5 Fun Ways Students Can Celebrate International Mother Language Day
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International Mother Language Day is an important date in the calendar. On 21st February every year, it is a day promoted by the United Nations to celebrate the diversity of languages and culture around the world.
If you are an international student living abroad or if you come from a multi-lingual home, there are many reasons why you might want to celebrate this day, maintain good links with home, and ensure that your mother language is one that continues to be spoken for years to come.
We are always keen to help our international students to settle as well as possible in the UK, to know how certain cultural events are celebrated in the country, such as Chinese New Year, and the best way to celebrate and observe events throughout the year. Read along to discover how you can celebrate this one too!
The history of International Mother Language Day
Every year on the 21st February, this United Nations-observed day of celebration promotes linguistic and cultural diversity and raises awareness of the importance of mother languages in a wide range of sectors, including in education, cultural identity, and communication.
Mother languages help to foster inclusive societies, preserve indigenous cultures and improve education. It began as an idea after events in 1952 where students in Bangladesh were killed during protests advocating for recognition of their native language of Bengali. It was declared an official day by the UN in 1999 and has been officially recognised every year since.
How to celebrate International Mother Language Day
There are many ways that you can celebrate International Mother Language Day, either introspectively, alone, or with others. We’ll talk you through some of the options and fun ways that you can celebrate this year.
Attend events at your university
One of the ways you can celebrate International Mother Language Day is to attend events at your university.
You’ll find that most universities will have events on to celebrate the day. For example, there are a series of events around the date at Manchester University, looking at the power of language, accent-ism, and celebrations of languages and multi-culturism.
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Celebrate your own mother language and customs
If you are living abroad and speaking another language to your native tongue, use this day to celebrate your own language and culture. Read books in your language, write and speak in your native tongue, and share stories, songs, and other cultural traditions with your friends and those around you on this day.
Another good idea is to cook some dishes from your country, including family recipes that are close to your heart and bring up good memories of home. This all highlights the importance of cultural diversity and multilingualism.
Sign up to a language course
Another way to celebrate this day is to support other languages. You can do this by signing up to a language course and also encouraging other people to learn new languages. This helps to promote cross-cultural communication and the idea of speaking and writing in multiple languages.
Support organisations that preserve endangered languages
This is a great time to search for organisations that aim to promote awareness and preserve endangered languages, such as the Foundation for Endangered Languages.
There are over 3,000 endangered languages in the world. An endangered language is one where there is a declining population and younger people are not learning it or using it as their primary language.
There are many ways in which they could be saved, with some studies believing social media and other technology platforms could help save endangered languages play a key role in the near future.
Connect with other international students
You might have already connected with other international students since you’ve arrived in the UK, but International Mother Language Day is a great time to introduce yourself to some new people, to get together with groups of other international students and to explore different cultures, languages, dialects, and more.
The importance of saving languages
Language always matters. Mother languages are vital to a child’s development, providing a solid base of communication and self-expression, and for endangered languages, International Mother Language Day is a chance to shine a light on those languages in decline and to try and preserve them as best we can.
How to overcome culture shock as an international student
Culture shock works both ways as an international student. There is the initial culture shock of arriving and settling into the UK, but some international students also experience a reverse culture shock when they return home. There are a few methods you can use to settle for when you return home and to maintain a connection with your home, cultures, and mother language.
Stay connected with your friends and family back home, make regular calls back and stay connected with things that are happening. In your current home, connect with other people from your home country, as well as making friends with fellow students from all over the world. There is a balance to be found between exploring new cultures and identities and maintaining a connection with your own language and customs.
We are always keen to let our international students know how they can stay connected to their homeland and culture in the UK, when and how big cultural events like Chinese New Year is celebrated in the UK, and in the case of International Mother Language Day, how to stay connected and to celebrate their native language in a variety of ways.
It is easy to lose touch with your own culture when you move to a completely different place. As important as it is to make new friends, to learn new cultures, and to get over the shock of moving away from home, it is also important to stay as connected as you can with your friends, family, and culture back home. How do you plan on celebrating International Mother Language Day this year?
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