From Web 1.0 to Web 3.0 and beyond. Developing online tools supporting the learning of Icelandic as a second and foreign language

Branislav Bédi, Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies, Iceland

Abstract:    Despite Icelandic being a less commonly taught language (LCTL) in the word, many people want to learn it. This is not only due to immigration, which is about 16% of the whole population in Iceland based on this year‘s data, but also due to many learners at universities and private institutions outside of Iceland, who wish to learn Icelandic for personal, professional, and academic reasons, to name a few. The access and exposure to the language often proves problematic for both types of learners. For instance, in Iceland the most widely used language of communication between locals and foreigners is English, and learners in other countries outside of Iceland have limited opportunities to practise Icelandic. Online tools, however, help to bridge this gap and can provide increased opportunities for practising and being exposed to Icelandic. This talk will provide an overview of online tools for learning Icelandic as a second and foreign language from the point of view of digital evolution of the Internet, i.e., web 1.0, web 2.0, web. 3.0, and beyond. Moreover, a space for discussion will be given about current and future tools assisting with teaching and learning languages online.