The European Award for Languages is a Europe-wide initiative supported by the European Commission. It is open to schools, colleges, universities, businesses and other institutions engaged in language initiatives and applies to any language other than English. Projects which are innovative, effective and replicable are eligible to win one of these awards, which include a specific Community Languages Prize, and the work of winners and runners-up is widely disseminated.

The European Day of Languages on 26 September each year aims to celebrate the more than 6000 languages spoken in the world, behind each of which lies a rich and diverse culture. Set up by the Council of Europe, it encourages people in schools, colleges and the wider community to set up events or initiatives to get people others excited about languages, showing them how important languages are, and what fun can be had learning them.

The Languages and Film Talent Awards (LAFTAs) are open to anyone aged 13 to 21 living in the UK and invite entrants to create a two-minute video showing why languages are important. There is a World of Languages category to highlight languages spoken at home and in the community and across the globe.

Schools and colleges

CILT’s Primary Languages website suggests a range of Curriculum enhancement ideas for taking advantage of the multilingualism in school. Valuing languages in secondary schools also explores the celebrating and promoting languages themes.

All five categories of the 14-19 National Awards for Excellence in Language Learning are open to community or heritage language speakers of this age group in England studying their language (or languages). There is also a category dedicated specifically to speakers of community or heritage language speakers. Full details on how to enter are on the awards website.

The Routes into Languages initiative aims to increase the take-up of language courses in higher education by encouraging more young people to continue studying languages at school and college and then at university, especially those from social groups currently under-represented in language study. Schools can contact their nearest Regional Consortium to find out how to get their learners involved in activities.

Schools can also promote languages by engaging with the Business Language Champions programme coordinated by CILT, which puts learners in schools in contact with people using languages successfully in their career, including community languages.

Employers

Employers who value language skills and want to celebrate and encourage their employees’ talents can engage with the Business Language Champions programme. They might also want to take advantage of the European Day of Languages in September each year, or the Adult Learners’ Week organised each May by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education.