Gandhi Hall goes Multicultural – European Day of Languages Carnival
Gandhi Hall lived up to its name on Friday 24 September as 140 students from partner schools and colleges came together to celebrate languages and cultures from around the world. In the European Day of Languages Carnival, Leeds Metropolitan University marked a day that is celebrated across Europe.
The European Day of Languages, proclaimed by the Council of Europe On 6th December 2001, aims to encourage language learning across Europe and to foster the linguistic legacy of the European Year of Languages 2001. Each year, the European Day of Languages is celebrated to raise awareness of the importance of language learning in the global economy, to promote the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe and to encourage lifelong language learning in and out of school.
This year, we were pleased to welcome students from Airedale High School, Brigshaw High School, David Young Community Academy, Ermysted’s Grammar School for Boys, Minsthorpe Community College, Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College, St Bede’s Catholic Grammar School and St Joseph’s Catholic College. An important objective of the day was to excite their interest in other countries and other languages. This was facilitated by Level 6 students just returned from France and Spain, our new French assistant Chamima Soufou and Erasmus students from Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Norway and Poland. Other activities included an Italian workshop, cultural diversity poetry, a European quiz led Europe Direct Leeds and Chinese paper cutting.
At the close of the event, David Young Community Academy was awarded the Routes into Languages trophy for their contribution to language activities in the course of the year. The atmosphere on the day is best summed up by one school student who turned to me and, without any prompting, stated “I love languages”. This level of enthusiasm will not only enrich her life, but will contribute to the country’s wellbeing in a global economy.
Book Launch: Diversity, Poems and reflections by young writers
The launch of a new book, Diversity, poems and reflections by young writers, was celebrated on Friday 24 September in Gandhi Hall. The book, containing poetry and prose written by students from Routes into Languages partner schools, was the outcome of the Young Writers Enterprise Project: my community and noticing the other. School students were invited to write a poem or text of up to 500 words to describe their view of others in a multicultural society. Thirty-five submissions were chosen from entries by Bradford Academy, David Young Community Academy, Ermysted’s Grammar School for Boys, Minsthorpe Community College, Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College, St Bede’s Catholic Grammar School and Trinity Academy.
Entries show that students have reflected on the issue of self-identity and cultural differences. For some students this is a reflection on cultural diversity in their school or home town; for others it is the impact of foreign travel and other cultures on their self-awareness. The project celebrates the young writers’ love of languages in the broader and significant context of cultural differences. Entries include reflections on the students’ experiences with languages and the issues of multilingualism / monolingualism are addressed through the students’ personal reflections.
This project has engaged school students from varied backgrounds and communities in reflection on community, self awareness, multilingualism and “noticing the other” and has helped them learn to articulate their thoughts in writing. The outcome is a valuable and flexible resource for other communities both locally and internationally and may provide opportunities for new contacts and partnerships to develop.
At the book launch, prizes were presented by Rai Shacklock, Subject Group Leader Languages and ELT, to all the young writers in the book. Six submissions given special prominence within the book were awarded trophies. First prize went to Emma Helliwell for But in French I shine and second prize winner Thierry Ngutegure read his poem How is your community? The celebration continued with a poetry reading by Ursula Troche, word artist and multicultural community worker, and workshop activities engaged the school students present with the winning entries and, more broadly, with the themes of languages and cultural diversity.
To take a look at Diversity, poems and reflections by young writers, please click here.
