2A
Thursday, January 25.1996
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Scandinavian classes lack students
By Jason Strait
Kansan staff writer
Ole Togeby flew seven hours across the Atlantic Ocean to teach University of Kansas students, only to find his classrooms virtually empty.
Togebey, a professor of Danish language and literature from Aarhus, Denmark, is teaching two upper level courses in Scandinavian literature and language, SCAN 660 and SCAN 753, to a total of three students this semester.
Because of scheduling glitches and lack of student interest, Togeby's classes failed to generate the expected interest and have left Togeby with a small audience for his lectures, said William Keel, acting director of the department of Germanic languages and literature.
"Perhaps the courses should not have been at such a high level," Keel said. "But the Scandinavian department recommended it, and the German department supported it. The bottom line is that the customers didn't come forward."
Togeby has exchanged universities and houses with Leonie Marx, professor of Germanic languages and literatures, to set up a Danish intensive language program at KU and an eventual exchange with the University of Aarhus, Denmark. Marx is teaching at Aarhus this semester and recruiting graduate students to teach here next year.
The number of students in Togebey's classes, two for his first
class and one for his second, is below the recommended 12, but likely will remain as long as students come, Keel said.
"Policy in experimental courses is that there is some flexibility in the enrollment numbers." Kael said.
And as long as at least some students show, will Togeby.
"What else should I do?" Togeby said. "I expected more, maybe 10 or 15 a class, not two. But that's what happened. I guess I will teach the three students."
Tobyse said he could no longer introduce KU students to his Danish style of teaching, which differs from conventional styles.
He planned to have a different student take notes on the day's subject, type and print them that night, and distribute them to the rest of the students at the next class. He also said he usually took the last five minutes of class to discuss the day's lecture in hopes of improving the course on a daily basis.
"Now it's impossible." Togeby said. "With only three people you can only say a few things. There is no discussion."
Despite the lack of student interest and enrollment, the first-time experience of teaching at an American university has not been ruined, he said.
"We will have started this exchange, which is good," Togeby said. "I will go back and tell the students what there is to study here, what it is like. So something useful can be made of my stay here."
Intensive Danish class to come soon
By Jason Strait
Kansan staff writer
The maiden voyage of an intensive Danish language program should arrive in the spring of 1997.
The Danish language intensive semester, DANE 220, will be offered by the department of Germanic languages and literatures to any student wishing to complete the 16-hour foreign language requirement in one semester.
The course would include daily intensive language and culture classes. The classes would be taught by KU faculty and native Danish-speaking graduate students from Aarhus, Denmark. Successful completion of the course would prepare students to study at the University of Aarhus or other Danish universities as part of an exchange program.
"Students who do this at other universities really like it," said Nancy Mitchell, assistant director of the Office of Study Abroad. "They liked being immersed in the subject. I would hope this could be a model for other subjects as well."
Major Danish
What: DANE 220, Intensive Danish
When: Scheduled for Spring 1997
Why: Completion fulfills the 1.6-hour foreign language requirement in one semester rather than the usual four
James Carothers, associate dean of liberal arts and sciences, said past intensive programs at the University, in subjects such as French and Spanish, had been successful.
"I think the students and faculty like it a lot," Carothers said. "But it takes a special kind of student to succeed."
Because students will receive one grade worth 16 hours of credit, the class may not be for everyone, Carothers said.
The course is scheduled to meet from 8:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, contact Nancy Mitchell at the Office of Study Abroad, at 864-3742.
The University Daily Kansan (USP5 650-640) is published at the University of Kansas, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 66045, daily during the regular school year, excluding Saturday, Sunday, holidays and finals periods, and Wednesday during the summer session. Second-class postage is paid in Lawrence, Kan. 66044. Annual subscriptions by mail are $90. Student subscriptions are paid through the student activity fee.
ON THE RECORD
Postmaster: Send address changes to the University Daily Kansan, 119
Stauffer-Flint Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 66045.
A KU student's car dashboard and driver's side window were damaged and a stereo was stolen Tuesday in the 500 block of Frontier Road. Damages were valued at $180, and the stereo was valued at $350, Lawrence police said.
A KU student's stereo and portable compact disc player were stolen Monday in the 800 block of New Jersey Street. The items were valued at $400, Lawrence police said.
A KU student's camera was
stolen Monday in the 1500 block of Louisiana Street, Lawrence police said.
A telephone, locker and cabinet were damaged between 5 p.m. Jan. 18 and 7 a.m. Jan. 19 in the Art and Design Building. The items were valued at $270.
Unknown persons shot Roman candles at 5:30 Tuesday from the 4th floor of Jayhawk Tower D, KU Police reported. No damage was reported.
Weather
TODAYS TEMPS
HIGH LOW
Atlanta 50 ° • 35 °
Chicago 27 ° • 10 °
Des Moines, Iowa 22 ° • 7 °
Kansas City, Mo. 40 ° • 19 °
Lawrence 42 ° • 21 °
Los Angeles 63 ° • 48 °
New York 35 ° • 30 °
Omaha, Neb. 27 ° • 12 °
St. Louis 45 ° • 15 °
Seattle 40 ° • 35 °
Topeka 37 ° • 22 °
Tulsa, Okla. 55 ° • 30 °
Wichita 49 ° • 25 °
Source: Seth Lovd and Chian-Wel, KU Weather Service
ON CAMPUS
Office of Study Abroad will sponsor an informational meeting about study opportunities in Gelfoit, Costa Rica, at 3 p.m. today at the Walnut Room in the Kansas Union.
Office of Study Abroad will sponsor an informational meeting for the Summer Rome Institute 1996 at 5:30 p.m. today at Alderson Auditorium in the Kansan Union and at 7 onight in the Lawrence Public Library. For more information, call Mary Elizabeth Debicki or Melissa Jiuemoul at 864-3742.
KU Democrats will meet at 7 tonight at the Jayhawk Room
KU Meditation Club will meet at 6 p.m. today at Alcove D in the Kansas Union. For more information, call Ravi Hirekatur 832-8789.
in the Kansas Union. For more information, call Ted Miller at 862-0766.
AIESEC will hold an informational meeting 7:30 tonight at the Walnut Room in the Kansas Union. For more information, call Vaughn Lawrence at 782-3394.
Office of Study Abroad will sponsor an informational meeting on Study Abroad Japan at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow to 2085 Wescoe Hall. For more information, call Nancy Mitchell at 864-3742.
Habitat for Humanity will sponsor Golden Key National Honor Society Saturday at 8:45 a.m. today at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries parking lot. For more information, call Darin at 832-2488.
See the new TI-92 at:
Kansas Union Bookstore
Jayhawk Bookstore