Viðtöl: Ferðalag nemanda í samtali

The Icelandic Association of Chicago hosts Petur Valsson, a Fulbright Program Officer at the Icelandic Fulbright Commission and part-time lecturer at the University of Iceland. Petur describes the Fulbright Commission's work and how Americans and Icelanders can apply for grants in study and research. Petur oversees US and Icelandic Scholar programs, the Specialist Program, and Alumni Affairs. The Fulbright Program in Iceland began in 1957 with a bi-national agreement, funding around 1,700 grantees over 67 years. The program initially focused on Icelandic students studying in the US but now sees more US grantees coming to Iceland, thanks to increased opportunities to study in English. The program includes Arctic-related grants and new initiatives in Arctic security and art and design. Grantees receive support for cultural integration and participation in local activities. Successful alumni include translators of Icelandic literature and contributors to STEM education. The Fulbright Commission encourages grantees to learn Icelandic and provides resources, though it recognizes the challenges. For more information on applying to the Fulbright Program, visit the Fulbright Iceland website or the Fulbright student and scholar program websites. Application deadlines are in the fall.

The Icelandic Association of Chicago talks with Alexandra Leeper, PhD, managing director of the Iceland Ocean Cluster and co-founder of Ag-Tech startup Hringvarmi⁠. She discusses her role, experiences as a foreign worker in Iceland, ocean health, and her career in marine biology. Topics include sustainability in aquaculture, coastal management, and learning Icelandic. She emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices in the blue bioeconomy and how Iceland could serve as a testbed for innovations.

In a unique cross-cultural exchange, IAC engages in with the Ingraft Foundation from Poland, which advocates for social and intercultural inclusion through accessibility and universal design in their community and museum works.

We talk with Björn Elvar, a student from Reykjavik University, who shares his experiences and challenges of job searching in the United States as an international student. Björn discusses the unique aspects of his university’s curriculum, which includes a 12-week course followed by a three-week immersive experience that mimics a working environment. He shares about his personal projects, including an NBA extension and a tool to track Chicago’s train system. Bjorn’s diverse roles as a developer, audio engineer, and project manager have equipped him with skills that are universally applicable. However, he finds the competition for jobs in the U.S. to be the most challenging aspect of his job search, given the larger pool of applicants compared to his home country, Iceland. This episode provides an insightful look into the experiences of international students navigating the U.S. job market. About Björn https://bjossi.dev https://github.com/bjornelvar

The Icelandic Association of Chicago hosts a discussion with Professor Brack Hale from the University Center in West Fjords, Ísafjörður, focusing on their graduate programs in oceanography and coastal development. Brack introduces upcoming information sessions for their Coastal Community and Regional Development and Coastal Marine Management programs. The conversation delves into program outcomes, admission requirements, including language proficiency, and the student experience upon arrival, discussing housing, costs, and student life in Iceland. Additionally, they touch upon visa procedures, accommodation for students with disabilities, the age diversity of students, and the environmental impact of educational travel, suggesting reflections on personal behaviors and potential offsets for carbon emissions.

Alan Heymann, an executive and leadership coach at Peaceful Direction, shares insights on navigating career transitions and job searches, emphasizing the importance of leveraging existing connections rather than relying on volume applications. He recounts a success story where a client's mindset shift led to unexpected job offers, highlighting the value of opening oneself to new possibilities.

Using Icelandic in AI, tools for language learners, privacy and dangers of AI, and potential for accessibility. Join Þorvaldur Páll Helgason CTO of Miðeind ehf as we discuss these topics.

IAC talks to Óskar Bragi Stefansson, an Icelandic teacher running "Speak Viking," an online Icelandic teaching business. With 10 years of experience, Oscar shares his journey and passion for helping people learn Icelandic. His main student base consists of individuals from Europe and the US who are captivated by Icelandic culture and language. While most students live abroad, some in Iceland seek language improvement for better integration. Óskar acknowledges the language's challenges, citing its complex grammar and the potential alienation felt by non-fluent speakers in Icelandic society. They explores students' goals, with some having specific objectives, like learning travel phrases, while others discover their goals over time. Óskar emphasizes the joy of uncovering the reasons behind each student's desire to learn Icelandic, tailoring his approach accordingly. The conversation delves into the diverse challenges based on one's background, highlighting the unique advantages each culture brings to learning. Rikki discusses hypothetical scenarios of someone interested in Óskar's tutoring sessions, exploring how to prepare and set realistic goals. Óskar stresses finding joy in the learning process, steering away from a dry, school-like approach. He encourages students to tap into their passion for the language, emphasizing a personalized teaching method for each student's unique language-learning journey.

