish
education system offers various different types of high
schools. High school starts in year 10 or 11. All schools are
co-educational and the relationship between students and
teachers would be experienced as very informal by Australian
standards. However, a very high level of maturity and
responsibility is expected from students, and most schools,
especially the "Gymnasium" (grammar school), are very
academically focused. Participants can also be placed in year
10 of the Danish comprehensive school, which covers
Kindergarten to year 10.
The school
day starts at 8 a.m. and normally finishes between 1:00 and
3:30 p.m. Extracurricular activities are not very common, but
catered for by other organisations and clubs outside the
school system itself. Most Danish teenagers are engaged in
sports or other activities after school and very popular
sports are soccer, handball and badminton, which are played
by both girls and boys.
Host Families
There are
many different types of families in Denmark, with one or two
parents, married or unmarried. It is very common and
generally accepted to live in de facto relationships and
young couples mostly live together for many years before they
eventually chose to marry (or not). There is a high level of
informality in the relationship between parents and children
and between siblings, and children are encouraged to be
independent from a young age. Teenagers generally enjoy much
freedom but are also expected to carry responsibility, for
example for schoolwork and household chores. Many families
are busy, with the vast majority of families being based on
two full time jobs, and household duties, including cooking,
are normally shared between both parents and children.
AFS
Denmark's Web Site :
http://www.afs.dk
View
letters from students to Denmark.
|
