Building on findings from a recent research project, we offered practical activities to highlight the benefits and enjoyment of learning another language.
With support from teachers, technicians and mother-tongue speakers, children and families learnt key phrases in another language as they cooked simple meals or learnt simple dances. We interspersed the practical activities with short videos, learning opportunities using iPads and live links via local radio with our partners in Spain. Language learning promotes intercultural capabilities, moving us beyond self-absorption to valuing and preserving diversity and variation.
To promote sustainability we need to adopt a more holistic view of ourselves as global citizens caring for the planet we occupy together. Sustaining languages can also help sustain businesses and careers, so in the afternoon we invited representatives from local businesses who employ workers with language skills, again incorporating live links via local radio with businesses in Spain.