08 mai-challenges in cph

1. Challenges in the Life in
Copenhagen
Mai Ishii

2. 1. Linguistic Problems
• Only Danish in public spaces and documents including
academic ones
Eg., stations and supermarkets, housing-related documents,
guide to CPR
• Assuming that everyone can read Danish
= It is hard for foreigners to get by without friends who can
read Danish.

3. Tolerance to foreigners in Copenhagen
• Compared to Japan, it might be more tolerant in oral
communication
• On the other hand, people often use racist jokes and it is
difficult for foreigners to live in the Danish “home” community
(In my study abroad0stay, I was surrounded by many
foreigners since I was an “international student” and was
protected as a “student”.)

4. 2.Non-lingistic Problems
• In my personal opinion, Danish society often requires “tacit
knowledge” as same as Japan which has a high-context
culture
Eg. Complexity of how to take buses and metros
(no explanations even at stations!)
• Not enough support in public places and institutions
Eg., - Takes a long time for issuing a CPR number
- Short opening hours (UCPH international office as well)

5. 3.Lack of support by UCPH
CPR and Residence permit
• Formal procedures about
CPR numbers and residence
permits etc.
- Some people still cannot get
them even 4 months after
registration
- The CPR issuing procedure
is poorly organised and
administered
Housing
• Irresponsible construction
plans by Housing
Foundation
• Reports that Housing
Foundation cheats on
students
• No support for ‘home-less’
students
Unclear responsibility

6. Living and using “English” as
“international students”
Living as “Danes”
It might be common to some extent in every cultural community….
×handicapped in various
situations such as work and
housing if you cannot speak
Danish
×Difficult without cultural
knowledge (historical and
ethnic)
◎You usually have little
problems if you can speak
English
◎Tolerant and kind to
foreigners, and easy to get
used to because of less unique
culture
× drawbacks on public
procedures and housing if you
cannot speak Danish

7. 4. Lectures
Type of lectures
- Mostly not interactive and
professors unilaterally speak
to students
- a very traditional university
teaching and learning model!
- Professors have their strong
opinions and do not accept
opposite ones
- Exam contents are not easy to
understand because of vague
explanations
Professors
• Clear divisions between
private and public time
– No reply to e-mails and no
answers to questions after
hours
• Why not setting office hours!
• Would be nice to have places
of academic support for
international students such as
academic writing centre
– The university in U.S, where I
studied abroad before, as it.