The European Day of Languages was marked yesterday with a series of activities held at the Secondary School for Environment and Wood Design in Sarajevo. The event was co-organised by the EU Info Centre and the European Union National Institute for Culture in BiH (EUNIC). Workshops for children and teachers, language classes, interactive quizzes, and a number of other useful activities were conducted on this occasion.
Addressing the audience, Jan Snaidauf, Head of Political and Economic Section of the EU Delegation to BiH, pointed out to Europe’s rich linguistic diversity with over 200 languages in daily use which needs to be preserved and fostered. He underlined how learning a new language enriches our lives helping us understand each other better and overcome our differences.
Recalling the saying “the more languages you know, the more you are worth,” Snaidauf said: “Developing language skills allows us to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by modern societies. Knowing not just one foreign language but two or three opens up greater opportunities for studying and carrier development.”
Representatives of EU Member States’ embassies in BiH (Slovenia, Czech Republic, Spain, Hungary, Italy), and the Goethe Institute, the French Institute and the British Council were there providing information on their languages, cultures and language courses.
In addition, the EU Info Centre organised a quiz for all visitors wanting to learn a new language. The free lucky winners, drown by Director of the Secondary School for Environment and Wood Design Muamer Muratovic, won one term free language course of their choice.
The European Day of Languages is traditionally celebrated on 26 September in 47 member states of the Council of Europe raising awareness through a series of gatherings and activities, of the importance of knowing foreign languages and a rich linguistic and cultural diversity in Europe.
For more information please visit: http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/JEL_en.asp
