Dux and Semidux learned Icelandic from scratch with study

The girlfriends Ngan, Dana and Diana were all recognized for academic achievement at the graduation of the Ármúla Multicultural School today. They speak fluent Icelandic, but three years ago they hardly spoke a single word in the language. Ngan was the duo of the school and Dana Semidúx.

Ngan Kieu Tran is 19 years old and moved with her mother to Iceland from Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam in July 2022.

Diana Al Barouki and Dana Zaher El Deen are both 18 years old and moved to Iceland from the city of Sweida in Syria. Dana moved to Iceland in April 2022 and Diana in November of the same year.

Dana and Ngan met in sociology in Few, but Diana met Dana through their joint friend.

« We are now best friends, » says Diana, but the three girlfriends talked to mbl.is on the occasion of their graduation.

Learn Icelandic parallel to study in Icelandic

Asked what was the most difficult thing about their schooling in Armúlan, they agreed that it was learning Icelandic from scratch at the same time as their entire education took place in Icelandic. Therefore, there was often a huge translation work.

The girls, however, have mastered the language but speak between them either in Icelandic or English.

They only speak Icelandic when they work as assistant teachers in the language school The Paul factory.

Knew little about Iceland for transport

Diana says she didn’t really know about Iceland before she moved here, but had found that there were good schools here.

« I want to learn. I learn a lot and I want a good future for myself, » says Diana.

Diana and Dana say that it has not been particularly difficult for them to adapt to Icelandic society after the transport.

« It went very well, » says Dana. « We also received support from the Icelanders, » says Diana, and specifically supported their teachers’ support.

One opportunity to achieve

Ngan says that she has also been successful in adapting to Icelandic society, but most of all it has felt a difference in the Icelandic and Vietnamese school system.

« It’s hard to study in Vietnam. If I fall in school then I don’t get another chance. My mom came to Iceland first for work and then she decided that in Iceland it was good to live. She told my family to come to Iceland, » says Ngan.

She also stated that she found it very strange that here the students call her teachers with a first name. Diana and Dana agreed that this was a strange change from their home country.

It also took time to get used to the fact that most Icelanders have last names.

Dana Zaher El Deen was a semi -tip with a average score of 9.38.

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With 9.82 in average rating

Ngan was the school’s dude with an average score of 9.82 and received recognition for academic achievement in Icelandic, mathematics, Spanish, English and science.

Dana was a semi -grade with an average score of 9.38 and received recognition for academic achievement in Icelandic, Spanish and social subjects.

Diana had an average score of 9.18 and received recognition for academic achievement in Icelandic, Spanish and art subjects.

Diana played violin in the graduation ceremony and had a speech on behalf of graduates with Dana and Ngan.

New students at graduation receive today.

Photo/Submitted

Everyone in HR

The girlfriends are all planning at the University of Reykjavik next winter and are all aiming for five years of study there, Diana in Computer Science, Dana in Law and Ngan in Health Engineering.

The reason for the selection of schools, they say, is that it is one of the best things to do with students who have Icelandic as their second language.

Diana Al Barouki completed her studies with the average score of 9.18 and played the violin on the graduation in FAA.

mbl.is/karitas

Killed seven from the family

Asked about the main difference between living in Syria and in Iceland, Diana and Dana tell about one difference that matters: in Syria there is a war, but in Iceland there is peace.

« In my country there is no security and peace. Here we feel peace, » says Diana. « Because there is a war in Syria, » Dana adds.

They agree that it is difficult to watch news about their homeland, as the majority of their relatives still live there.

« All of our families live in Syria, » says Dana. She tells of attacks on their hometown Sweida:

« They killed many from our city. It wasn’t easy at all. We always have to talk to the family and ask if it’s okay, » she says.

« They were trying to enter our city, Sweida. They killed seven from my family, » says Dana.

Don’t intend back home

Diana’s father moved first of her family to Iceland and subsequently she came with her mother and sister herself on the basis of family reunions.

A similar story is told by Dana. First she came with her mother and brother and then her father to unite their family.

Do you think you will ever move back to Syria?

« I don’t think so, » Diana says after thinking briefly. « No,«  Dana said afterwards, adding that they love Iceland.

« We always want to be here,«  says Diana.