If you already know some Icelandic, whether you've taken a course or not, you could start by taking at look at the next question about our placement exam, the outcome of which determines your level quite decisively, and is free for all to take.
But let's start here!
Should I start at level 1?
You may have had some exposure to the language, but if you feel that you don't have a firm base in the formal grammar and vocabulary yet you should definitely start with our Íslenska 1 course.
Am I ready for level 2?
Level 2 is perfect for you if
Do any of these apply to you? Then our Íslenska 2 course is probably for you.
At LÓA we want to make sure you are studying at the correct level, as it doesn't do anyone any good if you are either struggling through or breezing by. Your level can be determined decisively in one of two ways: through our placement exam or our end of course exam (see the question below).
Placement exam
Our placement exam has been developed in order to help determine your level of Icelandic. The placement exam is free of charge and open to all. It is ideal for anyone who has had exposure to Icelandic through living in Iceland or taking Icelandic courses, but is unsure about their actual level of study.
If either of these scenarios applies to you, we encourage you to take the test before you decide on your course of study.
Click the link below to take the exam.
At LÓA we want to make sure you are studying at the correct level, as it doesn't do anyone any good if you are either struggling through or breezing by. Your level can be determined decisively in one of two ways: through our placement exam (see question above) or our end of course exam.
End of course exam
In order to get a certificate or diploma from LÓA Language School, you need to sit a written and oral exam.
The exam comprises grammar and vocabulary elements covered in the course. It is included in the course package, and will be made available to you at the end of the course.
Those who receive a score of 75% or more will be awarded the LÓA Language School Certificate of Completion, marking their success!
The LÓA Language School Certificate of Completion confirms that the student has taken a particular course, and has passed the End of Course Exam with a score of 75% minimum.
The exam is entirely optional, but only those who take it will be eligible to receive the certificate of completion
LÓA's basic requirements are based on the contents of the courses, as well as the parameters laid out in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Click here for information on the requirements for each level, along with detailed information about each course.
All of LÓA’s courses are independent study courses - you decide exactly when to start, when to study, where you choose to study and when the course ends!
You gain access to your course immediately upon purchase, and can start right then and there!
All of LÓA’s courses are independent study courses, which means that you are in charge and decide how long your course takes!
After buying a course you have 12 months to complete lessons. The same study material covered in Íslenska 1 and Íslenska 2 is compatible to 5-6 weeks of course work in a class setting.
You can spread the course out over the 12 months or rush through, it's your choice, but we hope you take your time, and enjoy.
After buying a course you have 12 months to complete it.
On the LÓA Language School study portal you will find the following:
Check out the video on our home page, which gives you an insight into how the courses are structured.
FYI: The courses cover roughly the same material as is normally covered in 5-6 weeks in a class room setting.
Of course we can reimburse you, no problem! You may contact us within 7 days of purchase and we will reimburse you the price of the course at the time of purchase.
But don't go! We'd much rather you stay! How about contacting us if you run into any sort of problems with your course, and we'll see if we can sort something out?
Our email in either case is admin@loalanguageschool.is
All our courses are online courses, and therefore LÓA does not assist students in obtaining study / student visas.
In our first beginners' course you will learn vocabulary to express a wide variety of things concerning daily life – all within the grammar framework necessary to use your knowledge with ease and skill.
The vocabulary at this stage will revolve around
As for grammar, the course will introduce you to
In our second beginners' course you will broaden your field of knowledge to cover more and more situations you may find yourself in. You will be given tools to tackle conversations in various circumstances with confidence. You will expand your vocabulary, and learn new grammar elements, enriching your language and increasing the independence you will feel living in Iceland.
To increase your vocabulary we will cover topics such as
In addition we will cover daily activities outside and inside the home, and go deeper into many of the aspects covered in level 1.
As for grammar, we will
Icelandic levels 1 & 2 contain carefully designed course packages that amount to 40 course hours each. These 40 hours are divided into 18 lessons for level 1 and 22 lessons for level 2. They are based on the textbook Íslenska fyrir alla, which you will receive upon enrolment. Each of the lessons contains instructional material with thorough content explanations through video and audio teaching and exercises. In addition, homework is assigned with every lesson.
The estimated time to complete each lesson is approx. 2 hours, depending on the student's linguistic background, familiarity with Icelandic and individual work speed.
In addition to the course package and textbook, you will receive
Online tutoring sessions are available for purchase, and each session lasts 45 minutes.
Through online tutoring we can support your efforts by eg. providing more in-depth explanations about grammar or vocabulary, with speaking practice, or whatever else you need.
If you are thinking about taking online tutoring to support your during your course we recommend that you:
You could also use these sessions to help you prepare for the course exam, if you plan to take it.
Don't worry if you are not certain about what you'd like to learn or how to use the sessions. Our experience tells us that the sessions will probably be shaped by what you are studying. Typically, review and assistance related to the grammar and vocabulary you have learned so far will make up most of the tutoring sessions, as will speaking practice. We will find out together!
For online tutoring sessions we use Zoom. We will be in touch to make all arrangements (date, time) once you've purchased the session(s).
Click here the links for more information about online tutoring with our awesome teacher, Anna!
Practice speaking Icelandic - some tips!
General course details / methods
Our Icelandic levels 1 & 2 courses are online independent study courses where the student is in charge of their own study and progress.
The lessons are in slide format. They are built around the content in the Íslenska fyrir alla textbooks, and contain the following:
Materials
All students receive the following upon enrolment in our Íslenska 1-4 courses:
Your satisfaction with the courses and competent advancement from one level to the next is very important to us. One key factor, surprisingly often overlooked, is ensuring that you are studying at your correct level.
In order to remove any obstacles created by studying at the wrong level, LÓA has created two types of exams:
PLACEMENT EXAM
For anyone who needs to assess their level of Icelandic
Anyone can take the Placement Exam to find out which level of Icelandic they are at. It is ideal for anyone who has had exposure to Icelandic through living in Iceland or taking Icelandic courses, but is unsure about their actual level of study, knowledge and proficiency. The Placement Exam is free of charge and open to all. Click the link below to take the exam!
END OF COURSE EXAM
Exclusively for students at LÓA Language School
We want students to progress from one level to another confident in the knowledge that they have learned and retained what was presented. That is why we have prepared the end of course exam.
Upon completion of our level 1 and 2 courses, you have the option to sit the end of course exam, which is a written and oral exam.
The exam is included in the course price.
You will receive all further details about the exam at the appropriate time, should you choose to take it.
Students who receive a score of 75% or more will be awarded the LÓA Language School Certificate of Completion, marking their achievement! The certificate confirms the successful completion of a certain level and eligibility to move on to the next.
PLEASE NOTE:
While the end of course exam is optional, it is necessary to take it if you want or need a certificate of completion. The exam is also necessary if you would like to progress through LÓA's course levels. This is in order for you to benefit the most from your studies as you progress.
Preparing for the end of course exam
General course requirements
For all our courses, students must have
Level 1 requirements
There are no special requirements to join Íslenska 1, only the general course requirements.
Level 2 requirements
To enrol, you will need
While we don't expect you to know the level 1 curriculum off by heart, it will be difficult to start level 2 if you are new to the basics.
See Íslenska 1 & 2 curricula above.
See also in FAQ above
Students who receive a score of 75% or more on the end of course exam* will be awarded the LÓA Language School Certificate of Completion, marking their achievement!
The end of course exam is necessary if you want to progress through LÓA's course levels. The certificate confirms the completion of a certain level and eligibility to move on to the next.
*The end of course exam is included in the course price
