Icelandic language and culture

Icelandic is the official language of Iceland and is used almost exclusively in all areas of daily life. The majority of Icelanders speak more than one language, with the most common second language being English. The number of schools offering Icelandic lessons has been steadily growing in recent years and some of them are listed below.

Throughout the country you can enjoy diverse cultural activities, ranging from national heritage and museums, to art exhibitions and popular Icelandic bands playing in concerts.

Study Icelandic

Below is a list of schools offering courses in Icelandic as a second language. As the schools are always changing and improving their programs, it is a good idea to call each school to find which course is best for you.

There is often a fee to register for classes, please make sure to inquire about any fees before applying. Please note that if there are fees you may be eligible for discounts or reimbursements e.g. from your Icelandic trade union.

Study Icelandic

Icelandic online in a self-study course and free of charge
Viltu læra íslensku? Here you can find short video episodes with Icelandic lessons

The Tin Can Factory offers both online and on-site language courses in Icelandic. They also provide courses on cultural matters, history and other languages
Mímir-Símenntun is a center for lifelong learning in Reykjavík offering Icelandic language and orientation programmes with a wide range of courses at five different levels
The Árni Magnússon institute organizes summer courses in Icelandic language and Icelandic studies
Múltikúlti - Language centre offers Icelandic courses on five levels, as well as work-related seminars for staff in companies and seminars on Icelandic culture, life skills and cultural integration
Retor provides courses in Icelandic especially for Polish speakers
Fullorðinsfræðslan Academy of Languages provides Icelandic courses on 5 different levels.

Fræðslunetið – símenntun á Suðurlands is a lifelong learning center located in the South coast of Iceland. They offer courses in Icelandic for foreigners (5 levels) as well as other courses.
Miðstöð símenntunar á Suðurnesjum (MSS) is a lifelong learning center located in the Southwest area of Iceland on Icelandic language courses for immigrants, level 1-5.
Saga Akademía is a private language school teaching Icelandic for foreigners.
VISKA, The ecudation centre and lifelong learning centre in the Westmann Islands provides Icelandic courses for foreigners on different levels.

The University Centre of The Westfjords offers Icelandic language courses
The adult education centre in the west fjords regularly offers Icelandic courses for beginners as well as two courses for advanced learners
Farskólinn offers course which emphasises spoken language for beginners as well as more advanced courses in Icelandic for foreigners.

University of Akureyri offers a course every semester for international students;
Símey also offers Icelandic as a second language courses as well as other practical education to individuals in the Eyjafjörður area.
Þekkingarnet Þingeyinga or Húsavík Academic Center (HAC) regularily has Icelandic courses

ASETUR (Alþjóðasetur ltd.) is a professional interpreter- and translator service for both individuals and companies

Access to Icelandic culture

The Multicultural Centre has the fundamental role of facilitating communications between individuals of different backgrounds, and to enhance the services provided to foreign citizens residing in Iceland and to those interested in moving to Iceland.

Below you can find links to various culturally related activities and websites in Iceland.

The House of Collections is a venue for Icelandic national heritage in a nutshell. The operations mainly entail diverse exhibitions. Contracts are made with relevant institutions regarding short or long term exhibitions.
The National Museum of Iceland is the center for the preservation and research of national historic treasures. It has a role to disseminate information about the national heritage of Iceland from antiquity until the present.
The Settlement Centre is devoted to recreating Iceland’s earliest days and introduces visitors to one of the best known heroes of the Icelandic Sagas, Egill Skalla-Grímsson

International cultural activities

Here are several links that are helpful to browse through if you want to know about cultural activities and / or cultural networks in Iceland.