Monster in your language

On Saturday 28.11.2015 the reading of the book No! Said Little Monster by Áslaug Jónsdóttir.

The language groups of Móðurmál translated the book into their languages –or used the existing translations– and bilingual children read in their languages for the visitors.

This time thirteen languages were represented: Icelandic, read by the author, Latvian, Czech, Lithuanian, Slovak, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Norwegian, Euskera (Basque), Catalan, Polish and Filipino.

The youngest readers were of preschool age. Special thanks go to 7-year-old Elín who read the whole book in Lithuanian.

We thank both children and adults for participating, the author of the Monster books Áslaug Jónsdóttir for her support, and Gerðuberg for providing the space and technical equipment.

Móðurmál member of Almannaheill

Móðurmál has become a part of Almannaheill, the association of the third sector. Almannaheill works towards common interests of its members, on issues such as legal, tax and working environments, professionalism etc.

Móðurmál is now a member of Heimili og skóli, the National Parents’ Association, and of Almannaheill. It is important to get support and recognition within these established networks and to contribute to the ongoing discussions by adding our perspective.

Móðurmál at multicultural festivals

Móðurmál presented itself at two multicultural events during weekend 31st October and 1st November.

On Halloween Saturday we introduced our activities at Multicultural Festival at Breiðholtsskóli, on Sunday we travelled by bus from Reykjavík to Borgranes, where the Festival of Nations (Þjóðahátið Vesturlands) was held for the 8th time.

During both events, we screened a presentation about Móðurmál, distributed bookmarks with information and presented heritage language classes in Breiðholt and other places.

Móðurmál represented at international conference in Reykjavík

Móðurmál was represented at the international conference Learning Spaces for Inclusion and Social Justice that took place in Reykjavík between 15th and 17th October 2015.

The conference was a conclusion of a three-year Nordic project and the key speakers were famous researchers in the fields of multiculturalism, heritage language education, social justice and citizenship education, James Banks, Jim Cummins, Anne Phoenix and Gert Biesta.

Móðurmál was represented with a booth on the first two days of a conference and two pieces of research on heritage language teachers’ views and long-distance heritage language teaching.

Presentation for guests from Germany

Móðurmál and the Multicultural Council of Reykjavík, represented by Renata Emilsson Peskova and Marina de Quintanilha e Mendonca, welcomed seventeen guests from German preschools and humanitarian organizations.

The mutual exchange of experiences and new ideas about inclusive multicultural education took place on October 8th 2015, in Gerðuberg, and was organized by CHANCENGLEICH in Europa e.V. / Equal Opportunities in Europe, an organization that promotes i.e. inclusive education, intercultural communication and transnational exchange.

This is the second time that Móðurmál and the Multicultural Council welcome guests from Germany and present their activities.

European Day of Languages 26th September –- Café Lingua

On Saturday 26th September, Café Lingua was held in the City Library in Gerðuberg.

It was devoted to a presentation of a wide spectrum of languages used all around Europe as well as in Iceland. Café lingua took place under the patronage of City Library of Gerðuberg, School and Leisure Department of Reykjavík and Móðurmál.

It started with the Lithuanian children’s choir that sang and taught visitors a traditional Lithuanian song. After that, a new Polish theatre group Pleikhús presented some toughest Polish tongue-twisters with a lot of humour. In the end, children and all guests were amused by the performance of magician Einar the Unique.
Czech, Lithuanian, Polish, English, Italian, Arabic and Móðurmál presented their languages and the computer platform of the Council of Europe devoted to the European Day of Languages.

The goal of the European Day of Languages is to highlight language diversity in Europe and the importance of learning more than one language.

Project Without Borders: Cooperation of the Czech society TÉKÍS and NGO Radka

Three representatives of the Czech organisation RADKA visited the Czech society in Iceland TÉKIS from the September 25th to November 2nd.

The common project Without Borders, supported by the Nordic funds, is a year project which aims at the exchange of good multicultural practices in schools, culture and society. Their schedule led them, among other things, to kindergartens and primary schools, Móðurmál classes, Café Lingua, cultural meeting Flying Carpet, AUS volunteer exchange organisation.

They met the Czech community in Iceland and shared knowledge about the organisation of volunteer work. This is the third visit of RADKA in Iceland and representatives of TÉKÍS and cultural and education experts from Iceland will conclude the common project in February 2016.

The mutual dialogue and exchange have benefited all participants of the project. Maternity, educational, social and volunteer organisation RADKA has already launched Café Lingua and Flying carpet programme in the Czech Republic.

Which elements they will establish in North-West Bohemia this time?

Kæri fésbókarvinur – Dear Facebook Friend

Dear Facebook Friends (please share)
Móðurmál does ambitious work for multilingual children, their families and society. We would like to encourage you to get acquainted with our activities at modurmal.com and show us support by becoming a member. We are looking for volunteers who could help us with the homepage, translations, organization of events, mother tongue teaching, looking for grants etc. We offer great experience and access to training.

Thank you ❤️

Kæri fésbókarvinur (viltu deila?)
Móðurmál, samtök um tvítyngi, sinnir metnaðarfullu starfi í þágu fjöltyngdra barna, fjölskyldna þeirra og samfélagsins. Við viljum bjóða þér að kynnast starfsemi okkar á www.modurmal.com og sýna okkur stuðning með því að gerast félagi. Við erum að leita af sjálfboðaliðum sem geta aðstoðað við heimasíðu, þýðingar, skipulag viðburða, móðurmálskennslu, leit af styrkjum osf. Við bjóðum skemmtilega reynslu og aðgang að fræðslu.
Með þökkum, Móðurmál