The programme is a one-year practical diploma in Icelandic as a second language. It is aimed at students who have little prior knowledge of the language and want to get by in Icelandic in their daily lives. You must have reached level pre-A1 within the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) when you start the programme and therefore you need to pass the entrance exam.
See for example:
You find more about the entrance exam on Icelandic as a second language, for practical purposes, diploma.
The following statements, from the CEFR, describe the proficiency applicants need to have before starting the programme.
Overall oral comprehension.
- Can understand short, very simple questions and statements, provided they are delivered slowly and clearly and accompanied by visuals or manual gestures to support understanding and repeated if necessary.
- Can recognise everyday, familiar words/signs, provided they are delivered clearly and slowly in a clearly defined, familiar everyday context.
- Can recognise numbers, prices, dates and days of the week, provided they are delivered slowly and clearly in a defined, familiar everyday context.
- Overall reading comprehension
- Can recognise familiar words/signs accompanied by pictures, such as a fast-food restaurant menu illustrated with photos or a picture book using familiar vocabulary.
Reading correspondence
- Can understand from a letter, card or e-mail the event to which they are being invited and the information given about day, time and location.
- Can recognise times and places in very simple notes and text messages from friends or colleagues (e.g. “Back at 4 o’clock” or “In the meeting room”), provided there are no abbreviations.
Overall oral production
- Can produce short phrases about themselves, giving basic personal information (e.g. name, address, family, nationality).
Overall written production
- Can give basic personal information (e.g. name, address, nationality), perhaps with the use of a dictionary.
Overall oral interaction
- Can ask and answer questions about themselves and daily routines, using short, formulaic expressions and relying on gestures to reinforce the information.
Overall written interaction
- Can convey basic information (e.g. name, address, family) in short phrases on a form or in a note, with the use of a dictionary.
General linguistic range
- Can use isolated words/signs and basic expressions in order to give simple information about themselves.