Find the podcast Viðtöl: Ferðalag nemanda í samtali (Interviews: A student’s journey in conversation) on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Purpose / Tilgangur
We aim to create engaging listening material tailored for upper-beginner to lower-intermediate Icelandic language learners. Our approach involves interviewing native speakers and language students, focusing on simple questions and captivating narratives that reflect real-life experiences.
Við erum að stefna að því að búa til aðlaðandi hlustunarefni sem er sérsniðið fyrir byrjendur að öfugum enda til lægra meðalstigs í íslenskum máli. Aðferðin okkar felur í sér að taka viðtöl við innfædda aðila og tungumálanema, þar sem við einbeitum okkur að einföldum spurningum og heillandi frásögnum sem endurspegla raunverulegar reynslur.
Interview Structure
- Introductions: Each interview will start with introductions in both English and Icelandic. This bilingual approach will provide listeners with context and help them understand the conversation’s focus.
- Standardized Questions: To maintain consistency and predictability, we will adhere to a standard set of questions throughout the interviews. This structure will allow learners to familiarize themselves with the format and anticipate the flow of conversation.
- CEFR Level A2 Focus: Our content will align with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level A2. This level emphasizes basic communication skills, enabling learners to engage in simple, direct exchanges about familiar topics. We will ensure that the language used in the interviews is accessible and appropriate for this proficiency level.
Standard Question Sets for Topics
Each interview will have a standard set of questions that the conversation will be built on. It is our hope that anyone studying the language, can read these questions below to use as a study aid, while listening to a podcast episode.
Icelanders living in the US / Canada
Hvernig og hvenær komst þú til Bandaríkjanna?
When and how did you come to live in the US?
Hvað finnst þér áhugavert að gera í Chicago?
What do you enjoy doing in Chicago?
Er auðvelt að ferðast á milli Íslands og Bandaríkjanna?
Is it easy to travel between Iceland and the US?
Hvaða ráð hefur þú fyrir fólk sem langar að koma til Bandaríkjanna?
What advice do you have for folks wanting to come visit the US?
Hver er þinn uppáhaldsstaður í Bandaríkjunum?
What’s your favorite place in the US?
Hvernig er að búa í Bandaríkjunum miðað við á Íslandi?
What is it like to live in the United States compared to Iceland?
Nefndu eitt gott og eitt erfitt um bandaríska menningu.
Name one good thing and challenging thing about American culture.
North Americans (US / Canadians) living in Iceland
Hvenær og hvernig komst þú til Íslands?
When and how did you come to live in Iceland?
Hvað finnst þér áhugavert að gera í Reykjavík (eða annars borg)?
What do you enjoy doing in Reykjavik?
Er auðvelt að ferðast á milli Íslands og Bandaríkjanna?
Is it easy to travel between Iceland and the US?
Hvaða ráð hefur þú fyrir fólk sem langar að koma til Íslands?
What advice do you have for folks wanting to visit Iceland?
Hver er þinn uppáhaldsstaður á Íslandi?
What’s your favorite place in Iceland?
Hvernig er að búa á Íslandi miðað við í Bandaríkjunum eða Kanada?
What is it like to live in Iceland compared to the United States/Canada?
Nefndu eitt gott og eitt erfitt um íslenska menningu.
Name one good thing and one challenging thing about Icelandic culture.
Students learning Icelandic
Hversu lengi hefur þú verið að læra íslensku?
How long have you been studying Icelandic?
Hvernig lærir þú tungumálið?
Describe your study methods, resources, and any specific techniques.
Hverjar eru áskoranirnar sem þú mætir þegar þú lærir íslensku?
Share any difficulties or obstacles they encounter in your learning process.
Hvernig færðu yfir þessi hindranir?
Explain your strategies or solutions for dealing with the challenges mentioned.
Hverju myndir þú mæla með til að hjálpa öðrum að læra íslensku?
Advice and suggestions to help others who are learning Icelandic
Icelandic teachers
Hvernig kennir þú íslensku á netinu?
How do you teach Icelandic online?
Hvaða aðferðir notar þú til að hjálpa nemendum að læra?
What methods do you use to help students learn?
Hvernig hjálpar þú nemendum að komast yfir millistigsþrepið?
How do you help students overcome the intermediate plateau?
Hvaða efni mælir þú með fyrir nemendur á millistigi?
What materials do you recommend for intermediate students?
Hvar geta nemendur fundið íslenskt efni á netinu?
Where can students find Icelandic materials online?
Hvernig getur nemandi æft sig í íslensku utan Íslands?
How can a student practice Icelandic outside of Iceland?
Icelandic authors
Lýstu ritunarferlinu þínu?
Describe your writing process?
Hvaðan koma bókahugmyndir þínar? Ertu með áætlun eða ertu á flugi?
Where do your book ideas come from? Do you have a plan or are you on the fly (for your writing process)?
Ertu með nýja bók að koma út? Geturðu rætt við okkur um hana?
Do you have a new book coming out? Can you talk to us about it?
Hvernig hjálpa bækur fólki að læra tungumál?
How do books help people learn languages?
Hvaða bók mælið þið með fyrir þá sem vilja læra íslensku?
Which book do you recommend for those who want to learn Icelandic?
