EUROPEAN DAY OF LANGUAGES

26 September 2001-2011

What is EDL?????? The European Year of

Languages 2001, jointly organised by the Council of Europe and the European Union, was successful in involving millions of people across 45 participating countries. Its activities celebrated linguistic diversity in Europe and promoted language learning. 26 September 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the European Day of Languages (EDL). 

The origins of EDL The idea to launch a "European Year of Languages"

was born at the Council of Europe during a Project's Final Conference in April 1997 organised by the Language Policy Division. The proposal, supported by representatives of member states, was examined by various bodies and the European Commission was invited to join in. In January 1999, the Committee of Ministers declared 2001 the "European Year of Languages" and the European Union joined in by a Declaration in June 2000.The first European Day of Languages took place on 26 September 2001. It was one of the highlights of the European Year of Languages

First activities of EDL

The objectives of this day ….

The general objectives of the European Day of Languages are:

Alerting the public to the importance of language learning and diversifying the range of languages learnt in order to increase plurilingualism and intercultural understanding;

Promoting the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe, which must be preserved and fostered;

Encouraging lifelong language learning in and out of school, whether for study purposes, for professional needs, for purposes of mobility or for pleasure and exchanges. 

Why a European Day of Languages?????????????

Globalisation and patterns of business ownership mean that citizens increasingly need foreign language skills to work effectively within their own countries. English alone is no longer enough.

Europe is rich in languages - there are over 200 European languages and many more spoken by citizens whose family origin is from other continents. This is an important resource to be recognised, used and cherished.

Language learning brings benefits to young and old - you are never too old to learn a language and to enjoy the opportunities it opens up. Even if you only know a few words of the language of the country that you visit (for example on holiday), this enables you to make new friends and contacts.

Learning other peoples' languages is a way of helping us to understand each other better and overcome our cultural differences.

“PACK AN EXTRA LANGUAGE IN YOUR LUGGAGE”

What can we do in this day??? EVERYONE really can get

involved in the European Day of Languages, even if it is just about inviting neighbours from different cultures for tea or decorating the house with the European Day of Languages posters and stickers. We may not become a polyglot in the space of a day but it is likely to widen our horizons and it will almost certainly be an enjoyable and fulfilling experience! 

Previous events of EDL

26 September has been a day of great activities in the last ten years. Through these years people all over Europe have celebrated it as a day of connection with other cultures and countries. Teachers, students and common people organise big campaigns, conferences and other events to show their commitment of learning new languages and facing a new world.

EDL 2001 : when everything begins…

In 2001 the first European Day of Languages was one of the highlights of the European Year of Languages. According to the Council of Europe's Evaluation Report of the EDL, seminars and meetings on language policy festivals/fairs and exhibitions accounted for the most popular type of EDL event. In almost all countries, EDL-related press releases were published and the electronic media coverage amounted to 90%. On the occasion of the Day, the Council of Europe launched an interactive game "Learn to say hello in other languages!", which met a major success.

EDL 2002: Euronews, the EDL database

"Lifelong language learning" marked the central theme adopted for the second EDL celebrations. Also a short news item on the Day filmed at the Council of Europe's Headquarters was repeatedly shown on the Euronews channel on the evening of 26 September. A number of TV and radio stations held interviews with staff members with several using the recording produced for the EDL 2001 consisting of "Hello" in many languages.  A leaflet with basic information on the European Day of Languages was produced in Strasbourg and sent to all EDL Relays for translation/adaptation and production in national languages.

EDL 2003: stickers & slogans Language learning is an

excellent way to spread tolerance and mutual understanding between peoples. Linguistic diversity is a reality and is one of Europe 's strengths. It is part of our cultural heritage and our identity. Some 650 events were registered in the EDL online events calendar. Moreover, an EDL slogan competition for the year 2004 was organised. The slogan was “ Pack an extra language in your luggage”

EDL 2004: electronic greeting cards

Although the EDL event fell on a Sunday in 2004, people organised events throughout the week prior to or following 26 September. Over 500 activities were registered in the EDL events calendar - the majority organised by schools - and more than 27 000 visits to the EDL website were recorded during the month of September.  A new electronic greeting card based on the EDL poster also proved very popular.

EDL, 2006: ballons and videos In 2006 the Council of Europe celebrated

the sixth European Day of Languages. The EDL website featured examples of interesting and original events held to celebrate the Day. These varied from a multilingual story-telling marathon in Brussels, a board game evening in 10 language cafés across Europe and a language label competition in Ireland. The site also featured a contribution from the Norwegian EDL relay, a video based on the theme "Talk to me". As a special gesture towards its host town, the ECML organised, with the assistance of the Austrian Association for the ECML, an EDL balloon marathon together with six schools in Graz. On 26 September, more than 800 different coloured balloons featuring the EDL "Talk to me" speech bubble in the 39 national languages of the member states of the Council of Europe were let loose above the skies of Graz. 

EDL, 2008: language treasures & buttons

The Day proved more popular than ever. Major media initiatives were organised in several European countries around the theme of the Day with more events recorded in the EDL database of activities by 26 September than in any other year to date. In total 618 events from 44 countries in Europe and worldwide were registered. In the EDL "language treasures" database the Portuguese word "saudade" topped the polls for 2008. Buttons were an important part of the activities. There were organised even buttons competitions.

EDL 2011: all to be discovered

European Day of Language is arriving. You can be part of it. Just find the way how…………………………………………….

Idea and creation: Ornela Rama

Class XI2