Press Release

Sir Trevor leads Monday's European Day of Languages celebrations

Sir Trevor McDonald will be presenting the European Award for Languages on Monday as language celebrations take place throughout Europe. Activities are planned in schools, colleges and offices across the UK to mark the European Day of Languages (26 September), many linking to this year's theme of the A to Z of languages and careers. CILT, the National Centre for Languages and its networks are involved in a number of events including:

·         European Award for Languages prize-giving ceremony, with photo shoot of 'talking' A to Z of languages, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, London

·         Opening Doors conference - highlighting opportunities for young linguists, Temple of Peace, Cardiff

·         Opportunity Europe - week long programme of events promoting languages for work and for leisure, Belfast

·         EDL Conference - featuring a Spanish through dance project, Irvine, Scotland

·         Vision for our multilingual capital 2012: Welcome the World, Olympics language on-line pledge

Demand for this year's EDL materials has been high, with people throughout the UK wishing to celebrate linguistic diversity and showcase their language skills. Activities include businesses organising games and taster sessions for staff, 30 inter-school teams participating in a multilingual debate and local schoolchildren being invited to interview international footballers at Watford FC.

The Council of Europe, which co-ordinates the initiative at European level, hosts calendar of events on its website at www.ecml.at/edl. Asset Languages have joined forces with CILT to promote the Day this year - activities based in their registered centres are listed at www.cilt.org.uk/edl