Here are sample session descriptions from previous World Languages Day sessions.
K-Pop and Korean snacks
Come experience the world of K-Pop with us! In this session, you'll travel through the eclectic mix of Korean pop music styles in the 1990s, early 2000s, and present day. You can even attempt Korean karaoke or just sit (dance?) on the sidelines eating Korean snacks and enjoying the show. Explore this unique intersection of music and culture and its global influence.
ASL song workshop
Did you know that sign language is not a universal language? Each country has its own sign language, and regions have dialects, much like the many languages spoken all over the world. Learn some of the basics of ASL, using the song "Where is the Love?" by The Black Eyed Peas.
Trash talk your way through futbol in the Spanish-speaking world
In this engaging session, you’ll learn about soccer through some of its powerhouse franchises and their trash-talking language. Come with us into the stadiums in Spain, Mexico, and Argentina to learn vocabulary from the best. You’ll also learn how to use that Spanish vocabulary to confuse your opponents. Finally, you’ll have a chance to view soccer-related bloopers and learn the Spanish vocabulary associated with them.
Tết Nguyên Đán: Vietnamese New Year
The most important holiday in Vietnam is Tết Nguyên Đán, also known as Lunar New Year. Join your Vietnamese presenters to explore how the Vietnamese celebrate this holiday and how it differs from New Year's celebrations in the United States and also from Chinese New Year. You will learn some New Year's phrases in Vietnamese and play some games typical to this holiday.
Yookoso! Welcome to Japan
What do you know about Japan? Ninjas? Anime? PlayStation? This session will give you an opportunity to learn about Japanese language and culture in a fun, interactive way. You will also learn some Japanese katakana characters.
Colorless green ideas sleep furiously!
What does this famous sentence mean and what does it tell us about how language works? Linguistics is the science of human language. It looks at how words and sentences are formed, as well as how different sounds are produced and allowed to combine in different languages. Linguistics also addresses the question of how children are able to acquire this complex system even before they can do relatively simple tasks like dressing themselves or tying their shoes. We will explore in a fun and interactive way some of the phenomena that linguists try to explain.
High school life in Japan: Fashion and fun!
Can you picture a typical teen in Japan? Do Japanese students wear school uniforms every day? What kind of food do they eat for lunch? How do they spend their free time after school? In this session, you’ll join a Japanese presenter to learn about Japanese fashion trends (these teens are always on the forefront of fashion!) and how high school students spend their time. You'll play a few games and take home some giveaways.
Tidinit to tserbitt: Mauritanian culture and dance
From the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Sahara Desert in the east, the west African country of Mauritania encompasses rich traditions in language, music, and dance. In this session, you’ll hear from a Mauritanian about his culture and learn some Arabic (the official language of the country), as well as a few phrases in some of the other languages spoken there. Hear the tidnit, the traditional guitar, and get up and try the tserbitt, a common dance performed at weddings and other festive occasions.
The power of yoga
The eight-limbed practice of yoga (astanga yoga) dates back thousands of years to India. Although in the United States we tend to focus on the physical practice (the asanas), we'll discuss the power and importance of each limb and discuss how they work together to bring the yogi closer to samadhi (the final limb). You'll learn some Sanskrit (the language of yoga), and even practice a couple of sun salutes (surya namaskara).
Cross-cultural learning begins in your living room!
Not everyone has the desire or the means to live overseas in high school. But most everyone can seek out chances to widen their horizons—maybe in their own living room as you befriend students who come to our country for student exchange programs. In this session, you’ll meet teens from different countries currently living with New York families. Explore what it would mean for your own family to offer to welcome an exchange sibling into your home. These students are eager to share something of their language and culture with you in this presentation!
From Arabic to Zulu: Study language at Cornell!
Do you love studying a new language and learning about other cultures? Did you know you can study more than 50 languages at Cornell? Hear from Cornell college students about what it’s really like to be a language student at a university. Learn their tips and tricks for becoming fluent, about their experiences abroad, and how they will use their language skills to get ahead in the future. Information about being a language major or minor at Cornell as well as study abroad and international internship opportunities will be shared as well.
How teachers can make the world their classroom
Travel, immersion, and face-to-face contact all enhance language learning. New opportunities can be promoted by teachers—and students can only avail themselves of those they’re aware of. Come to this session to learn about Youth For Understanding’s new Classroom Excursions Programs to 13 countries—in which teachers accompany students. Explore “virtual exchanges” and find out about YFU’s outbound student exchange scholarships and “early bird pricing” to about 35 countries. Be ready to advise and help students realize their dreams!