EUROPEAN DAY OF LANGUAGES: 26TH SEPTEMBER

LISTEN AND COMPLETE THE TEXT YOU HAVE BELOW ABOUT THE CELEBRATION OF THE EUROPEAN DAY OF LANGUAGES.

September the 26th is the European Day of Languages. The Council of Europe and the European Union (EU) created _________________ 6th of December 2001. _________________ encourage language learning across Europe. Other objectives are to alert the public _________________ of languages to increase multilingualism and intercultural understanding, _________________ rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe. All Europeans are encouraged _________________ language. The founders of this day also hope those responsible for providing access to language learning are encouraged to _________________ people to learn languages. There is an emphasis on learning a language other than English.
There are about 225 languages _________________. This is about three per cent of the world's total. With an increase in immigration to Europe, the continent _________________ multilingual. The EU says over 300 languages are spoken in London. _________________ EU survey 56% of EU citizens speak a second language. However, 44% only know _________________. English is the most widely spoken second language, with 38% of Europeans speaking it. This is ___________________ for French or German. Around 14% of Europeans say they have mastered one of these languages. The EU spends more than thirty million euros a year _________________ learning and linguistic diversity.

eslholidaylessons.com/09/european_day_of_languages.html

The European Year of Languages 2001, organised by the Council of Europe and the European Union was successful in involving millions of people across 45 participating countries. Its activities celebrated linguistic diversity in Europe and promoted language learning.
Due to this success the Council of Europe declared a European Day aof  Languages to be celebrated on 26th of September each year. The general objectives are:
1. Alerting the public to the importance of language learning and diversifying the range of languages learnt in order to increase plurilingualism and intercultural understanding.
2. Promoting the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe.
3. Encouraging lifelong language learning in and out of school, whether for study purposes, for professional needs, for purposes of mobility or for pleasure and exchange.

Learning a language can be very useful and healthy. According to some research it can increase the size of your brain. This is what Swedish scientists discovered when they used brain scans to monitor what happens when someone learns a second language. Could you imagine that?

LET'S TRY TO DO THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE QUIZ and learn some facts about some languages.

http://edl.ecml.at/Teachers/Teachingmaterials/tabid/3097/language/en-GB/Default.aspx

Do you think the European Day of Languages is a good idea for encouraging language learning and cultural explorations?
Have you ever been inspired to start learning a new language?