This is one of the Big 3 projects we ran from January as part of the annual Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages. It provides an opportunity to showcase and celebrate the creativity and diverse languages and cultures across the region. This year an estimated 1,560 children across the region were involved in Mother Tongue Other Tongue, with 21,532 children and young people involved in the Festival from January to March 2023.
The submissions of writing from children for Mother Tongue Other Tongue and the selection shared in the digital anthology, demonstrate their creativity and reflects their memories, new experiences, as well as things that matter to them. Topics are as varied as climate change, nature, identity, faith, community, family, overcoming challenges, equality, hopes and dreams, friendship, food, the importance of education and reflections on home countries, where they have had to leave. They include original pieces, remembered poems and songs. The children explain why they chose to write the pieces and some accompany them with drawings. They are a joy to read, many are moving and thought provoking, others will make you smile.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to all the children who participated and shared their thoughts, feelings and passions. Thank you to all the schools, teachers, families, communities and groups that made their involvement possible and for giving them this opportunity.
We would also like to acknowledge the incredible efforts of Project Co-ordinator Crista Hazell and the staff and students at Newcastle University’s Language Resource Centre, who checked all the submissions. We also thank Steven Fawkes of the Association of Language Learning North East for financing this project and providing ongoing support and expertise.
This is a fantastic collection of writing from young people in the North-East – in such a range of styles and languages. A true celebration of our linguistic wealth and creativity. Congratulations to all the authors, their teachers and families, and thanks to the organisers and readers).
Steven Fawkes, Association of Language Learning North East
We have been sharing our experiences of the Festival and Mother Tongue Other Tongue with others across the UK. We have presented at national webinars, as well as providing advice on our approach and its impact to other cities and areas around the UK, including Leeds and Norfolk. We are also part of the national network of partners promoting Mother Tongue Other Tongue across the UK, led by Manchester Metropolitan University, which originated the Mother Tongue Other Tongue project.
Some examples from the digital anthology
