Questions? +34644016219 (phone and WhatsApp) +3548462553 | [email protected] | Messenger | Hours: Mo-Fr: 13:30-21:30 CET/CEST

This Icelandic course is for students who do not live in the Greater Reykjavik area, cannot sign up for one of the classroom group courses in the afternoon/evening, or prefer to learn at home or in their office.

The classes take place in an online classroom with a whiteboard and options to share the screen with the students. We all see each other and listen to each other as if we were in a brick-and-mortar classroom.

You only need a computer or tablet (or a cellphone, but it is probably a bit uncomfortable) and a quality Internet connection. It is recommended to use a headset with a microphone, but it is not essential.

You can’t join us for a class, or the timetable doesn’t suit you? 📺

No problem, you can watch the recording. These are available until after a month after the course is over. This is useful for students who work shifts or have a job with changing hours.

✅ Online classes, the best social distance (COVID-19) 🧪👨‍🔬👩‍🔬🧫🦠

✅ Small groups, no more than ten students on live classes in this course 🔝

✅ Bonuses: this course features several bonuses for its students. Continue on this page to discover them

❌No more class binging so that your trip to the school makes sense. Let’s take advantage of IT 💻

✅ This course’s online format makes it possible to have one class at a time. This way, you can assimilate the content little by little and use all your attention in each class.

Onsite classes often teach two classes or more (intensive courses) because it doesn’t make sense to teach only one when you have already made a trip to the school.

Teaching more than one class at a time is not the most optimal arrangement from a pedagogical point of view. As teachers, this is one of the first things we learn as students of Education in Psychology. However, schools insist on offering intensive courses and double and triple classes due to organizational reasons (not because it’s the best way to learn). It isn’t easy to keep your attention for such a long time and make good use of the following classes. Concentration drops after 40 minutes.

The course also finishes too quickly, and you don’t have time to digest what you are learning. Icelandic is a language that requires time to assimilate.

With online teaching, you just need to click on a link to enter the class. Say goodbye to using time and money to commute to a brick-and-mortar language school.

ℹ This course is taught in English, but it is open to people whose primary language may be another. Spanish speakers: you may want to join this same course taught in Spanish.

ℹ Este curso se enseña en inglés pero está abierto a personas cuya primera lengua puede ser otra. Alumnos hispanohablantes: quizá queráis apuntaros a este mismo curso impartido en español.

Your free bonuses 💡📩

✅ Bonus #1: Free access to Snara during the course

Snara offers monolingual and bilingual dictionaries from and into Icelandic with the following languages: Danish, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Polish, and Spanish. It also has a recipe database in Icelandic so that you can test your cooking skills and Icelandic at the same time. Value: ISK 3240 (ca. EUR 22).

✅ Bonus #2: A native revisor will correct your homework

As the number of students has grown and I teach more classes per week, it’s become more difficult for me to keep up with my students’ assignments. A native revisor can do this much quicker, which means you will receive personal feedback earlier. Value: ISK 10,000 (ca. EUR 68). This bonus is pending confirmation.

✅ Bonus #3: Planning tool so you can succeed 🚀

Many students have good intentions and want to work on their own. However, the course flies by, and they couldn’t do as much as they wanted due to a lack of planning. This bonus lets you plan everything you want to do outside the virtual classroom (listening to podcasts, watching movies and series in Icelandic, etc.) Value: ISK 10,000 (ca. EUR 68). 

✅ Bonus #4: A list of resources in Icelandic you can enjoy on your own 📺📓

You will receive a PDF with links to resources where you can watch Icelandic movies, films, series, etc. You’ll also find out where you can find free e-books in Icelandic or how to buy e-books in Icelandic for your e-book reader (Kindle). Value: ISK 14,000 (ca. EUR 95).

✅ Bonus #5: An accountability buddy 👦👩

All students are matched to another student with whom they share their progress and what they have done every week. An accountability buddy helps you keep accountable and motivates you to do more. Many people set New Year’s resolutions such as learning a language, but only 8 % achieve their goal. An accountability partner turns the odds in your favor as they hold you accountable for your goals. Many start a course, and it seems that all of a sudden, they’re in the last class and they haven’t done as much as they wanted. Value: ISK 14,000 (ca. EUR 95).

✅ Bonus #6: ISK 500 off private classes

Students in group courses have discounts in private online classes since the course starts until a month after it’s over. If someone is taking the course only by watching the recordings, they can quickly solve their questions with single private classes. Pay ISK 3000 for 30-minute classes instead of 3500 (ISK 500 off).

Next course:

🟢 It starts on November 29^th, 2021.

🟠 Secure your spot as soon as possible. Seats are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis (after confirming your attendance by paying the tuition). This course requires five students to start. There’s a maximum of 10 live attendants.

Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 18:00 to 18:55 CET (Spanish time). This is the same as 17:00-17:55 Icelandic time. If you want to know what time it is in your time zone, you can check it out here.

If you are at work at that time, ask your supervisor if it is possible to attend classes then. From experience with other students, I know that many employers in Iceland are willing to allow some flexibility or that lessons become part of the work schedule. Many employers are interested in you learning Icelandic.

The course finishes when we complete the 24 lessons.

