Multilingual Me: Exploring and celebrating the languages in pupil’s lives: Pre-prepared lesson and resources for use between 6th January and 31st March
UK primary schools can use this pre-prepared lesson to explore the languages in your school community. Children will learn about multilingualism and migration in the context of their classroom, community and country whilst celebrating the linguistic diversity all around them. They will hear stories from the voices of multilingual people who have moved to the UK and consider their own family stories of languages.
Resources are available up to the end of March for registered primary schools.
Who is it for?
This lesson is available to all UK primary schools for pupils aged 7-11 and their teachers
When will it happen?
- The lesson has been pre-recorded, so can be accessed via a weblink to registered schools along with teaching resources, for use anytime during the Festival from 6th January to 31st March 2026 (advance registration from November 2025)
- It will take between 45-60 minutes to complete the lesson with suggested extension activities if you would like to extend the learning.
What is the activity?
Multilingual Me is a lesson aimed at pupils aged 7 to 11. It is designed to be delivered in primary school classrooms, with pre-prepared resources. This is both an exploration of multilingualism and migration and a celebration of languages showing how language learning is interesting, enjoyable and relevant to children’s lives.
The prepared lesson lasts 45-60 minutes with suggested extension activities if you would like to extend the learning. Resources include a PowerPoint with teacher guidance notes for each slide. Delivery guidance will be provided for teachers who have pupils with lived experience of forced displacement (refugees and asylum seekers).
In the lesson:
- We ask pupils what it means to be multilingual and ask them if they lead a multilingual life
- We ask pupils to tune in to the languages spoken and around them and encourage pupils to talk about the languages in their lives. In this way we learn about each other, leading to greater cultural and linguistic understanding.
- We discuss language and identity and how it feels to have more than one way of expressing yourself.
- Your pupils will meet Dina Nayeri, an Iranian-American writer with a refugee background. She will share a little about the different languages in her life. Together we will celebrate our multilingual classrooms and communities and create a sense of pride in our multicultural country.
After the lesson, pupils should gain an understanding that we are all, perhaps, in some way, multilingual.
This lesson would be ideal for primary schools who want to use it as part of:
- International Mother Language Day (21st February) celebrations
- Schools of Sanctuary work
- Activities in school celebrating diversity and creating a welcoming environment
- Schools with both pupils from diverse backgrounds and those who do not have as much diversity in their school communities
Children may wish to share what they have learned in assembly or community settings and create exhibitions about what they have learned.
How do I get involved?
Teachers should register for the resources by emailing info@expressyourselfne.com with the following information:
- the name of this activity (Multilingual Me)
- your school lead contact and email address
- your school name and address
- the number of pupils who will be participating and what key stage or year group they are in
This helps us to monitor who is taking part and our reach across the region.
You will be sent a confirmation email when you register. Links to teaching resources will be sent out in the first week of January for use until the end of March 2026.
Further information and links
This activity has been prepared by A Day of Welcome and WoLLoW.
A Day of Welcome is an annual day of solidarity and learning in schools that aims to build a culture of welcome and understanding for people seeking sanctuary (Friday 12th June 2026). Celebrated by 821+ schools in 2025, it supports teachers to meaningfully mark Refugee Week (15-21st June 2026) by providing free live events, resources and activities for pupils of all ages.
- Follow the link to find out more: A Day of Welcome – Schools of Sanctuary
WoLLoW (World of Languages, Languages of the World) is a programme devised for primary and secondary schools to teach pupils about language and about languages. We are a registered charity and give our work to hundreds of schools around the country and overseas for free. Our aims are to:
- Show pupils that languages are fun and engaging
- Show pupils that language learning is relevant and important in their global 21st Century lives
- Show pupils that learning a language is achievable and accessible
- Celebrate linguistic diversity in the classroom, community and country.
We have over 10 units of engaging lessons for both primary and secondary courses, complete with PPTs, worksheets and teacher crib sheets. For more information and to request our free resources please visit:
- Visit the website: WoLLoW – World of Languages, Languages of the World or on social media: LinkedIn.
- This lesson is a collaboration between Day of Welcome and WoLLoW (World of Language, Languages of the World). All activities have been designed by Abigail Dean (WoLLoW) and Jake Rose-Brown (DofW).
- Contacts: Jake Rose-Brown (DofW) Abigail Dean (WolloW)
- Email: jrose-brown@avenuejunior.org and adean@norwich-school.org.uk
