THE DANISH LANGUAGE

Danish (dansk) is one of the North Germanic languages (also called Scandinavian languages), a sub-group of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European languages. It is spoken by around 6 million people, mainly in Denmark; the language is also used by the 50,000 Danes in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany where it holds the status of minority language.

Danish also holds official status and is a mandatory subject in school in the Danish territories of Greenland and the Faroe Islands, which now enjoy limited autonomy. In Iceland and Faroe Islands, Danish is taught as a compulsory foreign language in schools. There are also Danish language communities in Argentina, the U.S. and Canada.

THE DUTCH LANGUAGE

Dutch (Nederlands) is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people, mainly in the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname, but also by smaller groups of speakers in parts of France, Germany and several former Dutch colonies. Sometimes called the smallest world language, it is closely related to other West Germanic languages (e.g., English, West Frisian and German) and somewhat more remotely to the North Germanic languages.

Dutch is the parent language of several Dutch-based creole languages as well as of Afrikaans, one of the official languages of South Africa and the most widely understood in Namibia. Dutch is also an official language of the European Union and the Union of South American Nations.

THE FINNISH LANGUAGE

Finnish (suomi or suomen kieli) is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland (92% as of 2006) and by ethnic Finns outside of Finland. It is one of the official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a Finnish dialect, are spoken. The Kven language, which is closely related to Finnish, is an official minority language in Norway.

Levels of excellence

Level 1 – equivalent to a basic GCSE
Linguistically similar to a lower GCSE grade (G-D). The user can command a range of simple, set expressions in familiar settings. Grammatical control is limited to a few variations. Work contacts involving highly predictable exchanges - certain reception/retail encounters could be handled, as could survival in a travel or accommodation situation where no unexpected problems are introduced.

Level 2 – equivalent to a higher grade GCSE
Linguistically similar to a higher GCSE grade (C-A*). The user can command a basic vocabulary with some alternative expressions to cope with routine situations. He/she can manipulate the language to generate original sentences using simple common structures and respond to occasional unpredictable interventions.

The user can socialise simply, describe their work and organisation and survive in the foreign country, coping with minor variations in the information handled. The user could undertake a straightforward business visit in which exchanges of factual information, simple opinion and uncomplicated transactions are all that is required. 

Level 3 – equivalent to a good A-level
Linguistically similar to a good A Level pass. A user at this level could begin to function quite effectively even where the full work role was performed through the medium of the foreign language.

He/she would have the linguistic control to express and follow most ideas relevant to their work and negotiate simply, though he/she would still be in the process of acquiring work specific terminology and structures. The user could integrate with a foreign language speaking environment if colleagues made allowances.

Level 4 – equivalent to a good honours degree
Linguistically similar to a good honours degree. The user would have complete control over the language system and an almost complete command of terminology and structures, both generic and relevant to work place requirements.

With this level of competence he/she would be very quick to absorb new items into their repertoire and would be developing as a matter of course towards the highest linguistic level. He/she would be able to negotiate and interact sensitively in his/her work and most social situations. The user would be able to carry out convincingly most management and supervisory tasks through the foreign language.