Contents and competencies in Icelandic IV:

The course’s aim is that you know enough Icelandic to feel comfortable in a series of daily life situations. It is especially relevant for those who have just arrived in the country or before moving to it. Classes introduce vocabulary and grammar progressively. Do not worry about grammar; we will go through those contents slowly, and it appears in connection to the vocabulary and skills contents we are learning. Everything is understandable (and if someone does not understand something, it can be explained again 🙂).

The 4th level, besided introducing new vocabulary, reviews previous contents and includes numerous exercises to practice and consolidate the learning from previous courses.

Contents:

1. Travel.
2. Icelandic History, nature and descriptions of countries.
3. School.
4. At the doctor’s.
5. Media.
6. Work matters.
7. Work environment.
8. Recap and self-assessment.

Competencies according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

The 4^th level is the second part of the A2 level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This is the last level as a beginner. Icelandic V is the first level for intermediate Icelandic.

This is the general description of the A2 level as it appears on The Council of Europe’s website:

Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.  Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.

And more precisely, regarding each skill:

👂 Listening:

I can understand phrases and the highest frequency vocabulary related to areas of most immediate personal relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local area, employment). I can catch the main point in short, clear, simple messages and announcements.

📖 Reading:

I can read very short, simple texts. I can find specific, predictable information in simple everyday material such as advertisements, prospectuses, menus and timetables and I can understand short simple personal letters.

💬🗨 Spoken interaction:

I can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar topics and activities. I can handle very short social exchanges, even though I can’t usually understand enough to keep the conversation going myself.

🗯 Spoken production:

I can use a series of phrases and sentences to describe in simple terms my family and other people, living conditions, my educational background and my present or most recent job.

✍ Writing:

I can write short, simple notes and messages relating to matters in areas of immediate needs. I can write a very simple personal letter, for example thanking someone for something.

Teacher

Fernán González Domingo teaches this course. He holds a BA in Icelandic as a Second Language, an undergraduate degree as Specialist Teacher in Foreign Language (English), and an MA in Intercultural Communication, Interpretation, and Translation in Public Services (Spanish<>English). The Icelandic Ministry of Education certified Fernán in 2008 as a Primary school teacher (validation of his undergraduate degree from Spain as a teacher). He is also a sworn translator from Icelandic into Spanish.

Fernán has years of experience as a teacher, on his own, and as an employee. He has worked as a freelancer since 2012. He is also a sown translator. He is always studying a language and learning about Second Language Acquisition to improve his training as a teacher. More information.

Tuition

How much is the course? With all the bonuses, the value of this course is ISK 83,740 or EUR 551.30. But you don’t have to pay that.

ISK 83,740 or EUR 551.30 ISK 27,500 or EUR 181.02

The course has 24 classes of 55 minutes and costs ISK 27,500 (or EUR 181.02).

ℹ All employees in Iceland are unionized, and most unions offer reimbursements for courses taken by their members. So far, I know unions Báran, BHM, Efling, Hlíf, and VR refund students, and there may be many more unions that do. Ask your union to know about your situation and know how much you could receive before signing up for the course. If you need the invoices to have a particular format, let me know on the registration form so you can benefit from the training scholarships. The reimbursement can be up to 100% of the course price, so hopefully, money is not an obstacle for anyone who lives in Iceland and wants to learn Icelandic. If you live in another country, check with your union or other institution. You may be able to access some scholarships.

Materials

This course uses two books:

• Íslenska fyrir alla 4. Students can consult this textbook electronically for free or print it for their comfort at home or in a copy shop or book store in Iceland (recommended).
• Icelandic Grammar Step by Step. Exercise book A1-A2 by Stefan Drabek, which you can buy from the author’s website (products ship from Germany). Students do these exercises on their own as the book has an answer key. Students are expected to finish 75% of this book when they finish Icelandic III. Students who live in Iceland can buy the book at Bóksala stúdenta for their convenience.

Students pay for their materials.

Contract conditions

1. Students pay for the course in advance, and payment formalizes the reservation of a seat. Students will receive an invoice in their email as proof of payment as soon as the course is confirmed (when five students have paid). Places are granted depending on who makes the reservation earlier (on a first-come, first-serve basis). For the course to start, five students must have formalized their registration. If there are fewer students than five, the teacher will ask the students if they would be satisfied with a smaller group and paying a supplement.
2. Once the seat is reserved, there are no tuition refunds due to the course’s fixed costs unless other students on the waiting list formalize their registration. If the course has already started, the tuition return will be proportional to the course’s unused part if another person substitutes the person leaving the course.
3. The teacher of this course is Fernán González Domingo, but in case of illness or due to professional or personal commitments, another teacher can replace him at those times. In case of no teacher being available, if the course’s dates need an extension, the teacher will try to find a solution taking into account the schedules of the students so that all students receive the classes they have contracted.
4. Etiquette: out of respect for your classmates and the teacher, you must attend classes alone in a quiet room and with your camera on. By default, all attendees have their microphones open to ask questions when they want, as in a face-to-face classroom. However, if there is noise, your microphone will be turned off (it will be reactivated when you need to ask something or participate; the virtual classroom has an option to raise your hand). If you are in a situation where this is not possible, the teacher offers private lessons that could better fit what you need. It is not allowed to photograph, copy/reproduce, record, or distribute the classes’ content. Failure to follow these instructions or disrespect other students or the teacher may result in the student’s expulsion from that class or the course (no refund).

If you have any questions, you can contact me by email or Messenger.

Registration

Banknote image from Colnect.