General Discussion

Xithras

(16,191 posts)

55. If you want to visit, virtually all Icelanders speak at least a little English.

Mon Jan 13, 2014, 12:32 PM

Jan 2014

When I visited, they explained that the Icelandic school systems require children to learn two or three languages before graduation. Nearly all of them study English at some point, and in most areas some English education is actually required (so they would learn Icelandic, English, and a third language of their choosing).

I didn't meet a single person in Iceland who couldn't communicate with me at some level. A lot of them spoke English very poorly, but most could carry on a passable conversation and some were more fluent than many of my fellow Americans.

If you're interested in visiting, don't let not knowing the language stop you!

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Iceland: Staggering beauty [View all] Courtesy Flush Jan 2014 OP

And they put criminal banksters in jail. aikoaiko Jan 2014 #1

Yeah, that's one of the good things I've heard. nt Courtesy Flush Jan 2014 #2

Damn straight.... awoke_in_2003 Jan 2014 #65

Spectacular country! I've been there briefly in summer, but I'd love to petronius Jan 2014 #3

It's high up there on my "bucket list" GoCubsGo Jan 2014 #4

Beautiful ColumbusLib Jan 2014 #5

Those pictures are stunning! loudsue Jan 2014 #6

They speak Icelandic, which is a form of old Norse. scarletwoman Jan 2014 #11

Well, hello, stranger! And thanks for the info! loudsue Jan 2014 #13

Hi there, old friend! scarletwoman Jan 2014 #16

Very interesting! I'll have to check out the movie. loudsue Jan 2014 #17

Just a bit of warning about the movie - some people REALLY don't like it. scarletwoman Jan 2014 #20

If you haven't read anything by Yrsa Sigurdardottir, you will enjoy her books Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2014 #22

I read her first two books, but I didn't much care for the 2nd one, so I haven't read any others. scarletwoman Jan 2014 #34

"Jar City" has been made into a movie, which I saw at the local film festival Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2014 #51

I knew there was a movie, but I haven't tried to find it. scarletwoman Jan 2014 #74

Indridason's books are great... a la izquierda Jan 2014 #42

If you DO make it to Iceland, be sure to post about it here! scarletwoman Jan 2014 #72

If I understand, it's a rather difficult language to learn because of the inflection system, hughee99 Jan 2014 #33

I honestly don't expect to try to learn it - although I imagine it would be quite fascinating. scarletwoman Jan 2014 #71

If you want to visit, virtually all Icelanders speak at least a little English. Xithras Jan 2014 #55

... progressoid Jan 2014 #7

i will never get why people who have a lot of money and don't need to work much JI7 Jan 2014 #8

How do you know they don't? nt A HERETIC I AM Jan 2014 #28

If I had the time and money I'd do LibDemAlways Jan 2014 #29

Never figured it out, myself Scootaloo Jan 2014 #35

If they don't I would thank them. raouldukelives Jan 2014 #38

I think most of them do. All the people with money I know do more than the average amount El_Johns Jan 2014 #39

Everyone around here travels if they have any extra money at all laundry_queen Jan 2014 #40

Those type of people don't make choices that accumulate a ton of unneeded capital NoOneMan Jan 2014 #53

Check out the amazing movie Cold Fever Matariki Jan 2014 #9

FYI, Iceland is still a whaling nation Beringia Jan 2014 #10

However, it's gradually dawning on them that Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2014 #23

You think so, that would be great Beringia Jan 2014 #47

On our city tour, we went down to the harbor and saw all the mothballed whaling ships Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2014 #49

Good to hear Beringia Jan 2014 #66

I recently saw the movie, "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" Major Nikon Jan 2014 #12

Wow, I had no idea it was that pretty! Man... Demo_Chris Jan 2014 #14

I vacillate between Iceland and New Zealand for the title of "prettiest place on Earth". Xithras Jan 2014 #54

Those are beautiful!!!! all american girl Jan 2014 #15

I've always been fascinated with Iceland, too, CF.. Cha Jan 2014 #18

I want to go there too Tyrs WolfDaemon Jan 2014 #19

Their willingness to reroute roads to avoid disturbing elves and fairies is well known bhikkhu Jan 2014 #21

Just added Iceland to my LibDemAlways Jan 2014 #24

My dream is to be an Icelandic tree farmer NickB79 Jan 2014 #25

I know a guy from there, who said if you are going to visit The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2014 #26

So beatific I want to visit. aptal Jan 2014 #27

I stopped over in Iceland on the way back from Scandinavia in 2011 Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2014 #30

I want to live there. Vashta Nerada Jan 2014 #31

I've spent nearly two months hiking there 10 years ago. It's an awesome place to see, especially in adirondacker Jan 2014 #32

Here's one of my favorite music videos, has a lot of Icelandic scenery Scootaloo Jan 2014 #36

WOW! Iwillnevergiveup Jan 2014 #37

Sadly, you listed no photo credits here... MattSh Jan 2014 #41

Beautiful Martin Eden Jan 2014 #43

The Sagas of the Icelanders jpak Jan 2014 #44

It does look beautiful Corgigal Jan 2014 #45

If you do go, some suggestions: mainer Jan 2014 #46

If I go again, I want to rent a car and drive all around the island Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2014 #48

the longest days are late June, so very early spring or late summer have less daylight. bettyellen Jan 2014 #73

Aurora borealis often peaks in spring or autumn mainer Jan 2014 #75

Gorgeous! Thanks Courtesy. godevil10 Jan 2014 #50

Iceland murders whales and uses their meat for dog and cat food. MoonRiver Jan 2014 #52

We live in a glass house Courtesy Flush Jan 2014 #56

I see your point to a degree. MoonRiver Jan 2014 #57

. dionysus Jan 2014 #59

We murder cows and turn them into hamburgers. philosslayer Jan 2014 #63

I don't eat cows or any meat, but cows are not whales, not even close. MoonRiver Jan 2014 #67

spectacular.nt dionysus Jan 2014 #58

I landed during a snowstorm. White-out blizzard. mainer Jan 2014 #60

Very Pretty treestar Jan 2014 #61

It's beautiful shenmue Jan 2014 #62

Thank you for the photos - truedelphi Jan 2014 #64

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2014 #68

If you go to the Library you can look up better pictures. William769 Jan 2014 #69

Interesting fact: Iceland legalized same sex marriage in 2010. scarletwoman Jan 2014 #70

For Aurora Borealis watchers: great website mainer Jan 2014 #76

Took my breath away. Beautimous!! Beartracks Jan 2014 #77

I lived in Iceland, for a year. It remains one of my favorite places, on earth Siwsan Jan 2014 #78

Most luxurious public toilet I ever came across mainer Jan 2014 #79

The Icelanders have mastered the harnessing of nature, that's for sure Siwsan Jan 2014 #80