Marie's Danish Lessons

[GlitteringTiaras]

Originally Posted by princess leonor

Thanks for the article GlitteringTiaras. Can you maybe translate part of it for the non-danish readers among us

When I have a chance, no problem. Unless someone else would like to do the honors?

There is another article and cover shot of Marie on this week's Se og Hor. Now they are claiming that she isn't really interested in learning Danish. Allegedly she noted that so far, hence since her engagement announcement back in October, she has only recieved six hours of Danish lessons a month. I believe it came from her interview with Point du Vue magazine in which she stated:

In practice how did things go?

With regard to the language, for instance, I have to admit that I haven't made much progress. It must be said that my courses take place in Copenhagen while I spent most of my time at Schackenborg, Joachim's castle, which is not very near the capital. Which made that for the moment because of spending only about 6 hours per month on learning the language, I have just mastered the basics. It's a very difficult language, it has a very special pronounciation. But it doesn't worry me too much: once I will get immersed in the country; everything will go very fast then, I think.

I sure hope it is simple a language barrier translation thingy or something even though "allegedly" the interview was in French. Then translated into Danish. Anyway...apparently, Se og Hor is P.O.'d about this noting that she is essentially giving the "friendly finger" to the Danes and demostrating her sheer laziness and attitude towards the Danish people, culture, and language.

They sure are stretching it. Why they are so hell bent on sticking it to Marie is beyond me. Personally speaking, it is quite clear they don't like her, and are making darn sure she and everyone else in Denmark knows it. So childish.

[norwegianne]

Originally Posted by GlitteringTiaras

I sure hope it is simple a language barrier translation thingy or something even though "allegedly" the interview was in French. Then translated into Danish. Anyway...apparently, Se og Hor is P.O.'d about this noting that she is essentially giving the "friendly finger" to the Danes and demostrating her sheer laziness and attitude towards the Danish people, culture, and language.

They sure are stretching it. Why they are so hell bent on sticking it to Marie is beyond me. Personally speaking, it is quite clear they don't like her, and are making darn sure she and everyone else in Denmark knows it. So childish.

It's typical Se & Hør behaviour, really. They'll do the same thing to anyone, (and have) if they can sell some extra magazines from it.

I think it is an interesting case, though, because it makes it obvious that even if the basic facts are the same - some will take it and say "Marie isn't learning Danish" whereas others will take it and say "Wonderful, Marie is learning Danish.". It's been the same with all the members of the royal family (as well as other celebrities) who end up featuring in both Se & Hør and Billedbladet. There aren't really all that many "middle road" kind of magazines in Denmark.

[Princess Robijn]

Ofcourse by saying she hasn't many lessons yet, people won't expect that much of her Danish.

[GlitteringTiaras]

Here is another article in regards to Marie and her skills at learning the Danish language. Just like Se og Hor, this magazine BT isn't all that impressed with her. I guess they too are jumping on the bandwagon. Besides the article the photo of her is beautiful.

[ashelen]

how is possible she does not bother to learn danish, it is the first thing she should do, if she will be a princess indenmark is the least she can do! this thing that the house is far it is not excuse! como on she has all the mony and power now for getting the things easy for her, do like maxima get a private tuttor! sorry if i look upset, i am not but i think she should to try to show a little bit more interested.

[Mandy]

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[norwegianne]

Originally Posted by Princess Robijn

Ofcourse by saying she hasn't many lessons yet, people won't expect that much of her Danish.

That's definitely one way to look at it. Honestly, with the way the press was blowing up Mary's Danish knowledge before the engagement, without any solid knowledge, it would naturally lead to disappointment from Ekstrabladet/Se&Hør in retrospect. By deflating this now, I suppose the expectations on Marie might be lower.

[Princess Robijn]

Originally Posted by norwegianne

That's definitely one way to look at it. Honestly, with the way the press was blowing up Mary's Danish knowledge before the engagement, without any solid knowledge, it would naturally lead to disappointment from Ekstrabladet/Se&Hør in retrospect. By deflating this now, I suppose the expectations on Marie might be lower.

That was my point I do hope it's that, because otherwise Marie would have a really bad start, both in Denmark (not speaking the language) as with the Danish people. (A Princess who doesn't "want" to learn the language well.)

I'm not saying that's what Danish people would think, I'm saying it's what the could think.

Josette

[msleiman]

I really think that learn Danish should have been Marie most important task. I know that the wedding is up there, but she will have to speak with with the Danish people for the rest of her life. The wedding day is only one day. Go to your Danish lessons Marie.

