Málfríður - 15.03.2010, Blaðsíða 9

In Iceland as elsewhere, recent trends in educational
policy have evolved towards more emphasis on elec-
tive courses rather than mandatory, which may create
a critical prognosis for the teaching of languages other
than English, and removes Danish from its historical
status in the curriculum in Iceland. Vigdís has strong
views on the subject: It worries me terribly if the revision
in educational policy is threatening the teaching of languag­
es, because there is nothing as important at this time for
Icelanders as the ability to properly communicate with the
rest of the world, and that doesn’t only happen in English. It
is vital that we are in good standing with the Nordic coun­
tries. She points out that we are one of them, and we
have a duty to cultivate our mutual relationship by
learning their languages and trying to understand their
cultures, because it is our culture. The basis of our culture
is European, no matter how we perceive it, although we are
under American influence. Our culture is not American,
although it could become Americanized since we get so much
media material from America, but we are a part of Europe.
We have to be able to speak in the tongues of European coun­
tries when we are abroad, the stakes are high.
The Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Institute for Foreign
Languages was formed within the University of
Iceland in 2001, and is at this point located in the
Humanities building at the University of Iceland
campus. Vigdís dreams of a day when the institute
will have a house of its own, World Language Center,
which would celebrate and showcase the languages
of the world, as the key to understanding different
global cultures. Iceland is a stepping-stone between
continents and Icelanders speak the oldest language
in Europe, and therefore Iceland provides an ideal
location for such a center. Preparations and fund-
ing was already under way when 2008 brought the
crashing wave of financial challenges, but the goal
remains clear and Vigdís is hopeful. More informa-
tion on: www.vigdis.hi.is
Vigdís Finnbogadottir has graciously offered to
be a guardian of the international NBR seminar
“Sharing the Treasure Trove” hosted in Iceland by
STIL on June 18th-19th 2010. At the seminar teach-
ers will share with each other their best experiences
from the classroom, and thereby cultivate a mutu-
al professionalism, mindful of Sigurdur Nordal’s
beliefs that culture grows through the act of sharing.
Vigdís is eager to join her former colleagues at the
seminar by taking part in discussions as honorary
member of the Association. Registration and more
information about the seminar on www.stil.is
MÁLFRÍÐUR 
To choose Icelandic participants a competition
was held on the 27th of February in which 6
pupils from 4 Secondary schools took part. The
event which took place in the new premises of the
University of Reykjavík was very ably moderated
by Bogi Ágústson and well attended by teachers,
parents and embassy people, the Indian and US
embassies providing refreshments. A panel of 3
judges had to spend over 20 minutes to decide on
the winner of a very close contest. He proved to be
Oddur Sigurðsson from the Commercial College
(VÍ). The runner up was from the same school
Haraldur Tómas Hallgrímsson. All the particip-
ants received a dictionary present from Macmillan
Ltd and the runner up a separate book gift from
the USA embassy. All the participants deserved
the admiration of the audience and in addition to
the two VÍ participants there were two from MH,
Egill Orri Ómarsson and Einar Ragnar Jónsson,
Alexandra Dögg Steinþórsdóttir from MA and
Snæfríður Grímsdóttir from FÁ.
We are now in the happy position of being able
to send two participants to London as VÍ has
kindly offered to pay the airfare for one of the
participants. It is to be hoped that the success of
this event will spur schools around the country to
run their own competitions so we may see even
more participants in the next competition in 2011.
The ESU International Speaking Competition 2010 will
take place on the 21st of May. This is one of the highlights of
the ESU activities involving most of the member countries.