Let me learn your language!
Young people building bridges across the cultures

Today, on the 19th of November 2003, European Students’ Forum AEGEE is joining the celebrations of the European Day of Languages. On this occasion almost 50 local branches of the Association all over Europe, from Bucuresti to Helsinki and Passau to Minsk, are organising language courses, fairs and presentations of languages, popularising the idea of intercultural awareness and foreign languages learning.

By celebrating the European Day of Languages we would like to promote the rich cultural heritage of Europe and foster mutual understanding among different language communities all over Europe with a special focus on young people. It is also meant to promote language skills and their importance in personal development, intercultural understanding and European citizenship.

Our project is aimed at motivating the European youth to learn different languages, especially those languages that are not as common as the ones taught at the majority of schools and universities.

Sandra Adolf, the project manager, says: “By organising a simultaneous language course with broad media coverage in more than 50 cities all over Europe we would like to bring international attention to the importance of language learning and raise awareness among the general public as well as decision-makers”.

It was first celebrated in 2001 in the frame of the European Year of Languages, initiated by the European Commission and the Council of Europe. Since then, AEGEE has organised language-related activities all over Europe every year. The main focus of our activities is on the European Day of Languages celebrated in autumn. Besides that, we have been working on some sub-projects like organising language courses at the beginning of each statutory meeting of AEGEE.
Since its foundation, AEGEE has been involved in projects related to languages and intercultural learning.

AEGEE is one of Europe's largest interdisciplinary and voluntary student associations, operating without being linked to any political party, promoting a unified Europe, cross-border co-operation, communication and integration in academic environment, and at the same time striving to create an open and tolerant society of tomorrow. It is represented in 271 university cities, in 40 countries all around Europe and has about 17 000 members.

For more information please contact:
Ewa Solarczyk
Public Relations Director / Vice-President
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European Students' Forum (AEGEE)
Rue Nestor de Tière 15
B-1030 Brussels
(t) +32 2 245 2300
(m) +32 485 625 112
(fax) +32 2 245 6260
www.aegee.org