We believe that through reading, individuals can connect and create meaningful relationships that benefit our community. As Iceland's population grows, more families are arriving in the country. Many of them have little or no prior knowledge of the local language or culture, and some can't even communicate in English. Scientific members of the Icelandic community have published studies highlighting the difficulties in learning the Icelandic language and have noted a higher dropout rate among foreign-origin students.
In response to these changes, schools must adapt rapidly. That's where Lesum saman comes in, with its main goal being to support the long-term integration of students through a reading program. In Icelandic, "Heimalestur" refers to the daily school task where students are required to read approximately five times a week at home and, depending on their age, write some words or phrases with the help of an adult. However, when there are no Icelandic speakers at home, this task can become stressful and unproductive for the entire family.
Lesum saman believes in the power of socialization and collaboration to overcome this obstacle. The project connects families seeking support to improve their Icelandic with fluent Icelandic-speaking volunteers, creating an environment that benefits both groups.
The project's roots lie in the personal and professional experiences of its creator, Noemí Cubas Martín. With over 8 years of teaching experience in Iceland and as a mother of two children who arrived in the country at a young age, Noemí has accompanied many students, including her own kids, throughout their educational journey. She has witnessed the many challenges these students face when Icelandic learning at school is not adequately reinforced at home.
In the summer of 2022, Noemí conducted a collaborative research project with Eva Ösp Matthíasdóttir, interviewing families with children whose native language wasn't Icelandic. Drawing from this research and her prior experiences, the Lesum saman project was born, aiming to create a more inclusive and enriching learning environment for all students.
Lesum saman takes pride in being a solution that benefits not only students' success and family well-being but also schools and Icelandic society as a whole. We are excited about the positive impact this project can have on the academic and social development of students and look forward to closely collaborating with school principals and other institutions to achieve a more inclusive and enriching education for all.
Join Lesum saman to strengthen Icelandic language learning and create an educational environment where all students have equal opportunities for success and growth!
Main objectives
Enhance students' Icelandic language skills, including reading comprehension and pronunciation, through shared and guided reading sessions with volunteers across all school levels.
Provide students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in Icelandic culture and develop a deeper connection with their environment and society through shared reading experiences.
Engage families in actively participating in their children's education, specifically in the learning of the Icelandic language.
Contribute to the emotional well-being of students and their families, as greater language proficiency builds self-confidence and facilitates relationships with other members of society.
Reduce stress and pressure for families without Icelandic as their mother tongue by providing support from volunteers in completing homework tasks and offering a framework for learning Icelandic with their children.
Assist teachers by providing them with a supportive tool throughout the entire school stage.
Create cross-cultural interactions between volunteers and families from diverse backgrounds, enhancing the overall sense of well-being in society.
Strengthen the Icelandic language: through Lesum saman, we contribute to preserving our beautiful language, emphasizing its importance to future generations and ensuring it remains a central pillar of Icelandic identity and culture.
Overcome the language barrier so that students can achieve their true potential. A greater command of the Icelandic language not only enhances social integration but also offers greater equality and opportunities for success in the job market.
A Project Benefiting All
We would be delighted to have you join Lesum saman, making a difference and fortifying our social fabric through the power of words. Join us in this exciting project, and together, let's provide opportunities for learning and growth to all students.
How does Lesum saman work?​​
Currently, around 5,000 students in Iceland can directly benefit from our program.
Join us and help us reach each one of them.
Lesum saman is a free tool for users: volunteers and families. It operates through three simple steps guided by an instructor. We request centers to provide compensation to cover the expenses and time of the instructor, following the "pay as you can" model.
Initial Meeting
We meet with the responsible individuals at the center to present the program and collect specific data, such as the number of students and families that will benefit from the program in the school, as well as the required number of volunteers and where to recruit them.
Program Presentation
We conduct a presentation (of approximately two hours) for families and volunteers, providing initial guidelines and advice, and introducing the Lesum saman Facebook group.
Program Follow-up
We offer a second one-hour session called "Enthusiastic Readers" exploring fun and successful reading strategies, addressing volunteers' and families' questions, and providing support and feedback.
Additionally, we provide guidance, courses, workshops, seminars, and conferences, both in-person and online. We specialize in multiculturalism and offer educational solutions for the needs of students, families, teachers, and educators. If you work in schools, leisure or educational organizations, parents' associations, or community groups, please contact us via email for more information on dates and prices.
About Us
Project Coordinator
I am Noemí Cubas Martín, a teacher and researcher with extensive teaching experience. I hold a Ph.D. in History and have worked as a teacher in Iceland since 2014. I have published several works, coordinated books, and participated in academic conferences on an international level. Currently, I am pursuing a second master's/doctorate in Archaeology at the University of Iceland.
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As a mother of a family that embarked on a new life in Iceland, I understand the needs and challenges students and their families face when adapting to a new environment and learning a new language.
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On the other hand, as a teacher, I understand the importance of building cultural bridges, promoting diversity in the classroom, and helping students achieve their full potential and academic success.
Resources
These online resources provide a variety of tools and activities suitable for aiding Icelandic language learning:
A free online course that includes interactive lessons, exercises, and games, designed specifically for children who wish to learn Icelandic in a fun and effective manner.
The website of RÚV, Iceland's national broadcasting service, offers television and radio programs in Icelandic, games, news, and other educational content suitable for children to learn and practice the language.
Provided by the Institution of the Icelandic Language, it offers a wide range of materials and resources for learning Icelandic, including dictionaries, grammar guides, exercises, and more.
This platform includes interactive games, songs, stories, and exercises that help children learn the language in an engaging and practical way.
An online platform offering educational resources and activities for Icelandic language learning. Its section "Íslenska sem annað mál" is directed towards children and provides games, exercises, songs, and other interactive resources to aid their language learning journey.
This website is aimed at Icelandic children learning the language and offers exercises of varying levels of complexity.
This subscription service offers school materials, including interactive e-books and downloadable PDFs. It is designed to provide access to materials taught in Icelandic schools, catering to both native children and those interested in learning Icelandic.
This text processor reviews your writings and provides a preliminary revision of grammatical errors in Icelandic.
A popular and entertaining website where questions of all kinds related to science can be asked, including expressions and peculiarities of the Icelandic language.
A selection of fairy tales, popular stories, and other texts, offering children the opportunity to read traditional tales and immerse themselves in Icelandic folklore.
Provides a graded reading experience, ideal for school-age children looking to improve their reading comprehension in Icelandic.
Assisting with Icelandic language learning by providing clear answers and explanations to language-related queries, offering practical examples, interactive exercises, and suggestions to enhance comprehension and linguistic abilities.
To get involved with Lesum saman and contribute to strengthening our society through the power of words, connect with us
Donations are warmly welcomed to support our project and growing community. All contributions will be allocated to collaborate with Icelandic schools: we will assist children and families with their reading homework while strengthening social bonds in our homeland, Iceland.
To make a direct bank transfer to support the project, kindly utilize the following account, designated for the Lesum saman Project, or if you prefer, please feel free to contact us directly via email
KENNITALA: 410223 0740
BANK: 537-26-011621
