The Gymnastics and Sports Folk High School in Viborg, GIV, offers a 4-month programme for young people who want to work as leaders or instructors in voluntary sports associations or other organisations working with cultural and social activities.
This programme focuses on voluntary leadership, democracy, community-based activities, voluntary work as a tool for social integration, intercultural understanding and citizenship.
The programme combines physical exercises with theoretical, intellectual work.
At the GIV we try to improve students' personal skills within their chosen sport. We work in a practical way doing a lot of different drills for the specific sports. We dance, play and have games or other activities for amusement and entertainment.
The ability to pass this on to others – children or elderly people – is highly important. The dialectical and pedagogical considerations involved in the teaching process are natural parts of the debate among students. From the very first day students are encouraged to participate in discussions and to improve their ability to voice their opinion – no matter if the listening crowd counts 3 or 100 persons.
Students from different countries
Generally, the international course takes 18 to 20 students from different countries. Most students have experience from or are associated with work in sports/cultural organisations or studies at an university.
This course offers training in basic skills and offers leader training in a broad sense. The language of instruction is English. It is very important that you speak and understand English at an acceptable level.
We work with gymnastics, both rhythmic gymnastics and tumbling, ballgames, outdoor activities and games in the woods and in the water. The lake and the undulating grounds around the school together with our own sports facilities and swimming baths frame most of our activities.
Danish students may also enrol for this course where they will have plenty of opportunity to practise their English and gain an insight into and knowledge of the sports culture and coaching ideologies of other nations.
