Conference – We work in Icelandic
The Icelandic Trade Union Federation and Mímir Lifelong Learning are organising a conference entitled We work with Icelandic.
The conference takes place Thursday, 29 February 2024, from 09:00 to 15:00, at the Hilton Nordica Hotel.
As the participation of immigrants in the Icelandic labour market increases, the need for targeted Icelandic language teaching becomes ever greater. The conference will focus on the main challenges facing society when it comes to the integration of immigrants and to teaching and learning a new language in a new country. The focus will be on collaboration between the public sector, labour market parties, educational institutions, immigrants and other factors that can influence success. The experience of other countries that have faced similar challenges will also be considered.
Experts from the OECD report on challenges and best practices in the integration and language training of adult immigrants, Matilde Grünhage-Monetti, expert for the Language for Work network at the European Centre for Modern Languages in Graz, reports on Germany's experience with work-related language learning for adult immigrants.
An expert from the University of Iceland examines the societal purpose of learning and teaching Icelandic as a second language. Then, an expert from Mímir Continuing Education will speak about Mímir's experience regarding innovations and obstacles in Icelandic language teaching, and a former student will share their experience of learning Icelandic. Furthermore, an expert from Vörðu will present the findings of a survey on the position of immigrants in the Icelandic labour market.
In addition, there will be themed workshops run by the University of Iceland, Matilde Grünhage-Monetti and Ísbrú – the association of teachers of Icelandic as a second language.
The conference chair is Paola Cardenas, chair of the Immigration Council.
You must register by 27 February.
Conference fee: kr. 12,900. Included in Conference feeCoffee and lunch.
Register here
Agenda
9:00 Registration and chat.
9:15 Sentence – Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister.
9:25 We work with Icelandic – opening words – Finnbjörn A. Hermannsson, President of the Icelandic Federation of Trade Unions. – Sólveig Hildur Björnsdóttir, Managing Director of Mímir Continuing Education.
9:35 A development project in Icelandic as a second language – Gísli Hvanndal Ólafsson, project manager for Icelandic as a Second Language at the University of Iceland. Mirko Garofalo, lecturer in Icelandic as a second language at the University of Iceland.
10:00 The position of immigrants in the labour market – Kristín Heba Gísladóttir, Director of Vörðu – the Research Institute of the Labour Market.
10:15 Morning workout
10:45 Teaching Icelandic – Innovations and Challenges – Joanna Dominiczak, Head of the Icelandic Studies department at Mími-símenntun.
11:00 Language training for adult migrants – Thomas Liebig, an expert at the OECD.
11:15 Reflecting Theory and Practice, Half a Century of Second Language Development (L2) – Matilde Grünhage-Monetti, specialist at Language for Work - European Centre for Modern Languages.
11:45 Discussion and questions from the floor
12:00 Lunch
13:00 Workshops
1) The development of Icelandic language teaching – Tools and resources – Gísli Hvanndal Ólafsson and Mirko Garofalo, University of Iceland.
2) Icelandic in the labour market (Workshop) in English) – Matilde Grünhage-Monetti, Language for Work - European Centre for Modern Languages.
3) Who should teach? Professionalism, skills and fun – Thorbjorg Halldorsdottir and Sveindis Valdimarsdottir, Ísbrú – Association of teachers of Icelandic as a second language.
14:30 Afternoon snack
14:45 Summary and closing remarks – Paola Cardenas, Chair of the Immigration Council.
If you require interpretation from/into English, please contact [email protected] and we try to accommodate that.
