BRICK material integrated into Mímis care workshop

At the beginning of February, eleven students began a care course at Mími Continuing Education. The care course is specially designed for individuals who are interested in working in care but need stronger Icelandic language skills to be able to carry out the job with safety and professionalism.

The workshop is now working with an improved version of the teaching material from the international project BRICK. The material was piloted before the New Year and has been further developed in light of the experience and feedback from students and teachers. The teaching material is at Level 3 in Icelandic (A2.1) and integrates vocational learning in Icelandic with real-life situations in the workplace. Students work with vocabulary, communication and tasks related to workplace safety, digital solutions in healthcare, and sustainable working practices. The language thus becomes a practical tool that strengthens both professional competence and self-confidence.

Strategic European cooperation

BRICK is part of Erasmus+ Policy Experimentation, one of the largest and most ambitious project strands within Erasmus+. Such projects are exclusively open to government bodies, ministries, and large education and public institutions, and aim to test new policy approaches at a national level in collaboration with governments, businesses, and educational institutions.
The project is based on extensive European cooperation, with 16 partners from Italy, France and Iceland involved in the development and implementation of a new approach to language training in the workplace. Mímir represents Iceland and is one of the project's partners, while Vinnumálastofnun is involved as a national partner.
The aim of BRICK is to develop and establish a new European model for language training in the workplace, with a focus on quality, safety, digital and green skills. The project works across countries and sectors with a strong focus on quality assessment, monitoring, dissemination and long-term impact.

Icelandic as a key to participation

The Icelandic component of BRICK involves developing job-related Icelandic language teaching that connects language learning with increased safety, quality at work, and digital and green skills in the workplace in a targeted manner.
For people of foreign origin, knowing and using Icelandic is one of the most important factors in active participation in the labour market and in society. When Icelandic is taught in the context of specific jobs, for example in care and healthcare services, the quality, safety and professionalism of such work are increased. Staff who understand and can express themselves in Icelandic are more confident in their work and participate more actively in workplace activities, thereby increasing the job satisfaction of everyone.

This development work is building a bridge between language learning and the world of work, with a clear vision for a professional, safe and sustainable working environment.