Icelandic musicians
Lýstu hvernig þú býrð til tónlist.
Describe your music-making process.
Hvaðan kemur hugmyndin að lögunum þínum? Ertu með plan eða spilarðu bara?
Where do your song ideas come from? Do you have a plan or just play?
Ertu með nýtt lag eða nýja plötu? Geturðu sagt okkur frá því?
Do you have a new song or album? Can you tell us about it?
Hvernig hjálpar tónlist fólki að læra tungumál? Hvernig getur tónlist hjálpað til við að læra ný orð og framburð?
How does music help people learn languages? How can music help with learning new words and pronunciation?
Hvaða íslenska lag mælirðu með fyrir þá sem vilja læra íslensku?
Which Icelandic song do you recommend for those who want to learn Icelandic?
Icelandic professionals
Backstory / Uppruni:
Hvernig byrjaðir þú á þessu öllu saman? Var þetta eitthvað sem þú hefur alltaf stefnt að?
How did you get started with all of this? Was this something you always planned to do?
Intro to the company / Um fyrirtækið:
Geturðu sagt mér aðeins frá fyrirtækinu þínu? Hvað gerir það og hvernig kviknaði hugmyndin?
Can you tell me a bit about your company? What does it do, and how did the idea come about?
Timeline / Ferðalagið hingað til:
Hversu lengi hefur þú verið að byggja upp fyrirtækið og hvernig hefur ferðalagið verið?
How long have you been building the company, and how has the journey been?
Experience / Reynslan:
Hvað finnst þér skemmtilegast við að reka fyrirtækið – og hvað hefur verið mest krefjandi?
What do you enjoy most about running your company – and what’s been the most challenging?
Skills & background / Hæfni og bakgrunnur:
Hvaða hæfni eða reynslu finnst þér hafa hjálpað þér mest sem stofnandi?
What skills or experience do you think have helped you the most as a founder?
Advice / Ráðleggingar:
Hvaða ráð myndir þú gefa einhverjum sem langar að stofna sitt eigið fyrirtæki á Íslandi?
What advice would you give someone who wants to start their own company in Iceland?
Pride / Stolt:
Er eitthvað sem þú ert sérstaklega stolt(ur) af að hafa náð að afreka með fyrirtækinu?
Is there something you’re especially proud of achieving with the company?
All categories
(Prefixed or appended to question sets above. More questions will be added.)
Segirðu okkur eitthvað áhugavert um þig?
Tell us something interesting about yourself?
Typical Interview Format
The interview is designed to prioritize basic communication skills while occasionally incorporating minimal English to assist language learners and facilitate the flow of conversation. Interviewees are encouraged to respond in Icelandic to the best of their ability, using English only when necessary for clarification. The primary goal is to maximize the use of Icelandic during responses, ensuring that the conversation remains accessible and engaging.
Step-by-Step Process
The Recording
- Scheduling: Once you agree to participate in a Zoom recording, we will send you a Google Document containing all the interview questions.
- Preparation: You can use this document to jot down your responses in outline form, notes, or a fully scripted format, depending on your comfort level.
- Recording: The interview will be conducted over Zoom. Please note that while the video portion will be discarded, we will retain the recorded audio for editing and production.
Editing and Approval
- Initial Editing: After the interview, we will perform some spot editing on the audio to enhance clarity and flow.
- Preview: We will share an audio preview with you via Google Drive, ensuring that it is accessible only to your email address.
- Approval Process: Once you review the audio, please provide your approval through a LinkedIn message or email. We will then schedule the episode for publication, which may take a few weeks or months depending on our production schedule.
- Flexibility: If you have any concerns or wish to make changes, we can either re-record the interview or halt the process entirely.
Technical Considerations
- Internet Connection: A stable internet connection is essential for a smooth recording experience.
- Platform: Please use Zoom on a computer for the interview to ensure the best audio quality.
Copyright, Distribution, and Intended Use
By participating in an interview with us, you grant the Icelandic Association of Chicago (IAC) and the podcast Viðtöl: Ferðalag nemanda í samtali (available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts) permission to publish the audio file across various platforms. This includes podcast hosting services, social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram, and our main website as necessary.
If you wish to revoke this permission at any time, please submit a written request to a board member of the organization. Your request must include the URL, episode title, and publish date. Please note that the removal process may take a few days or weeks to complete. Additionally, some episodes may be featured on IAC “history pages” if applicable.
Primary Intended Use
The primary purpose of this podcast and its episodes is to foster goodwill, promote cross-cultural understanding, and provide general education. Most importantly, we aim to support Icelandic language learners by recording stories from IAC members and documenting the progress of language students.
Setting Expectations
- Voluntary Participation: Participation in this project is entirely voluntary. No individuals involved will receive compensation for their time or efforts.
- Embrace Imperfection: We acknowledge that errors and mistakes may occur during recordings. This is part of the learning process for both interviewees and listeners.
- Ongoing Experimentation: We are continually exploring various aspects of the podcast, such as:
- The appropriate amount of English to include in each episode.
- Additional study aids that may benefit learners during the episodes.
We welcome constructive feedback to help us improve the podcast and better serve our audience. Thank you for being a part of this journey!
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