Icelandic Level 4

Prerequisite for entry

Basic knowledge of Icelandic (successful completion of Icelandic syllabus 3+ at UCL Language Centre or other comparable studies).

Term duration

10 x 2-hour classes.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the course is to enable students who already have a good knowledge of the basics of Icelandic to get up to an advanced level. Cultural awareness will be further developed. The grammar will still play a major part with students having the declension patterns under their belt, ready to tackle verbs in the past. More complex texts will be introduced, and students should be able to understand and take part in various conversations with natives.

Functions

• Relating the past
• Expressing a wide range of opinions and reactions
• Agreeing/disagreeing, accepting/refusing
• Improving reading skills
• Improving listening skills
• Leisure activities
• Icelandic geography
• Enjoying the outdoors

Linguistic structures/ Phonetics

Practice getting up to speed when talking.

Grammar

• Regular verbs in the simple past. (Groups 1&2)
• Irregular verbs in the simple past. (Groups 3&4)
• Mixed verbs in the simple past. (Verbs that switch groups)
• Revision of impersonal expressions
• Word order (after prepositional phrases, adverbs, sub-clauses)

Learning resources

Books

• Course book: Colloquial Icelandic, Daisy Newman;
• Learning Icelandic, Mál & Menning
• Teacher’s handouts
• Online material from Bragi - íslenska

Dictionaries

• Glossaries from Colloquial Icelandic & Learning Icelandic
• Íslensk ensk orðabók - Iðunn
• Ensk-íslensk skólaorðabók – Mál & Menning
• Ordabok

In addition there is a wide range of language learning materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre.