According to many foreigners who come here to live and work, learning the language is one of the most difficult things about Denmark. One such person is Geet Shroff, who is presently at home in India, waiting to get a job in Denmark, where her husband is working, does not expect to have difficulty learning the language – she quickly picked up numerous many useful expressions on her last visit.

”I’m not worried about having to learn Danish – as an immigrant you are offered many good courses, some of them residential. But I do realise that it is extremely important when it comes to getting integrated – that’s the way it is in the vast majority of countries," says Geet.

As a newly appointed lecturer at the Department of Political Science at Arhus University, Viola Burau started her career in Denmark with a language course and after seven years in this country she tutors and teaches her students in Danish, using English when doing so makes sense.

”Life in Denmark is much easier when you speak the language, because that is how you get to know the Danes best. The Danes can be a bit peculiar at times, commenting on your foreign accent. But I've learned to live with that. I have got to know a lot of people through my leisure pursuits, and I have not had to put myself out to learn the language," says Viola Burau.

The family of Charles Thiam, who will join him from Germany at some stage during 2010, has already started learning Danish back home. And all three children will go straight to a Danish school because language is the easiest way to find new friends, through e.g. leisure pursuits:

"We all play basketball and will continue to do so here in our new home. My world demands that I learn Danish quickly, which will make it more fun and much easier to talk to other players and to make new friends. My children will also start at Danish schools as soon as they arrive, and although they may be a little apprehensive, they have no objections to this," says Charles Thiam.