The School of Languages would like to invite you to celebrate International Mother Language Day with us on 21 February 2019 between 13:00 and 14:00. This will be essentially be a student-centred initiative, but staff members are very welcome to participate. The celebration will consist of 3 components.
1. A ‘60-second language courses’
In a very informal setting, students will be available to teach any interested individuals basic greeting forms, introductions and questions in their mother language for 60 seconds. Participants who master these skills within 60 seconds will be presented with a certificate. So far we have Russian, German, Afrikaans, English and Setswana. Should you have students who can speak any other languages, please refer them to me.
2. Mother languages at NWU
The School of Languages has a big banner, which will be in front of our northern entrance. Staff, students and passers-by will be requested to write down the name of their mother language on the banner. We hope to display the linguistic diversity of the NWU visually in this way.
3. Mother language tree
We will have a leafless ‘tree’ outside the School of Languages, which people will be requested to fill with 'leaves' in the form of little cards. On these cards will stand My mother language is ... Students, staff and passers-by will have the opportunity to write down their own feelings, what they associate with their own mother language and their meanings. Later on the tree – hopefully colourful – will be displayed on our building.
For further information please contact Gerda Wittmann