Count Bjössi, the main stage act for 2024 Þorrablót, sat with Iceland Chicago to discuss what this holiday means to him as a native Icelander, what songs language learners should learn now to be able to join in, and about his career in Greifarnir, The Counts. Tickets for 2024 Þorrablót trubador.is https://www.youtube.com/@Greifarnir/videos www.greifarnir.is

She writes about lions, witches, dueling personalities, alien invitations, and an invisible fish that brings you wings. Iceland Chicago talks with Hildur Knútsdóttir about her craft as an Icelandic author. https://icelandchicago.org/2023/11/19/iac-interviews-icelandic-author-hildur-knutdottir-november-2023/

We are sitting with Einar Steinsson the honorary consulate general of Iceland to Chicago. We’re talking about some visas, passports, voting, and visiting Iceland from the perspective of both: expats from Iceland living in the United States and Canada and North Americans visiting Iceland. https://icelandchicago.org/2023/11/21/interview-with-einar-steinsson/

We sat with Erica Green, co founder of the Icelandic Writers and Readers Retreat to learn about this amazing event that happens yearly in April.  https://icelandchicago.org/2023/10/14/interview-with-erica-green-of-the-icelandic-writers-retreat/

Interview with Icelander Magnús Freyr, a Coda (a hearing child of a deaf adult) and creator of the Social Media Channel Táknarar (facebook – taknarar.is) that teaches folks simple phrases in Íslenkst Táknmal (ÍTM) – Icelandic Sign Language. His channel celebrates two strong years since its founding in October 2021. We recently sat down with him to discuss the creation of his channel, get a sample of deaf life in Iceland, and the steps one should take to learn this language which differs greatly from spoken Icelandic.  https://icelandchicago.org/2023/10/08/vidtal-vid-samfelagsmidla-hofundinn-taknarar/

Sigrún segir frá Critique Circle, alþjóðlegu samfélagi fyrir rithöfunda. Við ræðum hvernig vefurinn varð til, hvernig hann virkar og hvaða áskoranir og gleði fylgja því að reka hann. Hún deilir einnig sögum um höfunda sem hafa þróað skrif sín, myndað vináttu og gert ritun að atvinnu.Transcript (English/Icelandic)https://icelandchicago.org/2026/01/01/critique-circle-althjodlegt-samfelag-til-ad-baeta-skrifcritique-circle/

Haukur Ingvarsson segir frá sínum uppruni og hvernig hann fór að skrifa. Hann talar um sérstökum áhugumálum sínum, eins og skáldskap og bókmenntir. Hann segir frá sérstökum áhugumálum sínum, eins og skáldskap og bókmenntir. https://www.forlagid.is/hofundar/haukur-ingvarsson/https://icelandchicago.org/2025/11/30/haukur-jenna/

Emma shares her experience at a residency in Skagaströnd, Iceland, about what it was like to apply and how the landscape shaped her work. She walks us through her day, from collecting plants to developing film, interactions with the community, the challenges, and what she took away from the whole experience. https://www.instagram.com/emmageiger/

Dagbjört Felstead, íslenskukennari og rithöfundur, ræðir um ritun barnabóka sinna. Bækurnar eiga rætur sínar að rekja til náttúrunnar og bernsku lesandans og eru undir áhrifum frá íslenskum þjóðsögum. Hún er með nýja bók, næstum tilbúin til útgáfu, sem fjallar um gæsapabba og gæsamömmu og baráttu Vetur konungs og Prinsessu vorsins.More:https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/28970984/icelandichttps://www.simey.is/is/namskeid/namskeid-i-bodi

Við tökum upp viðtal við Kristínu Guðmundsdóttur, íslenskan rithöfund. Hún skrifar bækur sem hjálpa fólki að læra íslensku. Við spyrjum hana um ritun og hvað hún metur sem bestu bók fyrir nýlæra.

Við tölumst við Skottu Valgarðsdóttur sem vinnur sem mannfræðingur á Klaustrinu. Gestavinnustofa listamanna er hvar listamaður kemur og gestir vinna listaverk sín. Við viljum læra meira um Klaustrið. Hvað gerist þar? Hvað gera listamenn þar? Hvernig hjálpar Ísland listafólki?

Við tölumst við Þorey Rúnarsdóttur, CEO af Flík ehf. Appið er prjónaforrit sem hjálpar þér að breyta stærðum, telja lykkjur og geyma útreikninga. Flík in iOS App StoreKynntu þig og segðu okkur hvað er Flík? Hversu lengi hefur Flík verið til? Hvað gerir þú í starfi? Hvernig lítur vinnudagur þinn út?Hvernig hjálpaði Sprota styrkurinn við að þróa appið í síðasta ár?Hvað er skemmtilegast við vinnuna þína?Hvaða áskorunum mætir þú í vinnunni?Er eitthvað í starfsferlinu þínu sem þú ert stolt af?Hvar getur maður fundið Flík appið?