The European Day of Languages

What’s flamenco dancing?

What food do people eat in Germany?

How do I say ‘thank you’ in French?

Introducing languages to primary schools isn’t just about learning words - although children will certainly pick up a lot of them! It’s about developing an interest in the culture of other nations, understanding how our values and identities differ from those of people in different countries, and recognising the rich diversity of our world.  That’s why more and more teachers are being encouraged to teach languages, and why they will soon be compulsory in all English primary schools.

We could talk all day about why we’re so happy about this development. We could talk about how languages improve literacy and make it easier to pick up other foreign languages at secondary school or later in life. They give children the option of travelling in the future, or developing an impressive international career. Most importantly, though, learning languages at primary school provides a huge amount of fun and enjoyment. And that’s what the European Day of Languages is all about.

Celebrated annually on 26th September, it’s the perfect day to kick-start language learning in the classroom, or to get your own children showing off their new language skills. CILT, the National Centre for Languages is in charge of coordinating the day in the UK, and is keen to get as many schools as possible participating. Their website is full of fun events, activities and resources to give you ideas on how you could celebrate it: www.cilt.org.uk/edl

Last year, all sorts of activities went on in primary schools around the country: competitions, music contests, food markets, world fashion shows, quizzes, games. It’s a chance for schools to have some great fun with languages, and involve the whole school as well as the wider community. Find out what’s going on in your child’s school – chances are there’ll be something for you to get involved in. You might even get a croissant!

The European Day of Languages is a chance for you to give language learning a bit of a push. But remember, languages are something that can be enjoyed all year round. Just a little bit of language learning can go a long way. Teachers can introduce small elements to their classroom activity – like taking the register in Spanish, or having a French quiz every now and again. Same with parents; why not read your bedtime story from a dual language picture book? Or play some games to help your children build confidence in speaking other languages. Then next time you go on holiday, you might have a little helper!

There are loads of ideas about how you can introduce languages at home in Bringing it Home, by Anne Farren and Richard Smith, published by CILT.

If you’d like to drop CILT a line to get some inspiration, or share your ideas, you can email us at edl@cilt.org.uk. In the meantime, have fun thinking of ideas for September! Bonne chance!