Danish Students Learn English While Narrating Books
By Mark W.F. Condon, Unite for Literacy vice president
Stefan Åge Hardonk Nielsen is an English teacher at Vonsild School near Kolding, Denmark. A busy man, Mr. Nielsen teaches 8-year-olds Danish and English, as well as religion and music, while working halftime as the school’s librarian. But what is even more impressive about Mr. Nielsen is that he has been leading his young students in translating simple Unite for Literacy picture books from English into their native Danish language. These U.S.A.- focused books were originally published in English for “new readers” of any age but are deemed appropriate content for all children ages birth though the early primary grades. Mr. Nielsen’s students read for full understanding of the English and then recapture those ideas in an updated version, culturally and linguistically appropriate for children in the Danish language community. (In Denmark, children begin English language learning in grade 1.)
Straightforward books about colors and food are easy for Nielsen’s young linguists to work their translation magic, even for his 2nd graders. However, some of Unite for Literacy books’ content just cannot make it across the Atlantic at all. For example, the common U.S. children’s traveling game, I Spy, featured in the book “I Spy on the Road” is exceedingly difficult even for Nielsen’s 8th graders. What Americans call “I Spy” is called something quite different in Scandinavia and so the book does not translate.
Nielsen says his students are extremely excited about performing meaningful work useful to others all around the world. They love the idea of being authentic translators and narrators, taking English language meanings apart and putting them back together for their Danish schoolmates. He has noticed that even those students who are tired of schoolwork in general, are reinvigorated and enthusiastic about this unique challenge.
Mr. Nielsen’s students see a direct connection between reading the English books, understanding them as well as they can (using dictionaries to help) and then translating and recording narrations of text to appropriately fit with their own culture and its language. These comprehension elements are found in English curricula worldwide. For children, this trans-cultural work underlines the international dimension that Vonsild School tries to incorporate in their daily school life. For them, this wonderful opportunity to collaborate globally is captured in their mission statement: “To teach the students to become Global Citizens.”
Naturally, parents are proud to hear their children “reading for real.” Imagine knowing that your child’s sweet young voice has been captured for posterity and then delivered via the Internet from across the world for the enjoyment of family, friends, and Danish-speaking children everywhere.
Unite for Literacy’s digital book collection is currently available in over 60 languages. Bilingual individuals and groups (who speak English plus another language) from the 7,000+ language communities around the world are invited to join us on behalf of the world’s youngest readers and to add their mother tongues to this globally free online library. They too can then take the English meanings apart, add their languages and cultures, and then put it all back together. Wondrously, translators and readers alike benefit from the experience, while contributing importantly to their children’s literacy resources.
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