Icelandic Online Review: The Truth About The Free University Course
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The University of Iceland offers a well-known language learning platform called Icelandic Online.
Many beginners start their language journey here simply because it costs nothing to create an account.
You’re likely wondering if spending your valuable time on this free university course is a smart choice.
This article breaks down everything you need to know about the Icelandic Online platform.
I’ll also share why our own platform, Talk In Icelandic, is highly recommended as the absolute best alternative for serious learners.
Table of Contents:
The #1 highly recommended alternative
Before reviewing the details of the free university course, I need to share the best overall tool for learning Icelandic.
Talk In Icelandic is our custom-built platform designed specifically for modern language learners.
It’s the number one highly recommended option if you want to speak Icelandic naturally and confidently.
While Icelandic Online is heavily focused on academic reading and outdated grammar drills, our platform focuses on real-world communication.
You’ll learn exactly how native speakers actually talk in daily life across different regions of Iceland.
Our course features crystal-clear native audio, modern interactive exercises, and a highly user-friendly interface.
If your primary goal is to actually converse with people in Iceland, you should start your journey with Talk In Icelandic.
What is icelandic online?
Icelandic Online is a web-based learning tool developed and maintained by the University of Iceland.
It was created many years ago to help foreigners, immigrants, and international students learn the national language.
The program is divided into several different difficulty modules ranging from absolute beginner to advanced.
You navigate through these modules by reading short texts, reading grammar explanations, and completing fill-in-the-blank quizzes.
The entire core self-study curriculum is completely free to access for anyone with an internet connection.
There are paid tutor-led versions available during certain times of the year, but the automated self-study material is open to everyone.
The main benefits of the course
The single biggest advantage of Icelandic Online is the non-existent price tag.
High-quality, free resources for learning Icelandic are exceptionally rare to find on the internet.
The grammar explanations inside the platform are written by actual university linguistics professors.
This means the grammatical information is highly accurate, detailed, and academically sound.
The course also exposes you to a large amount of Icelandic culture, geography, and history through its reading passages.
If you’re a student who learns best by reading dense text and taking traditional quizzes, you’ll find some value here.
The drawbacks you should know
The platform shows its age very clearly when you log in.
The user interface feels like it was built two decades ago during the early days of the internet.
Many of the interactive exercises are clunky and can be very confusing to navigate.
The course relies heavily on passive learning methods like reading text and filling in small text boxes.
There’s almost no opportunity to practice your speaking or listening skills in a natural, dynamic way.
Beginners often feel overwhelmed because the course introduces very complex grammar terminology too early on.
The lack of modern gamification, audio feedback, or visual progress tracking makes it incredibly hard to stay motivated.
Course levels explained
Icelandic Online uses specific Icelandic names for its different course modules.
Understanding these names will help you know exactly where to start if you decide to try it.
Here’s a breakdown of the main self-study tracks available on the platform.
| Course Name | Difficulty Level | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|
| Bjargir | Absolute Beginner | Basic survival phrases, greetings, and introductions. |
| Námskeið 1 | Beginner | Everyday vocabulary and foundational grammar rules. |
| Námskeið 2 | Lower Intermediate | Past tense verbs and more complex daily scenarios. |
| Námskeið 3 | Intermediate | Longer cultural texts, geography, and advanced grammar. |
Final verdict
Icelandic Online is a solid supplementary tool simply because it’s completely free to use.
It works best as an extra grammar reference guide alongside a much more modern course.
I don’t recommend using it as your primary or only method for learning Icelandic.
The outdated design and heavy focus on academic reading will likely cause you to burn out quickly.
You need to actively practice speaking and listening to truly acquire a second language.
Instead, I highly recommend signing up for Talk In Icelandic.
Our platform will give you the modern, interactive, and practical speaking experience you actually need to succeed.
