21st February is the United Nations’ International Mother Language Day, which recognizes that languages and multilingualism can advance inclusion, and the Sustainable Development Goals’ focus on leaving no one behind. UNESCO believes education, based on the first language or mother tongue, must begin from the early years as early childhood care and education is the foundation of learning.
Our Festival also seeks to celebrate the diversity of languages spoken in the region as people’s first or mother tongues and to encourage the awareness of different languages, cultures and traditions.
Multilingual and multicultural societies exist through their languages which transmit and preserve traditional knowledge and cultures in a sustainable way. International Mother Language Day is observed every year to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
Today there is growing awareness that languages play a vital role in development, in ensuring cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, but also in strengthening co-operation and attaining quality education for all, in building inclusive knowledge societies and preserving cultural heritage, and in mobilizing political will for applying the benefits of science and technology to sustainable development.
International Mother Language Day 2022
The theme of the 2022 International Mother Language Day, “Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities,” raises the potential role of technology to advance multilingual education and support the development of quality teaching and learning for all.
Technology has the potential to address some of the greatest challenges in education today. It can accelerate efforts towards ensuring equitable and inclusive lifelong learning opportunities for all if it is guided by the core principles of inclusion and equity. Multilingual education based on mother tongue is a key component of inclusion in education.
During COVID-19 school closures, many countries around the world employed technology-based solutions to maintain continuity of learning. But many learners lacked the necessary equipment, internet access, accessible materials, adapted content, and human support that would have allowed them to follow distance learning. Moreover, distance teaching and learning tools, programmes and content are not always able to reflect language diversity.
Support for UK-based language teachers
For North East Schools and Colleges interested in incorporating techology into the language learning classroom, we recommend membership of the Association of Language Learning, which is a national charity and the major subject association for those involved in teaching languages at all levels, providing support for teachers and access to local, regional and national training and resources.
Currently, the Association of Language Learning and British Council are supporting a national celebration of speaking languages open until 28th February: Express Yourself celebration of speaking
Celebrating mother languages in the North East
International Newcastle supports the promotion of first/mother languages in the city. We also host the Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages, which celebrates the diverse languages spoken across the city and region through three key projects, open in February and running into March. These encourage children and young people aged 7-18, through schools and groups, to express themselves in their mother languages and languages they are learning.
I am a small part of the world: Join our Festival song
1st Feb – 15th March 2022: Schools and groups are invited to sing, sign, play, perform and film their contributions of our Festival song, culminating in a compilation video – a centrepiece of the Festival.
Mother Tongue Other Tongue: poetry project
31st Jan – 25th March 2022: For children & young people aged 7-18 in North East schools and community schools. Writing and sharing poetry in their first/home languages or a language they are learning. Certificates for all.
Languages open doors: poster competition
31st Jan – 31st March 2022: For pupils aged 7-18. Create a compelling poster, which explains to other learners why it is important to learn another language. Certificates for all and printed versions of prize winning entries.
There are also Festival live events and activities in March open now for bookings and resources available anytime that people can access to explore mother tongues and other languages.
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