Today, in Europe, multilingualism tends to become more and more widespread. Nowadays there are a lot of opportunities to learn a new language: international exchanges, EVS, Erasmus or Leonardo projects etc… Therefore, to highlight the important value of language learning, the European Council established the European Day of Languages, which has been celebrated each year on 26th September from 2001. This day aims not just to support multilingualism, but also to promote, understand and spread the linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe. The EDL is addressed to learners, students, teachers, universities, schools, cultural institutes, language institutes, associations, in other words to any organizations or person who wish to celebrate linguistic diversity in Europe. For this reason member states, partners or individuals are invited on Friday, 26th September, to freely organize or assist in the organization of initiatives related to the day objective, such as:
- The organization of an event (a linguistic coffee, a party, a tournament, a dinner, conference …)
- Opening a blog about languages
- Writing an e-book / e-magazine
- Language quizzes for students / schools…
- Activities with children
- The organization of a competition for the creation of postcards / posters / videos / photos
- The transmission of radio and television programs specifically produced with this view
Each event can be promoted accessing the database where it is possible to get an overview of the various events organized throughout Europe. In addition, also this year web users can to vote the most innovative event of 2014, which will be awarded in December. The choice will be based on creativity, originality and transferability or on the fact that the event properly represents the true meaning of the day.
In Italy, in order to give an institutional recognition to this day, the Italian Presidency has organized the Conference of the European Day of Languages 2014 at the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence.
CESIE contributes daily to support multilingualism in Europe through various projects, exchanges, study, volunteering and work initiatives; We believe that the ability to speak different languages (not only English) is a source of enrichment and openness to other cultures. Indeed languages knowledge is a useful tool to benefit from life experiences, in the work field or in leisure. Speaking another language, in addition to English, can nowadays make a big difference. For this reason CESIE has been involved in the PROLANG project, promoting the learning of uncommon European languages. Moreover the organization offers European volunteering opportunities (EVS) not just in European countries with very common languages (France, UK, Germany, Spain), but also in the countries where uncommon languages are spoken. These are some of the initiatives promoted by the CESIE which intend to promote and make it clear to European citizens the importance of multiculturalism and multilingualism in the “old continent”!
