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What is the European Day of Languages and when is it celebrated?
The European Day of Languages is celebrated every year on 26 September. It was proclaimed by the Council of Europe in December 2001, at the end of the European Year of Languages, which the Council of Europe and the European Union organised together. The day celebrates the linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe and encourages people of all ages to learn foreign languages, both at school and throughout their lives. For English teachers, it is a natural occasion for a themed lesson in which students talk about the languages they speak, learn and would love to learn.
How can I celebrate the European Day of Languages in my English class?
Open the lesson with a quick warm-up, such as a "This or that" question about languages, and then move on to a longer discussion in pairs or small groups. Beginners can name countries and languages, B1–B2 students can talk about typical language-learning problems and give each other advice, and advanced groups can react to famous quotes about learning languages. With Lingstar's discussion starters, you can build the whole lesson around the day without writing a single question yourself – you open an activity, display it and let your students talk.
What European Day of Languages activities does Lingstar offer?
Lingstar has more than 15 speaking activities for the European Day of Languages, in formats your students already know and enjoy: a true-or-false quiz with surprising language facts, "This or that" and "Would you rather...?" dilemmas, unpopular opinions to agree or disagree with, "What if...?" scenarios about learning English and conversations about typical language-learning problems. Each activity is a set of ready-made ESL speaking cards designed to get the whole class talking about foreign languages and their own language-learning journey.
Are there activities for different levels, from beginners to advanced?
Yes. The European Day of Languages activities cover levels from A1 to C1. Beginners practise the names of countries and languages with flags and pictures, and answer simple yes-or-no questions. A2 and B1 students test their knowledge of language facts and choose between "this" and "that". At B1–B2, learners discuss language-learning problems, react to "What if...?" scenarios and argue about true-or-false statements. Upper-intermediate and advanced groups talk about famous quotes on learning languages and about the power of words. You simply choose the activities that match your students' level.
Do you have printable worksheets for the European Day of Languages?
Yes. Alongside the speaking activities, Lingstar has printable worksheets on the same theme for A1–A2 learners. Students can unscramble the names of 12 languages and practise their spelling, with an answer key included, or compare languages and countries using comparative and superlative forms. The worksheets are a good way to add a short written task before or after the speaking part of your lesson.
Why celebrate the European Day of Languages in an English lesson?
Because your students are language learners themselves. The day invites them to see English as one of many languages they know or could learn, to compare it with their mother tongue and to think about why they learn foreign languages at all. Conversations like these are personal and genuine, so even quieter students have something to say. They also build the vocabulary for talking about countries, languages and learning, and give you a valuable insight into your students' motivation.
What questions can I ask my students about foreign languages?
The best discussion starters for the day are simple, personal and open. Which languages do you speak, and which one would you like to learn next? What is the most difficult thing about learning a new language? Would you rather speak ten languages a little or one language perfectly? Is it better to learn a language at school or abroad? Lingstar's activities are full of questions like these, arranged by level and ready to display, so you can focus on the conversation rather than on preparation.
How much preparation do the activities need?
The speaking activities need none. Every activity is ready to display on your projector, interactive whiteboard or computer screen, so you simply open it and start the lesson – no copying, cutting or laminating. If you would like to use the worksheets as well, you only need to print them before class. This makes the European Day of Languages easy to celebrate even in a busy week.
Can I use these activities in online lessons?
Yes. Open the activity on your computer and share your screen or browser window in the video-call tool you already use with your students. Full-screen mode keeps the cards large and easy to read, so the conversation runs just as smoothly as in the classroom. The same activities work equally well in one-to-one lessons and with larger groups.
How do I find the European Day of Languages activities in Lingstar?
Log in to Lingstar and type "European Day of Languages" into the search bar. You will see the speaking activities prepared for the day, from beginner to advanced, and you can open any of them straight away. It takes less than a minute, so you can find the right activity even during the break before your lesson.
Can I use these activities after 26 September?
Of course. Topics such as learning languages, motivation and the languages of the world work all year round – at the start of a course, when you talk about study goals, or whenever your class needs a fresh subject. The teaching resources prepared for the European Day of Languages stay available in Lingstar, so you can come back to them whenever they fit your plan.
Why should English teachers choose Lingstar?
Lingstar is built specifically for English teachers who want to spend less time preparing and more time teaching. It offers a large and growing library of ESL speaking cards, discussion starters and other teaching resources, arranged by level and topic and ready to display in class. For the European Day of Languages – and for every other lesson – you open an activity and your students start speaking.