The 26th of September every year is European Day of Languages!

Check-out the Council of Europe Web site!
A few ideas to celebrate!

You will find the answers to the following questions in the Council of Europe Web site above!

1. What is the Council of Europe?
2. What is "intercultural understanding"?
3. How many indigenous languages are spoken in Europe?
4. How is Europe's linguistic heritage described?
5. Why does the Council of Europe promote the learning of several languages?
6. On a world scale, is monolingualism the norm?
7. Where in Europe is plurilingualism a part of everyday life?
8. How many people claim to be able to converse in English in Europe?
9. What does "lingua franca" mean?
10. What is the purpose of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages?
11. How do you say "Hello! Talk to me!" in at least five European languages?
12. How many languages are spoken by the 7 billion people of the planet?
13. Which are the most spoken languages?
14. What percentage of the world's languages are indigenous to Europe?
15. What is a "mother tongue"?
16. Which is the most difficult mother tongue to learn?
17. What is "language"?
18. How many sounds does Irish contain?
19. From how many other languages has English borrowed words?
20. How many languages are spoken in London?

Here are some questions for you (i.e. give your opinion):

1. What, in a European Union context, is the purpose of the European Day of Languages (EDL)?
2. Give five good reasons why people need to learn to speak several languages.
3. How many languages and regional languages do you speak?
4. How well do you identify foreign languages?
5. Which is your "first language" (use the definition in the EDL Website)?
6. Are there any drawbacks to being able to speak several languages?
7. Is language learning more a constraint or an opportunity for you?
8. If you had the time, what languages would you like to learn and why?
9. Which is your favorite language and why?
10. What would be a fun way to promote the EDL in Massillon (find a good slogan!)?

Activities:

1. Enjoy the Facts & Fun activities on the EDL Website!
2. What word did you add to the "language treasures" database?
3. Learn to say by heart "Hello! Talk to me!" in as many different languages as you can (cf. video on EDL Website)!