The efficiency of English language teaching in smaller countries: Denmark

The study is part of a wider comparative description of basic English language teaching in some of the smaller European countries, namely Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden. This first survey offers a discussion of the main issues in English language teaching in Denmark based entirely on Danish sources and on observations in various schools. Denmark is an interesting case of successful English language teaching at school, mainly in mixed-ability classes, with a high degree of support via private TV viewing in a climate of favourable attitudes toward Britain and the U.S.A. The discussion is broadened by looking at teacher education, the role of English outside school and the influence of the English language on Danish.