2024 Session Descriptions

We are excited to welcome you to campus for Cornell World Languages Day. The day will be packed with fun activities around languages, cultures, and all things global. To structure your day, you will select one track during your online registration (each track has 3 sessions). The tracks are listed below, along with session descriptions. We look forward to meeting you on October 26!

WLD tracks

Session descriptions

Amaze your peers. Baffle your elders. Learn ASL!
Gain a superpower learning American Sign Language (ASL)! You could use ASL underwater, sign in noisy environments, through windows, and occasionally in secret. Did you know there are over 140 signed languages around the world? You will learn some ASL basics including fingerspelling, greetings, some common phrases, and play games popular in the Deaf community.

Bangladesh: Land of rivers, food, and festivals 
Did you know Bangladesh is home to 172 million people, the 8th largest population in the world? Can you tell how big the country is compared to the US? Come and learn about the lives of the people in this land of 700 rivers, the food they eat, and the festivals they celebrate. Learn to write your name in Bangla, a few phrases, and win prizes.

Oh, the places you'll go! Languages = Superpowers (French)
Would you like to know how powerful languages can be? Places you never imagined they could take you? Are you ready to travel the world, discover new cultures, meet new friends? In this interactive session, meet Cornell students who experienced the powers of learning another language and find out how it has shaped their worldview. We will have fun with games and learn some interesting facts about the French language.
À très bientôt!

German popular music from jazz to Kraut-Rock to hip-hop
When you hear the phrase "German Music," you're likely to first think of Bach or Beethoven – or maybe oompah music or 99 Luftballons. Did you know that Germany also has a long, diverse, and fascinating history of popular music beyond mere importation of music from the US, UK, or elsewhere? From Berlin's Jazz Age in Weimar-era Germany to genre-bending "Kraut-Rock" in the 1970s to German hip-hop from the 1990s to the present, you will listen to and learn about snippets from the rich history of popular music in Germany over the past 100 years. In the process, you'll learn a thing or two about lesser-known elements of German cultural history as well.  

How to hack a language
What's the secret to learning any language with ease? How do some people – polyglots and hyperglots – acquire so many of them; are they super-human, or are they just too human? Come discover the secrets so you too can pick up any tongue you want.*
* = terms and conditions may apply; see complete presentation for details. Neither the Language Resource Center nor Cornell University can guarantee specific language learning outcomes; results will vary according to individual circumstances. 

케이팝 – K-pop dance training (Korean K-Pop)
Learn some choreography to Lisa's new song Rockstar! With her group Blackpink becoming popular worldwide along with other popular K-pop groups, such as Seventeen, Enhypen, and NewJeans, now is the perfect time to learn and practice some K-pop dances! No prior dance experience is necessary, and we hope to see you there!

Feel the rhythm with Shimtah (Korean Drums)
Come and learn about Korean music before the era of K-Pop. It involves carefully coordinated movements and cues, beating of the drums, and hitting gongs of various sizes. Are you ready to make some music?

Languages of Southeast Asia: The Gameshow!
Have you ever wanted to test your knowledge on Jeopardy? Now you can with the Southeast Asian Language Gameshow! You will form small groups with your peers to compete in a Southeast Asian language themed gameshow. Race to seal in answers based on soundbites and pictures of character languages, as well as questions on geography, linguistic facts, and local demographics.

What is Study Abroad anyway?
Have you ever thought about studying abroad? What does it actually look like? Why should you study abroad? Hear from students who have recently returned from studying abroad and learn about their experiences! In this session, we will also do an activity to help you think about what kind of study abroad opportunity could work best for you.

Turkish Delight: Revealing the gems of Turkey's past and present
Step aboard for an enchanting journey with "Turkish Delight" where you will have a delightful bite into Turkey's captivating history and vibrant contemporary culture. This session unveils the hidden treasures of Türkçe while immersing you in the richness of Turkey's past and present. Join us for a delectable adventure that promises to uncover the gems of Turkey's heritage, spanning from Catalhoyuk to the Ottoman Empire. Get ready to savor the delights of Turkish language and culture!

The "Carol of the Bells": An unknown story of a well-known Ukrainian song
On Christmas Eve, the "Carol of the Bells" is played both in private homes and the largest concert halls all around the world. Shchedryk, the Ukrainian folk tune, on the basis of which Mykola Leontovich created this legendary song, has been inspiring and uniting people of different nationalities for more than a century. But only a few people know that this song has also become a symbol of the deep struggle of Ukrainians for independence from Russia. You will learn more about this unprecedented case of the cultural diplomacy, tragic fate of its composer, and how this song became so popular in the US.