2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ENGL1095 Modern Icelandic Language and Culture

20 creditsClass Size: 22

School of English

Module manager: Dr Alaric Hall
Email: a.t.p.hall@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

Can be chosen as a Discovery module by all Level 1 students.

This module is mutually exclusive with

ENGL1090

Icelandic Lang & Culture II

Module replaces

ENGL1090

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Iceland today is an amazing place. Icelanders just saw one of the world's biggest booms and biggest busts; they host some of Europe's best music festivals; and they read and write more books per capita than anyone else. Through some fantastic literature, music and film, you'll get to explore what it is that makes this volcanic rock with a population of just 320,000 people (and 500,000 sheep) tick. We'll read Halldór Laxness's Nobel Prize-winning work; we'll examine the relationships between Icelandic national identity, the bloopy electronica of Björk, and the swirly post-rock of Sigur Rós; and analyse film from the relatively mainstream Baltasar Kormákur to movies about suicidal farmers and gay wrestlers. We'll look at the politics of nationalism, and the critiques of capitalism which arose from the financial crisis. We'll also learn some modern Icelandic. You don't need any prior experience of (or success in) language learning: we start completely from scratch, and if Damon Albarn can do it, you certainly can. For more information, see http://www.alarichall.org.uk/teaching/icelandic.php.

Objectives

- To learn how to study and understand a foreign culture through its literature, film, and music.
- To learn enough conversational Icelandic that Icelanders won’t switch to English when they reply to you.

Learning outcomes
- A familiarity with major works of modern Icelandic culture in literature, film, and music.
- Familiarity with key issues in Icelandic nationalism, the financial crisis, and cultural criticism.
- Familiarity with most of the grammar of Icelandic, and the ability to use ‘need to know’ grammar in conversation.
-The core vocabulary of everyday Icelandic.

Syllabus

Iceland today is an amazing place. Icelanders just saw one of the world's biggest booms and biggest busts; they host some of Europe's best music festivals; and they read and write more books per capita than anyone else. Through some fantastic literature, music and film, you'll get to explore what it is that makes this volcanic rock with a population of just 320,000 people (and 500,000 sheep) tick. We'll read Halldór Laxness's Nobel Prize-winning work; we'll examine the relationships between Icelandic national identity, the bloopy electronica of Björk, and the swirly post-rock of Sigur Rós; and analyse film from the relatively mainstream Baltasar Kormákur to movies about suicidal farmers and gay wrestlers. We'll look at the politics of nationalism, and the critiques of capitalism which arose from the financial crisis. We'll also learn some modern Icelandic. You don't need any prior experience of (or success in) language learning: we start completely from scratch, and if Damon Albarn can do it, you certainly can.

For more information, see http://www.alarichall.org.uk/teaching/icelandic.php.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	10	1.00	10.00
Language Class	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			180.00
Total Contact hours			20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Reading, workshop and language class preparation, essay writing.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Participation in workshops and language-learning classes.
- Feedback on assessed work.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,000 word essay on a topic of your choice in Icelandic language and culture	50.00
In-course Assessment	In-course language test.	25.00
Oral Presentation	Practical Exam/OSCE. 10-minute oral language examination.	25.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 08/08/2017

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