High schools students flock to World Languages Day April 14

High school students and teachers from across the state will sample the 60 languages taught at UW–Madison on Thursday, April 14, during the fourth annual World Languages Day (WLD).

More than 700 students from 24 Wisconsin high schools will attend this all-day outreach program sponsored by UW–Madison’s Language Institute. The event invites students, teachers and principals to participate in cultural and linguistic enrichment sessions. This year, through a grant from the Wisconsin Association for Language Teachers, WLD is pairing selected language and social studies teachers to receive take-home materials for use in their home school districts.

Through 50 sessions focusing on storytelling, cinema, skits, cuisine, dance, music, clothing and more, the students attending WLD will be able to get a taste – sometimes literally – of language and cultural opportunities they might like to pursue.

The scope of options offered at World Languages Day covers the globe, from the Americas to Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. In addition, WLD participants have an opportunity to learn more about various ethnic groups in Wisconsin – including indigenous peoples, Scandinavians, Germans and others – who helped to shape the region and continue to influence it.

“The program not only highlights UW–Madison’s language, culture and area-studies programs, but also celebrates the importance of language-learning in a fun and dynamic environment,” says Catherine Reiland, coordinator of World Languages Day.

High school visitors will be welcomed at 8:45 a.m. in the Memorial Union’s Great Hall by Gary Sandefur, dean of the College of Letters and Science, and Gilles Bousquet, dean of International Studies and director of the International Institute. Bucky Badger will visit students at lunch when members of the UW Band add some musical accompaniment to the festivities.

All sessions will be held from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. in Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St.; Red Gym, 716 Langdon St.; and Lowell Center, 610 Langdon St.

Sally Magnan, director of the Language Institute, says the day is part of a campus, state and national celebration of 2005 as the “Year of Languages,” which aims to educate Americans about the importance of language-learning.

Participating high schools include: Brookfield Central; Columbus; Gibraltar (Fish Creek); Franklin; Freedom; Southwest (Green Bay); Hortonville; Central (La Crosse); Lodi; East (Madison); James Madison Memorial (Madison); Malcolm Shabazz (Madison); La Follette (Madison); West (Madison); Lincoln (Manitowoc); Medford; Rufus King (Milwaukee); Neenah; New Lisbon; Poynette; Sauk Prairie (Prairie du Sac); Waunakee; Waupun; and Westby.