January 2022 – May 2025

The aim of this research project was to investigate the language policies and practices of diverse immigrant families. Language policies, in this context, encompass the strategies and approaches families employ regarding language use and instruction within the home environment. The project specifically examined how these family language policies influenced children’s educational experiences and outcomes. Additionally, the research explored the dynamics between immigrant families, their heritage language communities, and educational stakeholders such as school principals and teachers. Particular emphasis was placed on identifying and evaluating teaching practices within preschools and compulsory education settings that effectively support linguistic diversity and multiculturalism. 

This project was funded by the Icelandic Centre for Research RANNÍS.

Participants:

• 16 immigrant families from diverse linguistic, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds​ residing in four different regions in Iceland (four families in each region).​
  • Children in pre-schools and compulsory schools​
  • Parents​
• School principals, teachers, heritage language teachers.

Methodology:

• Data were collected through semi-structured individual and group interviews with teachers, principals, parents, and children.

Research Team:

From the left:

• Artëm Ingmar Benediktsson, Postdoctoral Researcher​
• Renata Emilsson Peskova, Assistant Professor​
• Kriselle Lou Suson Jónsdóttir, Doctoral Candidate ​
• Anh-Đào Trần, Postdoctoral Researcher​
• Anna Katrín Eiríksdóttir, Doctoral Candidate
• Kristín Jónsdóttir, Associate Professor​
• Hanna Ragnarsdóttir, Professor and Project Leader​
• Samúel Lefever, Associate Professor ​

Publications:

Benediktsson, A. I., Tran, A.-D., Emilsson Peskova, R., Ragnarsdóttir, H., & Lefever, S. (2025). Icelandic teachers’ perspectives and strategies for supporting children’s plurilingual development in compulsory schools. Education Inquiry, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/20004508.2025.2466890

Ragnarsdóttir, H., Benediktsson, A. I., & Emilsson Peskova, R. (2023). Language policies and multilingual practices in Icelandic preschools. Multicultural Education Review, 15(2), 81–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/2005615X.2023.2250711

Ragnarsdóttir, H., Jónsdóttir, K., Benediktsson, A. I., Tran, A.-D., Emilsson Peskova, R., Lefever, S., Eiríksdóttir, A. K., & Jónsdóttir, K. L. S. (2025). Tungumálastefna og starfshættir fjölbreyttra fjölskyldna innflytjenda á Íslandi og áhrif þeirra á menntun. Menntavísindastofnun HÍ. https://doi.org/10.33112/HSZG7265

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