Undergraduate Course: Modern Icelandic Language 1a (ELCS08044)
Course Outline
| School | School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Velkomin í Modern Icelandic Language 1a! This one-semester course will introduce you to Icelandic pronunciation, help you take your first steps in understanding Icelandic grammar, and provide you with the tools you need to express basic wants and needs, and communicate in simple terms across a range of situations. You will also begin to develop a basic understanding of simple spoken language and texts, all as described in the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning level A1. The course is mostly based on language but also covers some aspects of modern Icelandic culture and civilization, giving you an insight into the country and its people as well as their mother tongue. |
| Course description |
This course provides an intensive introduction to modern Icelandic language. Over the course of 11 weeks in Semester 1, it aims to take you from the level of absolute beginner to CEFR Level A1. In it, you will begin to develop an understanding of the Icelandic grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation you will need to navigate a variety of everyday situations.
To help you progress as quickly as possible, learning is structured in bite-sized chunks, with new words, phrases and grammatical structures introduced in a range of familiar contexts, eg. family, friends at the supermarket, at the café, at university, hobbies. In addition to this, to help build your knowledge of life in Iceland, you will select an aspect of Modern Icelandic culture and civilization on which to prepare a presentation, and a short essay in English.
Lessons are delivered through the medium of multi-modal, classroom-based activities. Each session combines elements of language learning and production, covering grammar, vocabulary and phrases, alongside practice in speaking and listening. A heavy emphasis is placed on inductive learning, requiring active participation by students.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | Text Book - £40 |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
196 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
100% Coursework
Culture & Civilisation Presentation in English (pass/fail) (10%)
Culture & Civilisation Essay in English (pass/fail) (10%)
Text Production (20%)
Oral Assessment (20%)
Written Assessment under exam conditions (40%) |
| Feedback |
Formative feedback will be provided with the return of each piece of assessed work. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a familiarity with everyday Icelandic vocabulary, grammar and syntax consistent with CEFR level A1.
- Demonstrate a broad understanding of modern Icelandic culture.
- Appraise and produce basic written information about everyday, study- or work-related topics, including both general messages and specific details.
- Communicate with reasonable accuracy in familiar contexts on familiar topics orally at CEFR A1.
- Show self-reliance, initiative, and the ability to work flexibly, both individually, and with others as part of a team.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
The students will be encouraged to develop positive study-habits which will be of use to them in other disciplines, particularly in the further development of Icelandic but also in the acquisition of other new languages. Where relevant, students will be able to continue their study of Icelandic in any other University at CEFR level A1+.
The students will acquire the following transferable skills in each element of the course:
a) Writing
The students will learn how to be accurate with unfamiliar orthography and this will teach them the value of care and precision.
b) Listening and Reading
The students will learn how to extract essential information from a simple body of unfamiliar written or spoken language, even though there might not be total comprehension. The students will develop the skill of using known material in these language sources to make appropriate deductions and informed guesses about the meaning of material that is new to them.
c) Speaking
The students will develop the ability to progress from learned formulaic responses towards a more spontaneous generation of language.
The development of this creativity is one of the most important elements of language learning.
d) General
In addition to the specific skills mentioned in a) to c), students will learn the skills of using a dictionary intelligently, learning vocabulary systematically, and understanding the rules - and exceptions - of grammar. |
| Keywords | Icelandic,Iceland,Viking,Nordic,Scandinavia,saga,linguistics,geography,volcano,glacier |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Alan MacNiven
Tel: (0131 6)50 3279
Email: alan.macniven@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Hope Hamilton
Tel: (0131 6)50 4167
Email: hope.hamilton@ed.ac.uk |
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