EU Info Centre and two EU Info Points, in Novi Sad and Nis, marked 26 September, the European Day of Languages, through linguistic workshops, language skills quizzes and socializing.
Belgrade high school pupils, Faculty of Philology students and citizens visited EU Info Centre and attended the Centre’s programme and European Day of Languages presentation, tested their language skills and knowledge and participated in one of the numerous quizzes available on the official web-site of European Day of Languages.
Best among them were awarded valuable prizes – language learning textbooks and dictionaries, donations of the French Institute in Belgrade and Hellenic Foundation for Culture (see more on the official Facebook page).
Every visitor received adequate publications on languages and language trivia, as well as publications about Europe in Serbian, English, French and Spanish.
EU Info Point Novi Sad, in cooperation with Faculty of Philosophy, French Institute in Serbia and preschool institution “Radosno detinjstvo“, organised German, French and Spanish language workshops in the premises of French Institute in Novi Sad. Some 30 preschoolers of “Cuperak” kindergarten had a chance to learn new words and phrases in Spanish, German and French, to listen music and have fun.
EUIP Novi Sad took part in the Language Festival that was held at Faculty of Philosophy, where visitors could find information on the recently-opened EUIP and its future activities and events.
In cooperation with European Corner of the Novi Sad City Library, American Corner and French Institute, various activities involving elementary schools pupils took place in the central city square.
Programme ended in Nis where EUIP Nis and other partners organise a manifestation entitled “Nis Collage of European Languages” presenting European linguistic richness through songs, theatre performances and sketches.
Rich programme in Puppet Theatre in Nis includes performances of Ode to Joy, sketches and Italian canzoni. Marking of European Day of Languages is organised in cooperation with French Institute, Oxford centar and other partners.
European Day of Languages, established in 2001 on the initiative of Council of Europe, is celebrated to attract public’s attention on linguistic richness of the Old Continent, as well as on the need of learning foreign languages in order to appreciate values and advantages of different cultures.
Europe is rich in languages – there are over 200 European languages and many more spoken by citizens whose family origin is from other continents. Language diversity is an important component of European cultures and must be upheld and cherished.
