Our Festival of Languages is beating all records! Lots of activities still available for schools and communities to the end of March 2024

With over 180 North East schools registering so far for FREE activities and more than 24,000 children and young people across the region signed up to participate, this year’s Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages is set to be our biggest and best! Most of the activities take place in March, so we are expecting a lot more involvement by 31st March when this year’s Festival ends. Register now to be part of the Festival.

International Newcastle hosts and co-ordinates the Festival on behalf of a local, regional, national partnership delivering all activities FREE to schools and groups to celebrate diverse languages and cultures and our connections to the world.

Read on to find out about remaining places at FREE in-person events in March, creative projects for schools, unlimited participation in languages and careers webinars and access to pre-recorded language activities, as well as activities for adults and communities.

In-person events in March for North East schools

Although many in-person events are fully booked, there are still some places available – click on the links to find out more and register:

• Welcome to the Arab World for middle/secondary schools 12.30-3pm on 4th March at Newcastle Civic Centre (3 school places left for 30 pupils each) Register interest by emailing info@expressyourselfne.com
• Language Treasures at Great North Museum – teacher-led activities available in March
• Language and culture taster sessions with Newcastle University available during March for secondary/6th Form pupils
• Welcome to Germany and the German speaking world primary sessions (morning) secondary (afternoon) on 20th March at Durham University
• Language activities at Northumbria University (Y12 French, German, Spanish learners) only 5 German pupil places left for 2-4pm on 13th March

Creative projects for North East schools

• Mother Tongue Other Tongue children’s writing in their home languages and those they are learning – open for submissions to 22nd March, certificates for all submissions
• Peace Cranes – schools have until 6th March to submit children’s origami birds with messages of peace written on them to be part of a regional exhibition
• Festival Song – Happy (registration is closed) resources are available now and schools and groups can submit their performances in different languages by 28th March to be part of a regional compilation performance video

Unlimited participation – but schools need to register to take part

We also have a range of activities that are for unlimited numbers of participants and which you can register on the individual Festival event/activity pages:

Three languages and careers webinars for middle/secondary aged children

• Where can languages take you?  Y8/9 webinar with British Council 9-10am on 11th March
• One language good, two languages better. June Lowery-Kingston KS3/4 webinar: 1.30-2.30pm on 21st March
• Futbol Lingo webinar for schools on languages and careers in football 9-10am on 26th March

Pre-recorded workshop activities:

• French Puppet Shows (ages 3-11) available now until 31st March with teacher resources
• Lingotot activities (ages 3-11) available now for French, Spanish, German, Italian and Ukrainian with teacher resources
• Fun with Japanese (ages 5-11 years) available 1-31st March with teaching resources
• Exploring and celebrating indigenous African languages and culture (ages 5-16) available now until 31st March with activity pack, videos and teaching resources for schools, youth groups and communities