Learning Icelandic in the Heart of the Community in Ísafjörður

Every year, the University Centre of the Westfjords offers summer courses in Icelandic, and this year is no exception. A total of 88 students are registered for five courses this summer, with levels ranging from beginners to more advanced learners.

The unique character of the Icelandic courses lies, not least, in their location. Ísafjörður is a small town, but it has many of the features usually associated with larger towns. Here you will find a cinema, restaurants, a music school, a swimming pool, sports clubs, choirs, and a vibrant cultural life. The courses make good use of this setting, as the town offers countless opportunities to use Icelandic outside the classroom.

Ísafjörður is also a community where things do not always have to happen in a hurry, and local residents are usually very willing to take the time to chat and help students practise their Icelandic. The University Centre places strong emphasis on making the local community part of the courses, based on the belief that languages are best learned by using them. In the classroom, students are given the tools of the language, while out in the community they find both opportunities and encouragement to use what they have learned.

The Icelandic courses are based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and range from A1, for beginners, to B2, for more advanced students. Students attend three hours of classroom instruction with a teacher each day, followed by a diverse programme of elective courses in the afternoons, where they learn Icelandic in a more informal setting and through a variety of activities.

During the elective courses, students have the opportunity to bake pancakes, visit museums and local companies, play games, knit, and watch films, among other things. In this way, learning Icelandic becomes both lively and practical, while students also get to know the community, culture, and everyday life in Ísafjörður.

This summer, the University Centre of the Westfjords and Gefum íslensku séns are also collaborating on several events open to Icelandic learners and anyone else interested. Þriðja rýmið will be held twice this summer, and one Hraðíslenska event will take place at Dokkan. In addition, three conversational walks around town will be offered in cooperation with Ferðafélag Ísfirðinga.

We encourage everyone interested in Icelandic, language learning, and a vibrant local community to attend the events. Further information about dates and times can be found on the Gefum íslensku séns website.