Last summer, I took another small step against prejudice and genre-ism by beginning to explore the romance genre. Results have been mixed. But now I have found my favorite romance so far, and in a most unexpected place – the Icelandic Online language course.I wasn’t going to tell anyone that I’ve begun studying Icelandic. People who know me are sure to remember what happened when I tried to learn Spanish, or Japanese, or Chinese, and roll their eyes. I keep thinking that a writer should be good with languages, but at least in my case, it seems that any facility with words I possess is specific to the English language.

But after interviewing Snæbjörn of Skálmöld about Icelandic poetry, I just had to try to gain some direct access to this literary tradition. So I dug around online and found out that the University of Iceland has a free online course in Icelandic.

Daniel og Ewa

I’ve done my share of Rosetta Stone-type studies, and I have to say that so far I’m impressed. Not only does this one seem to be more immediately practical, but it’s pulled me in with a romantic comedy.

In a short video in Lesson One, we have a meet-cute where two young people standing in line both reach for a dropped pen. While learning how to introduce oneself, we can’t help but wonder if the charmingly awkward Daniel’s Icelandic is simpler and slower than hers because he is newer to Iceland, or because he is speechless at the sight of her.

After learning about cups and clocks for a couple of lessons, we start counting in Lesson 1.5. Daniel and Ewa meet again. As they chat, it becomes apparent that Daniel is newer to Iceland than Ewa. He studies Icelandic full-time, while Ewa, who speaks more fluently, holds down a part-time job. This time Daniel walks away with digits and you can bet he won’t be forgetting those numbers.

In the next unit, Daniel goes shopping for a prepaid phone card, presumably so he can call Ewa, and then we don’t see them again until Daniel calls Ewa in Lesson 3.2. Their phone call reinforces some of the lessons so far.

We learn the names of some household tasks, and get to see Ewa at work. When she’s with Daniel, her Icelandic seems so natural; at the retirement home, her coworker Anna has to explain everything very simply – even what time to break for coffee and where to find the biscuits in the breakroom. Although, as we can tell by looking, Ewa doesn’t eat cookies.

In Lesson 4.1 Daniel calls again, and this time he asks her out. Over the next few lessons, we learn with Ewa and Daniel about movie times and buying tickets. By the end of the date, we discover that Daniel is a little slicker than he seems. Otherwise, how would he have turned Ewa’s invitation to the library into a morning swim?

Ewa lives next to the pool, but of course Daniel gets lost and has to ask for directions. A regular at the pool, Ewa goes right in, but poor Daniel has to figure out how it works in Iceland – and ask the attendant where to find the toilet.

In Unit 5, Ewa gets sick. Looking better than most of us on a good day, she has to go to the doctor and finds out she has pneumonia. Once she gets her prescription filled at the pharmacy and starts feeling better, Daniel calls to check up. Stuttering with nerves, he asks if it’s okay to come over to her apartment – you know, to drop off some Vitamin C so she doesn’t get sick again. Laughing, Ewa invites him over.

I so wish I could embed Lesson 5.5, where Daniel, all nerves, presents himself at Ewa’s door with a bottle of Vitamin C in one hand and flowers behind his back. But all I can offer is the transcript, which you can paste into Google Translate (like I did – I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss a thing) if you can’t figure it out.

Now they’re on a roll, and once inside the apartment, Daniel is ready to go for it. He invites Ewa to go on a trip with him next week. Location undisclosed – irrelevant. Ewa is willing, but she has to move next week. A little too quickly, Daniel offers to help her move. He’s not too cool to look eager. Ewa is won over. They toast to their plans.

Where will the University of Iceland take this romance? Maybe they will take a trip to Geysir [pronounced geezer]. When I was there, the tour guide told us, “Geysir is retired, and rarely erupts anymore. But his little brother Strokkur goes up every few minutes. He is not so big as Geysir, but much more consistent.” He was totally straight-faced, and I was the only one who snickered. But I digress.

Icelandic Online

The Icelandic Online course is designed for people living in Iceland. So the direction this romance takes will be a cultural education as well as a linguistic one. What do Icelanders think is most important? Will we learn how to say, “Was it good for you?” or will the course take the PG route and learn about road signs?

When I was in Iceland, I marveled at how well everyone spoke English. I’ve always wondered why learning a language seems to be so much harder in the U.S. than it is everywhere else. One thing is certain, Icelandic educators have figured out how to capture and keep students’ attention. I have to know – what happens with Daniel and Ewa? Will her Roman Catholic family in Poland accept a Palestinian son-in-law? Will they stay in Iceland together? I might have to learn Icelandic to find out.

Okay, I’ve got to go. I have some studying to do….