Project funded by Nordplus Junior programme

Tips on how to celebrate International Mother Language Day

Tips shared by Finnish-Russian school in Helsinki

Our world has become more multicultural and multilingual than ever before. The International Mother Language day gives us the opportunity to celebrate all the languages, not only those spoken in Europe.


International Mother Language Day – Kansainvälinen äidinkielen päivä 21.2.
“Languages are essential for both education and sustainable development, shaping the way people learn, communicate, and engage with society. The world is increasingly aware of its rich cultural, linguistic and biological diversity and their interlinkages. There is growing recognition of the need to protect and preserve this diversity in the face of its gradual
decline.


UNESCO estimates that there are 8,324 languages, spoken or signed. Out of these, around 7,000 languages are still in use. However, linguistic diversity is under threat, with many languages disappearing at an accelerated pace in our rapidly changing world.


Language is the primary medium through which knowledge is transferred. Education plays a key role in sharing and maintaining the world’s diversity, where languages, cultures and environments mutually and sustainably support one another.


There is still much to be done to ensure that all learners have the right to education in the language they best speak and understand.” Read more here:
https://articles.unesco.org/sites/default/files/medias/fichiers/2024/12/imld-2025-cn-en_0.pdf

More information about the day. Here you can also listen to different languages (video):
https://www.un.org/en/observances/mother-language-day
Some information in Finnish:
https://www.kieliverkosto.fi/fi/kuulumisia-kentalta/tapahtumat/kansainvalinen-aidinkielen-paiva-21-2
Rauhankasvatusinstituutti: https://rauhankasvatus.fi/aidinkielen-paiva/
If you want to read more in Finnish:
Oma kieli – oma mieli. Opas oman äidinkielen oppimisen tukemiseen. Opetushallitus. 2009.
https://peda.net/p/sanna.kekkonen%40hirvensalmi.fi/ma/tmk/mko:file/download/b715924df6c2bd086aeb90111e0d340d591a42e8/121981_oma_kieli_oma_mieli_2009.pdf

Ideas for celebrating:
-poetry recitation contests, writing contests, playing with words

  • world map with the flags and languages that your students talk as mother tongue
  • finding out the etymology of the words, making exhibition or reporting about the results to
    the class

-book-crossing at school
-reading together during breaks at school (‘lukuvälkkä’)
-gathering statistics about your students

jennidecandia