[madeleine victoria]

Originally Posted by msleiman

I really think that learn Danish should have been Marie most important task. I know that the wedding is up there, but she will have to speak with with the Danish people for the rest of her life. The wedding day is only one day. Go to your Danish lessons Marie.

Yep, I quite agree. Learn the language and I'm pretty sure she will be loved by the Danes. THat's the first step she should take into consideration.

[princess gertrude]

IMO, this makes me think more highly of Princess Mary, simply because, although not fluent when they announced their engagement, she could at least speak a little. It's almost 2 weeks before their marriage and it seems to me that she is not very concerned with learning the language. Also, like I've said previously, she's been dating him for what seems like forever, HELLO, let's get a clue there Marie!! Speaking from experience, my mother in law is Japanese, yet lives her in America and has for 30 years and is fluent in English, but I did learn at least a couple of phrases in Japanese. No real reason to except to see her smile. If it had been me, I'd have learned Danish long ago. Like was stated earlier, hire a private tutor!

[ashelen]

yes with all the money that they have what they are waiting for a private tuttor like maxima, i said this befor and i insist , i am even surprise the queen doesn't take action!!!! what's the matter with them????

[BurberryBrit]

Originally Posted by princess gertrude

IMO, this makes me think more highly of Princess Mary, simply because, although not fluent when they announced their engagement, she could at least speak a little. It's almost 2 weeks before their marriage and it seems to me that she is not very concerned with learning the language. Also, like I've said previously, she's been dating him for what seems like forever, HELLO, let's get a clue there Marie!! Speaking from experience, my mother in law is Japanese, yet lives her in America and has for 30 years and is fluent in English, but I did learn at least a couple of phrases in Japanese. No real reason to except to see her smile. If it had been me, I'd have learned Danish long ago. Like was stated earlier, hire a private tutor!

And Mary had never undertaken another language other than English! Marie is already multilingual so I would think she knows what it takes to get really good. I think though that she and Joachim mainly speak French to each other (like Mary and Fred said before that they speak mainly English together). I just remember that cute picture of Mary with a stack of Danish books.

[ashelen]

Originally Posted by BurberryBrit

And Mary had never undertaken another language other than English! Marie is already multilingual so I would think she knows what it takes to get really good. I think though that she and Joachim mainly speak French to each other (like Mary and Fred said before that they speak mainly English together). I just remember that cute picture of Mary with a stack of Danish books.

what other languages Marie speaks? do you still have that cute photo of Mary?

[GlitteringTiaras]

English, Spanish, and Italian allegedly.

[Madame Royale]

And Mary had never undertaken another language other than English

On a technicality, she did. French, in highschool...

[MARG]

Having just warped back in time to a photo of Mary's engagement ring taken at the anouncement of the engagement on the Mary - Jewelry thread, I was a little bemused/amused to find that just under it was a caustic post regarding Mary's lack of fluency in Danish when she had been living in Denmark for 14 months!

By those rules I believe Marie is still entitled to be cut a little slack.

[norwegianne]

Originally Posted by MARG

Having just warped back in time to a photo of Mary's engagement ring taken at the anouncement of the engagement on the Mary - Jewelry thread, I was a little bemused/amused to find that just under it was a caustic post regarding Mary's lack of fluency in Danish when she had been living in Denmark for 14 months!

By those rules I believe Marie is still entitled to be cut a little slack.

Indeed. I think there is a difference between living in Denmark and living in Geneva when it comes to learning Danish.

That being said, I remember the court coming out and talking about their programme for learning Mary about Denmark and teaching her Danish, allegedly the same programme they used for Alexandra. (Reading Danish books, watching Danish shows like Matador, etc. only speaking Danish) I wonder if they're still using it to teach Marie…

[GlitteringTiaras]

Yes, but aren't her lessons physically in Denmark? She said it herself in various interviews so far that she's in Denmark on the weekends. Every weekend. Wouldn't it be a nice added bonus to have additional lessons in Geneva... then when the weekend rolls along more lessons in, you guessed it, Denmark?

Jus' sayin...

[ricarda]

The keypoint of any successful integration - not only for a princess - is the language. And therefore I would have thought that Marie studies Danish 6 hours a day (I would if I were in her shoes, I must admit I was disappointed by her statement).

And IMO Marie has 1 thing against her: Frenchman Henrik hasn't managed to master the language to the Dane's satisfaction and therefore was accused of not being interested enough. And now comes Frenchwoman Marie and tells a French magazine that she only has 6 Danish lessons a month?

Bad idea. I can already see the critical articles about her language skills 14 months from now.