What is the European Day of Languages

A day like today, proclaimed by the Council of Europe on 6 December 2001, at the end of the European Year of Languages (2001), which had been jointly organised by the Council of Europe and the European Union. Its aim is to encourage language learning across Europe.

Why is it important?

This is a question of life or death… But it IS important to celebrate the linguistic diversity within Europe… and the world!

There have never been more opportunities to work and study in different European countries – and …. it has also been proven that lack of language competence prevents many people from taking advantage of them.

The rise in entrepreneurship, various patterns of business ownership, and globalisation mean that foreign language skills are in increasing demand, if people want work effectively in other countries. English alone is no longer enough.

There are over 200 languages spoken in Europe, and many more spoken by citizens whose family origin is from other continents. Europe is extremely rich in languages, and this is an important resource which we should value and cherish.

“To have another language is to possess a second soul” …

Charlemagne

Language learning brings benefits to young and old – you are never too old to learn a language and to enjoy the opportunities it opens up.

Even those few words of the language of the country that you often visit on holiday will enable you to make new friends and contacts.

Learning other peoples’ languages is a way of helping us to understand each other better and overcome our cultural differences.

This is what My Language Hub aspires to….