Simple Danish Newsletter #35

Hi friends,

We hope you’re enjoying the shift to the cozy, indoor season as much as we are ☕️ (and if you’re lucky enough to live somewhere sunny right now, we envy you – just a bit!)

One thing this time of year definitely calls for is cozying up with a good book!

I recently picked up a book a colleague gave me about the core ideas from the psychological framework known as “Self-Determination Theory” (or Selvbestemmelsesteori in Danish).

This page-turner of a brick was actually surprisingly engaging and had a lot of relevant insights for learning Danish as well as for life in general.

In brief, Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is a psychological framework that explores what motivates people and how different types of motivation affect well-being and performance.

According to SDT, humans have three basic psychological needs:

1. Autonomy (the need to feel in control of one’s actions)
2. Competence (the need to feel skilled and capable)
3. Relatedness (the need to feel connected to others)

This description of motivation was a nice surprise, as we’ve already touched on each of these three areas in some of our previous newsletters. And here’s why we’re returning to the topic of motivation:

Learning Danish is tough! Mastering the language takes time, so being aware of your motivation can make a huge difference in getting through the challenging moments.

In this newsletter, we’re going to dive into autonomy, and feeling in control of one’s actions.

Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic Motivation

You might have heard of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation. The idea is generally explained like this: Extrinsic motivation is when you do something for external reasons, like a reward or avoiding punishment, while intrinsic motivation is when you do something simply because you enjoy it. Often, we are told extrinsic motivation = bad and intrinsic motivation = good.

However, SDT says this view oversimplifies motivation, missing many of the important nuances.

Let’s say you do something you don’t particularly enjoy (like studying Danish), but you do it because you truly value the knowledge you’ll gain. Where does that fall? It’s somewhere in between, right?

In SDT, motivation isn’t just binary; it’s seen as a continuum. To describe motivations that fall in between, SDT identifies five types of motivation along this spectrum.

5 Types of Motivation: Where Are You?

According to the Relative Autonomy Continuum (I am just throwing the term in there if you want to read more), there are five main types of motivation on the scale from external to internal.

Here’s how each type might look for a Danish learner:

1. Extrinsic Motivation: Maybe you’re learning Danish due to outside pressure, like needing it for work or visa requirements. This can feel like a chore, driven by obligation.
2. Introjected Motivation: Here, you’ve internalized some external expectations, so you might feel you “should” learn Danish to avoid guilt or to fit in. It’s a step closer to autonomy, but it still feels heavy because the motivation isn’t fully yours.
3. Identified Motivation: At this level, you value learning Danish for yourself—maybe to improve your career, feel more at home, or make daily interactions easier. It’s a positive place to be!
4. Integrated Motivation: Now Danish is more than a skill—it’s part of who you are. Speaking the language aligns with your sense of self or the person you aspire to be. For example, someone who identifies as an athlete might find it easier to stay active because it aligns with who they see themselves as.
5. Intrinsic Motivation: The ultimate goal! Here, you learn Danish purely because it’s enjoyable. Maybe you love the sounds, enjoy new phrases, or simply find the process rewarding.

Moving further along this continuum makes the process of learning Danish feel lighter, easier, and more energizing. It can become about more than survival or practicality; it can bring joy.

If you’re interested in exploring your motivations, you can check out our previous newsletter on how you can identify what motivates you to learn Danish.

How to Move Towards Intrinsic Motivation

Great—so we agree that moving further down the scale, toward intrinsic motivation, makes the process more enjoyable. How do you do that in practice?

1. Think about why learning Danish matters to you (for more, see here). Beyond external pressures, what’s in it for you? Write down your personal reasons and revisit them regularly. If your motivation is more extrinsic or introjected, consider if you’re doing it for the right reasons.
2. If you can’t change your motivation, maybe you can turn studying into something you enjoy. Try listening to Danish music, watching Danish TV shows, or finding podcasts that match your interests. We’ve discussed this in a previous newsletter. Engaging with Danish in ways you enjoy makes practice feel more like play.
3. Choose goals that genuinely excite you! Maybe you want to order in Danish at your favorite café, read a Danish children’s book, or join a conversation group. Goals you look forward to will feel more natural and satisfying.
4. Start identifying as someone who learns languages.I remember a friend from Greece visiting me. He noticed some paintings I’d done and remarked, “Oh, I didn’t know you were an artist.” “I’m not,” I replied. “If you make art, why aren’t you an artist?” he asked. I didn’t have a good answer. In my mind, “artist” was reserved for those who were serious or made it their career. But his question stuck with me—why was I so hesitant to own that label?As an example, think of athletes. At what point on their journey do you think they started considering themselves as athletes? I think, people often wait too long to think of themselves as athletes or learners. But why wait? Give yourself permission to say, I am someone who studies languages!

Reflect and Take Your Next Step

Identifying the right kind of motivation can transform your language-learning experience. Think about where you are on the motivation scale. What drives you to learn Danish right now? And what’s one small step you can take toward intrinsic motivation?

Progress is gradual, so even a small shift in mindset can make learning Danish feel more enjoyable and energizing.

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Our Favorite Things ❤️

Idiom of the Week: At kaste benzin på bålet

Literally; To throw gasoline on the fire

This Danish idiom means to make a situation worse by adding fuel to an already tense or problematic scenario. Just as throwing gasoline on a fire makes it blaze even higher, “at kaste benzin på bålet” suggests that someone’s words or actions are intensifying a conflict instead of calming it down.

For Example:

Lars: Jeg tror ikke, at det hjælper at sige det til hende nu – det vil bare kaste benzin på bålet.

Pia: Du har nok ret. Lad os vente, til hun er faldet lidt til ro.

Word of the Week: At knokle

Literally; ???

The Danish word “knokle” means to work really hard, often in a physical or intense way, similar to “putting in the elbow grease” in English. It’s commonly used to describe putting in extra effort, especially when working long hours or tackling a tough task.

Example:

Frederik: Hvordan går det med projektet?

Anna: Åh, jeg har knoklet hele natten, men nu er jeg næsten færdig!

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We hope you liked this week’s newsletter. As always don’t hesitate to reach out if you have comments, suggestions or otherwise have questions 😊

Kram fra,

Antonina & Rasmus

Denmark&Me