Our partner, Garðabær, recently posted on the website gardabaer.is about Icelandic language lessons for their employees, which we at Liberis Fræðslumiðstöð provide.
We are very proud of this collaboration.
Original interview: Aldrei of seint að læra nýtt tungumál
“It’s never too late to learn a new language.”
A group of employees at Garðabær is currently participating in Icelandic language courses offered by the municipality to staff members whose native language is not Icelandic. Icelandic teacher Beata Líf says it’s never too late to learn a new language.
The primary goal of these Icelandic courses, offered by Garðabær to its foreign employees, is to promote the use of the Icelandic language within the municipality’s institutions and to strengthen the position of immigrant staff both in their work and personal lives. Icelandic courses were held last winter with great success and are being offered again this winter.
The Icelandic instruction is provided by Liberis Education Center. Beata Líf Czajkowska, one of the founders of Liberis, is part of the group responsible for language teaching for Garðabær’s employees. She moved from Poland to Iceland in 2001.
Asked about the importance of offering Icelandic lessons to immigrants entering the Icelandic labor market, Beata says it is valuable for various reasons. She notes that people are clearly encouraged when they can take Icelandic courses through their workplace.
“Receiving Icelandic lessons at work is very beneficial, and the entire community gains from it. It’s not mandatory, but given how many people are interested in the courses, we can conclude that it is significant for them, and they appreciate being able to attend courses close to their workplace,” says Beata. The classes are held in the meeting rooms at Garðabær’s town hall. “Many students live nearby, so it’s easy for them to attend. Another important factor is team-building; Garðabær employees meet, get to know each other, and learn together, which strengthens their positions. And the fact that the courses are free for Garðabær staff is, of course, a big advantage.”
Tailored teaching
Asked about the teaching methods used by Liberis instructors, Beata says the main objective is to offer individualized instruction. “We try to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable in the classroom. Students need to feel safe in order to learn and use the language. We are all different, and people learn in different ways. Some students prefer visual or hands-on teaching, while others want auditory or oral lessons, or they prefer to practice reading and writing,” she explains.
She says Liberis teachers strive to meet the needs of all students and provide a variety of teaching methods. “We believe it’s important for students to practice all the language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.”
Does Beata have any advice for those who think it’s too hard to learn Icelandic as an adult?
“I’ll say something everyone has probably heard a thousand times: it’s never too late to learn. I encourage my students to treat learning Icelandic like a hobby and see language learning as an opportunity, not a burden.” This, according to Beata, makes it easier to learn.
She points out that all of Liberis’ teachers are women of foreign origin, and at some point, they have all been in the same position as their students. “That fact gives us a bit of an advantage because it shows students that it’s possible to learn to speak fluent Icelandic as an adult.”
