Chapter Twelve, Reykjavik, New York, Home Summary and Analysis

As a final challenge for Daniel during filming, the directors decide to film Daniel learning a new language over the course of one week. After researching various languages, they choose Icelandic, a language full of complexities that has remained largely unchanged for the past eight centuries.

The production team sends Daniel several study aides prior to the trip and a letter informing him that they have had to shorten his stay in Iceland from seven to four days. This means that Daniel will have less time in the country to absorb the language from native speakers. The culmination of the experiment will be a live television interview during which Daniel will be expected to converse only in Icelandic. At the end of the four days, Daniel is able to speak fluently...