European Day of Languages
Language skills are a necessity and a right for everyone – that is one of the main messages of the European Day of Languages. — September 26, 2016
A day to encourage language learning across Europe. At the initiative of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg, the European Day of Languages has been celebrated every year since 2001 on 26 September.
Why do we celebrate the EDL?- To alert the public to the importance of language learning in order to increase plurilingualism and intercultural understanding
- To promote the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe
- To encourage lifelong language learning in and out of school
There have never been more opportunities to work or study in a different European country - but lack of language competence prevents many people from taking advantage of them.
Learning other peoples' languages is a way of helping us to understand each other better and overcome our cultural differences.
- There are between 6000 and 7000 languages in the world with about 225 indigenous languages in Europe.
- Most of the world’s languages are spoken in Asia and Africa.
- At least half of the world’s population are bilingual or plurilingual, i.e. they speak or understand two or more languages.
- Bilingualism makes the learning of additional languages easier and enhances the thinking process.
→ Selection of books related with EDL on table and an online space Pinterest - Library : all day
→ Workshops for Chinese and Russian calligraphy, Japanese origami - Department of Languages: 12 am - 1:30 p.m.
→ Multilingual Exquisite Corpses on flipchart - Department of International Office: 9 am- 17 pm