The Sámi language program.

The Scandinavian Department offers individualized instruction in Northern Sámi to qualified students who have already attained an advanced level in Finnish, Swedish, or Norwegian. We use the multi-volume textbook series Davvin, and pace the course according to each student’s aptitude and experience. Generally, we aim to complete one volume of Davvin per term. After one term, a student can usually speak competently in the present tense about a core set of topics and use and understand basic greetings, commands and questions in Northern Sámi. After two semesters, the student has usually mastered the past tense as well as the dual and plural forms of verbs. The Davvin series introduces vocabulary of relevance to life and travel in the Nordic north, and provides varied cultural information on Sámi life, customs, and society.

Students interested in learning Northern Sámi should make an appointment with Prof. Tom DuBois (tadubois@wisc.edu) to discuss the possibilities.