Language courses
The official language in the Faroe Islands is Faroese. Faroese is a Germanic language deriving from Old Norse and is closely related to Icelandic, Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish.
Danish is the second language in the Faroe Islands and practically everyone can speak and write Danish. Icelandic, Norwegian and Swedish are understood and spoken by many Faroese, and most people are capable of communicating in English too.
It is possible to carry out research work and give lessons to bachelor students in the Faroe Islands without acquiring knowledge of Faroese. However, Faroese is the working language at all research institutions, and learning Faroese will make it easier to integrate professionally and privately.
Several evening schools around the country offer classes in Faroese language for foreigners.
All foreigners with a residence and work permit have the right to participate in a course in Faroese at an evening school free of charge. The introductory classes at evening schools are usually held in the evenings.
An intensive 15 weeks language programme (FSA - Faroese as a second language) with lessons during day time is available for non-Faroese speakers in Tórshavn, Kambsdalur, and Tvøroyri. After completing the course the participants receive a certificate qualifying them for a countinuation course in Faroese for foreigners.
Read more:
The Evening School in Tórshavn
The University of the Faroe Islands organises a regular International Summer Institute on the Faroese Language.
The course involves an intensive four week course in Faroese, with lectures and excursions also providing an insight into other aspects of contemporary Faroese culture, society and history.
The participants in the summer institute are students and others with a general interest in the Faroe Islands. Students must have documented knowledge of other Scandinavian or Germanic languages and know the basic concepts of grammar.
Read more:
Faroese Summer Institute
It is possible to attend private courses in Faroese language arranged by linguistic experts. Private courses may be arranged for groups of foreigners with the same background or for individuals.
Host institutions can provide information about language teachers offering private courses for foreigners.
Several self study courses in Faroese are available online and in textbooks.
Faroese - A language course for beginners
Faroese - A Language Course for Beginners by the publisher Stiðin is a bundle with texts, CD and grammar and is available in bookstores. The audio part of this bundle is also available on the internet and is free of charge. The instruction language is English.
The audio material is freely available here.
Faroese Online language course
The website Faroese Online offers interactive visual and listening exercises based on themes relevant to everyday life in the Faroe Islands.
The free online language course is the result of a partnership between the University of the Faroe Islands and the University of Iceland.
The learning material is for foreigners with no prior knowledge of Faroese.
Faroese Online is available here.
Sprotin - An online dictionary
The Faroese publisher Sprotin has developed a very popular free online dictionary between Faroese and multiple other languages, including Danish, English, German, Spanish and Chinese.
The Faroese dictionary contains pronunciation, conjugation and inflection forms of almost all nouns, verbs and personal names. .
Sprotin is available here.
Lexin - Online encyclopedia
The Lexin online encyclopedia contains interactive pictures and audio material that can translate between Faroese and a number of other languages.
The Lexin dictionaries contain information about the grammar, simple definitions and examples of common use. It is also possible to see how the word is inflected and pronounced.
The Lexin dictionaries are developed especially for minority language pupils in primary, secondary and adult education..
The Lexin online encyclopeida is available here.