Let's give the Icelandic time

14 January 2026

Laila

Grant to enhance and improve Icelandic language learning for staff Hafnarfjörður Nursery School

Hafnarfjörður Municipality, together with Mímir and the University of Iceland's Icelandic Village, have received a grant from the Ministry of Children and Education to enhance the Icelandic language skills, self-confidence and professional development of nursery school staff in Hafnarfjörður. The project involves the creation of specialised learning materials, teaching work-related Icelandic courses, training language mentors in nurseries, as well as providing education and support to staff and managers. The emphasis is on implementing a comprehensive on-the-job Icelandic language programme, where specialised, work-related learning is combined with the introduction of a mentoring scheme to promote the use of Icelandic in all aspects of the nursery schools' work.

An important part of the project is the inclusion and professional development of the participants. Through organised Icelandic language tuition in the workplace, staff members acquire both language skills and professional competence, which strengthens their position within the nursery. Staff will have the opportunity to take the next steps in their studies or careers in the field of childcare and education, and in this way, the project will hopefully contribute to increased equality, professionalism and job satisfaction.

The project is carried out in collaboration with experts from Mímir Continuing Education and the University of Iceland's Icelandic Village, and is based on the experience, knowledge, pedagogical approach and methods of Mímir and the Icelandic Village, which have demonstrated good results in work-related language learning.

The 'Gefum íslensku tíma' project is an exciting and necessary initiative, with the aim of strengthening the Icelandic language environment in nurseries, and which recognises that language learning is not solely the responsibility of the individual, but also of society as a whole.

In the picture are Hildur Ýr Jónsdóttir, Project Manager for Multiculturalism in Hafnarfjörður, and Aleksandra Kozimala, Teacher Advisor for Multiculturalism in Hafnarfjörður's nurseries, Sólborg Jónsdóttir, Project Manager at Mímir, and Guðlaug Stella Brynjólfsdóttir from the University of Iceland's Icelandic Village.