A great opportunity for those who want to improve their Icelandic.

Mímir is now offering a new approach to Icelandic for advanced learners, in collaboration with the author Þórunn Rakel Gylfadóttir. Those who have already acquired a reasonable grounding in Icelandic can now study with Mímir, where the course is based on specially-created, literature-based material.

Þórunn Rakel will be running two Icelandic courses at Mími related to literature, but to explain this better, we spoke to the author.

In 2021, the story „Akam, I and Annika“ by Þórunn Rakel was published, and the book won the Icelandic Book Prize in the children's and young people's category. A year later, an abridged version of the book was released, in which the language was considerably simplified and the book was shortened by a full 40%. "This is a novelty; I simply don't know if it has been done before in Iceland, but the text of the book was adapted to better suit both primary school-aged pupils and those for whom Icelandic is not their mother tongue," says Þórunn Rakel.

The courses with Þóranna Rakel are set up as a book club, and you can attend a course that goes through the book. Akam, me and Annika are at level B1. in accordance with the European Language Portfolio, and then there is another book club where books will be read short stories by Þóranna Rakel and Berglind Erna Tryggvadóttir, and it is a B2-level course.

„These courses will focus on improving vocabulary and spoken language skills. Akam, Annika and I is a contemporary story, so the discussions will be in keeping with modern-day language use. Many people may feel strongly about current affairs but find it difficult to express themselves as they lack the vocabulary, and these courses are therefore perfect for remedying that. The story is relevant to the present day,“ says Þórunn Rakel.

„This course is a perfect opportunity for those who really want to improve their Icelandic. I wrote this book out of my affection for the Icelandic language, and I really want to spread that affection to others,“ says Þórunn Rakel in conclusion.

We encourage everyone who wants to improve their Icelandic to sign up for this fantastic course. 

Registration for Akam, me and Annika's book club

 Registration for the Short Stories and Everyday Language Book Club