Immigrants in Iceland: A language thing?

Immigration to Iceland has increased rapidly in recent years and the language skills of immigrants are part of public discourse. This lecture discusses aspects of language learning amongst immigrants in Iceland, focusing especially on language proficiency and the satisfaction with language classes amongst immigrants in Iceland. Prior research on language acquisition amongst immigrants has for the most part focused on language proficiency. This study takes into account immigrants’ satisfaction with language classes as well. 

Drawing on data from a large-scale survey (N=2139) conducted amongst immigrants in Iceland in 2018, predictors of Icelandic proficiency amongst immigrants in Iceland are discussed, as well as immigrants’ satisfaction with language classes in Iceland. Notable differences between Iceland and other case study in terms of the level of satisfaction with language classes and the impact of language classes on language skills are identified. The findings demonstrate that immigrants living in Iceland are rather dissatisfied with Icelandic language classes and that the number of Icelandic language courses does not correlate with immigrants’ self-reported level of Icelandic. 

Prior research has demonstrated that language schools are an area in which societal norms and values are negotiated and ideas of immigrants and immigrant identities are conceptualized and produced. Gaining understanding of language learning and satisfaction with language classes amongst immigrants in Iceland can thus further our understanding of on larger societal developments in Iceland. 

Lara Wilhelmine Hoffmann is a PhD student at the Unversity of Akureyri and works in the research project „Inclusive Societies? The Integration of Immigrants in Iceland“. Her work concentrates around the cultural participation of immigrants in Iceland, focusing especially on languages and the arts. Lara holds an MA from the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. She is also active in the field of art and literature, e.g. as an editorial board member of the publishing collective Ós Pressan.