FAQ
Icelandic – Frequently Asked Questions
What types of courses are offered?
All Institut Nòrdic Icelandic courses are online via Zoom. Courses of different lengths begin throughout the year.
- 32-session courses (1 class/week from October to June)
- 22-session courses from January to June
How does the Virtual Classroom, the space for online classes, work?
Our online classes follow our usual philosophy, with the advantage that you can attend from wherever you are. Classes are delivered through Zoom (check the technical requirements here), and the environment includes all essential elements for learning.
- Real-time and 100% uninterrupted audiovisual contact with the teacher and other students
- Digital whiteboard
- Instant chat
- Ability to share screen and documents
What are the qualifications and experience of your teachers?
All our teachers are experienced with proven track records and have extensive backgrounds in teaching Nordic languages.
So, when I finish the intensive course, can I enroll in the next level in the annual course?
How do I know my level?
If you don't know your level, don't hesitate to let us know and we will present your case to the corresponding coordinator, who will contact you to thoroughly understand your situation.
If you wish and if the group is not full, you can attend a trial class. This way, the teacher will check if it's your level or if you should try another.
Can I take a free level test?
If you want to take a course and don't know your level, contact us so that the language coordinator can evaluate it. Send us your details and some information about your previous experience with the language, and the coordinator will call you to assess your level.
Do I need to have an official certificate if I have to move to a Nordic country?
If you are moving for work or study reasons, it's best to ask exactly what requirements are necessary. You can contact the corresponding embassy or consulate for more information (get the contact in the last section of the FAQ), as well as any other organization related to your job position or the studies involved.
Are Institut Nòrdic certificates officially recognized?
The certificates awarded by Institut Nòrdic upon completing a course certify that the holder has mastered the knowledge set by the European standard for the level examined and can demonstrate it through any test, although they are not official in any Nordic country.
What are Institut Nòrdic certificates like?
The Institut Nòrdic certificate certifies the level obtained in Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish or Icelandic. To obtain the certificate, you are required to study and pass the continuous assessment in one of the courses taught by the center. Institut Nòrdic provides two types of certificates: certificate with grade and certificate of attendance.
The certificate with a grade is the certificate given to students after passing a course, with which the student can move up to the next level. If the student does not meet the conditions to obtain a certificate confirming they have passed the course, but has attended at least 70% of the classes, they are entitled to a certificate of attendance from Institut Nòrdic.
You can find more information about our certificates here.
What is Institut Nòrdic's evaluation system like?
To learn better and make the most of the entire course from start to finish, Institut Nòrdic uses continuous assessment. We don't give an exam at the end of the course; instead, everything done during the course counts towards the final grade. This way, the course becomes an uninterrupted learning process, and the results end up being better.
In our continuous assessment, the final grade consists of five parts of equal value:
- Online test at the end of each chapter of the book.
- Submission of the most important essays.
- Oral tests.
- Listening comprehension tests.
- Class participation, homework submission, and presentations.
Continuous assessment is applied to all levels in a way that best helps meet the needs of the students. The assessment may vary depending on the level and language.
Can I take official exams at Institut Nòrdic?
At our center, you can only take the official Swedish exam, the Swedex. Unfortunately, no other Nordic country allows official examinations outside their borders, so you should contact the embassy or consulate of the corresponding Nordic country for more information.
I'm a qualified professional. Are there job opportunities in my field in Nordic countries?
If you know the language, Nordic countries offer many quality job opportunities for qualified professionals. If you're interested in this option, we recommend that you contact the embassy or consulate of the country you're interested in, as well as any professional association in your sector in the destination country. This way, you'll know the legal, language, or accreditation requirements you'll need there and can prepare the path correctly.
We recommend that you visit our page about Nordic countries, where you'll find useful information.
Is knowing English enough in Nordic countries?
Learning the country's language is essential for social integration and is a mandatory requirement to access certain job positions, as well as to opt for working conditions similar to those of a native. However, it is true that knowledge of English is widespread among Nordic people, and it's easy to get by in this language for practical matters.
Are Nordic languages similar to each other?
Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, and Icelandic belong to the Northern or Nordic Germanic languages, so they are similar to each other, although Icelandic is the most different in this group. Therefore, they are easier to learn if you know English or German, as they share certain vocabulary and characteristics.
On the other hand, Finnish is a Finno-Ugric language, a branch of the Uralic languages. For this reason, it differs greatly from the rest of the Nordic languages and it's difficult to find similarities with other European languages other than Estonian.
You can find more information about this in this article about Nordic languages.
How long do I need to speak?
Anything is possible: the more motivation and effort you put in, the faster you'll progress. The time needed to be able to function minimally in a new language depends a lot on each person and their desire to learn.
At Institut Nòrdic, we promote oral and written comprehension and expression from the beginning. This way, students will find that they can communicate from day one, with increasingly complex and elaborate concepts. It is considered that upon finishing the second course, students already have the essential grammatical concepts and vocabulary, and can understand and express everyday ideas.
Check the page about learning levels for more information.
Is Icelandic difficult?
Icelandic is not easy, but it's not impossible either. If you structure it in phases and try to learn it little by little, you end up enjoying it. It's a matter of not being afraid to speak it. It's the Nordic language that has evolved the least over time, but it belongs to the Germanic languages, so you'll find parallels with other languages from the same branch.
What is the purpose of learning Icelandic?
Learning any language is enormously positive, enriching, and helps personal growth. Knowing Icelandic opens many paths in life. The language is important for all those who want to work, study, or live in Iceland. Additionally, it opens doors to other Nordic countries with similar languages, not to mention that, being a Germanic language, it also helps in learning English and German.
Does knowing Icelandic help in learning other languages?
Especially in learning Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish, but also English, German, and Dutch.
For a person who starts studying Icelandic, other Scandinavian languages become very familiar in a short time. Moreover, being a Germanic language, it greatly helps in learning English, German, and Dutch.
What materials are used?
Íslenska fyrir alla – bók 1 - Downloadable material during the course and free, courtesy of the Government of Iceland.
What if I decide to study a second language?
If you decide to study a second language at Institut Nòrdic, you will receive a 10% discount on the enrollment fee.