Expat Focus29 Touko 2025

Why Learning Danish Is Harder Than You Think (But Worth It For Expats)

Sigga Hansen joins the Expat Focus Podcast to share honest insights about learning Danish as an expat. As founder of Lingua Danica and one of Denmark's most experienced Danish teachers, she reveals why Danish is trickier than expected - and why it's essential for truly experiencing Danish life. Key Insights:

Why Germans learn Danish faster than Swedes (surprising but true!)
The pronunciation challenges that trip up most learners
Why Copenhageners immediately switch to English
The "hidden Denmark" you'll miss if you only speak English
Real language learning strategies that work beyond apps

Sigga brings unique perspective from teaching thousands of international students and living abroad herself. Whether you're moving to Denmark for work or love, this episode helps set realistic expectations while finding motivation to push through the challenging early stages.

#LearnDanish #Denmark #ExpatLife #LanguageLearning #DanishLanguage #MovingToDenmark

00:00 Introduction

00:39 Meet Sigga Hansen: Danish Language Teacher

00:54 Sigga's Journey to Teaching Danish

02:40 Challenges and Rewards of Learning Danish

03:34 Typical Students and Their Motivations

04:18 The Role of English in Denmark

05:29 Language Similarities and Learning Advantages

07:04 High-Profile Danish Speakers

09:38 Danish Pronunciation and Patience

12:00 Teaching Danish: Joys and Methods

14:31 The Importance of Learning Danish in Denmark

17:18 Staying Motivated and Measuring Progress

18:26 Where to Find Sigga Hansen

18:59 Conclusion and Additional Resources

Find Sigga Hansen on Instagram: @LinguaDanica

More Denmark episodes:

🎧 Expat Careers In Denmark

🎧 How The Danish Healthcare System Works

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