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New immigrant in Iceland

Welcome to Iceland

  • Moving to a new country is a big step.
  • It can take a long time to adapt to different circumstances, find a new livelihood and create a good home for you and your family.
  • It's natural to experience various emotions in that time, such as joy, optimism, and excitement. But alsoemotions like grief, anxiety, disappointment, regret, fatigue and irritation.
  • Even though many things are different, strange and difficult, there's also a lot that's good and interesting. Being curious and positive about new things is worth it.
  • It’s sometimes said that “good things take time". Be patient, also with yourself.

The Community Education Course

  • The aims of the course are education, discussion and insight into the main aspects of Icelandic society. The chapters are called:
    • New Immigrant in Iceland
    • History, Geography and Way of Living
    • Children and Families
    • Health
    • Education and Skills
    • Employment
    • Democracy and Welfare Society
  • The teaching material is on slides in nine languages (Icelandic, English, Arabic, Kurdish, Farsi, Polish, Ukrainian, Russian and Spanish). It is both written and read aloud.
  • Teaching instructions are for teachers.
  • Each chapter starts with a video of Icelandic daily life.
  • All the material is available on www.landneminn.is

General Information on Iceland 

  • Iceland is an island in the Atlantic Ocean and is a part of Northern Europe.
  • The country is 103,000 km2 and has a population of around 376,000 (January 1st, 2022).
  • The inhabitants live along the coastline, but no one lives in the highlands.
  • Most people live in the Greater Reykjavík Area.
  • The capital of Iceland is Reykjavík.
  • Iceland has a lot of mountains, fjords, valleys and wilderness.
  • It also has glaciers and waterfalls but few forests.
  • It often snows in winter and the winters are very dark – but summers are very bright.
  • Iceland has been a republic since 1944.
  • Parliamentary elections are held every 4 years. A government is formed after the elections.
  • Iceland is a peaceful country and has no national army.
  • Gender equality and human rights are enshrined in law.
  • Iceland is a welfare state. That means that people pay relatively high taxes on wages but receive various services in return.
  • Companies and individuals are obliged to pay taxes on their income to the state.
  • The fishing industry and tourism are important industries in Iceland.
  • Agriculture (meat and vegetables) is practiced and there are also large power plants to produce electricity.
  • Many people also work in public administration and services, in the educational system and the health system. Industry and food production are also a major part of the Icelandic labour market.

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