Written by Kara Armstrong
Danish professor Julie King launched the “Scandiamania” course to bring her culture to Kutztown
Danish professor Julie King has a kind smile, pleasant manners and a welcoming demeanor. She is also approximately six feet tall. While its height may not be unusual in Denmark, it makes an impression in Kutztown.
The Danish professor shares her culture with KU students through a selected thematic course called “Scandimania.” The course focuses on translated Scandinavian literature and is designed to give students a different cultural perspective on social issues such as gender equality, LGBTQ rights, and sustainable living.
Scandinavia students begin the semester by learning about the Modern Breakthrough Movement, a literary movement that occurred in Scandinavia in the 19th century. This movement, led by Danish literary critic Georg Brandes, called for literature that discussed social issues.
Students will study books from this period e.g Lucy By Amalie Schramm and Trains also pass (Katinka) By Herman Bang. One of Pang's books was banned, in part because of the author's homosexuality. Years later, Denmark was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage. King says this kind of sharp shift in culture is what her students study.
“We are examining how these communities with so many social issues transformed into the socially responsible communities they are today,” King said.
The Nordic countries are known for their access to free healthcare and higher education, high levels of gender equality and a sustainable lifestyle. She hopes this course will give students a perspective on the Nordic countries and their cultures.
“When I moved from one culture to another, it opened my eyes to many things about my culture,” King said.
After living with her American husband in Denmark for 15 years, the couple decided it was time to move. Their four children hold dual Danish-American citizenship, and King felt it was important for her children to experience both sides of their heritage.
King left behind the high school teaching career she loved. “When I came here, it turned out that my educational background and teaching experience was better suited for college than high school,” she said. Secondary schools in Denmark require that their teachers have a master's degree in the subject they teach, not in education. King holds a master's degree in English and Scandinavian literature and languages from Roskilde University, qualifying her to teach as an assistant professor at the American university level.
In addition, King says Danish high schools are structured more like American colleges than American high schools. American high schools focus strictly on rules, regulations, and consequences that do not exist in Danish high schools.
“We don't take on the authority role there as much as teachers traditionally do here,” King said. “Part of the reason is that there aren't many rules to adhere to in the classroom.”
These nuances allow King's teaching style to be more relatable than students are typically accustomed to in America. “It is very important to me that students feel comfortable in the classroom,” she said.
King allows its students to make revisions and resubmit assignments. “When you teach writing, you have to make room for practice,” she said.
This is King's second year teaching at KU and her first year teaching full-time at KU. In addition to her Scandinavian class, she currently teaches three freshman composition courses. She feels her teaching style works well with first-year students, who value being able to show grace in their first semester in college. “A classroom that allows room for practice and mistakes helps with learning, in my opinion, and I have noticed that students respond well to this type of learning environment,” King said.
Selected courses are only run once or twice, so this may be the only opportunity for UK university students to study Scandimania. King hopes to run it a second time or even turn it into a regularly offered course.
“It would be fun to turn it into a course that could be offered to a broader audience,” King said. “A lot of the students in the class are not English majors, so it seems to have appeal to a broad audience.”
