Roughly one third of Hyme’s employees have international backgrounds, and English is the company’s working language. So why invest time in learning Danish?
Helping employees feel at home – and stay at Hyme
The idea for Danish lessons began when an employee approached Malene with a request to arrange a course. She was keen to support the initiative:“The more at home our employees feel, the more likely they are to stay with Hyme. We want them to thrive – both professionally and personally.”
Hyme provides the facilities and classroom space. Lessons take place right after working hours. Aside from a 2,000 kroner deposit that each course participant must pay to the local council, the course and materials are free. If you pass your test within the given time frame, you can get your deposit back.
The course is organised by Studieskolen and begins with a placement interview. By the end of each course, there is a small test. When Malene began exploring options on the internet, she quickly found Studieskolen and reached out.
A tailored and flexible partnership with Studieskolen
“Studieskolen was very open to hosting the lessons at our premises. The collaboration has been smooth and solution-oriented, with a clear focus on our needs. Participants were assessed and placed according to level. I simply sent out a sign-up form where employees could choose preferred weekdays – and we went with the one most people selected. Now that the course is running, I’m no longer involved – the teacher takes care of everything,” says Malene.Already, she has heard participants casually using everyday Danish phrases like “vi ses” and “tak for i dag” around the office.
“Some employees come to Denmark with their families or partners, and it’s incredibly important that they feel settled. That’s why Danish lessons are such a good idea. It’s also possible to bring a partner or friend along to the course,” she adds.
Cédric is building a life in Denmark – and learning Danish at work
One of the participants is Cédric Borleteau, Procurement & Supply Chain Manager at Hyme Energy. Originally from France, Cédric has chosen to build a life in Denmark with his Italian fiancée. They are expecting a baby in August and are getting married later this year. Moving to Denmark was a deliberate choice.
It was Cédric who originally proposed the idea of offering Danish lessons at Hyme.
“One of the best things about learning Danish at work is how convenient it is. You just close your laptop and head down to the classroom. If I had to travel across town for lessons, it would be much more difficult. It’s also a great way to connect with colleagues outside the usual work context,” Cédric explains.
He was initially unsure whether the teaching approach would differ too much from what he was used to in France – with more freedom and less structure. But it turned out to be a perfect fit:
“Our teacher Bettina really challenges us to do our best and gives us excellent speaking exercises – which is the hardest part. We also have access to these exercises through our online learning platform, so we can practise at home. She’s even recommended some brilliant podcasts that help us absorb the language naturally.”
And Cédric is not the only one enjoying the course. “Several participants have given very positive feedback and told me how pleased they are with Bettina’s teaching,” Malene concludes.
Read more:
Here you can read much more about Danish Education for businesses in partnership with Studieskolen.