World Languages and Cultures events and activities

The Festival celebrates the diverse languages and cultures of the world. This includes a range of creative projects, live events, pre-recorded classroom activities with teaching resources, UK competitions and some resources available anytime, which schools can access to celebrate different world languages and cultures. Taking part in these can contribute towards Schools of Sanctuary work, as well as making progress with the International School Award.

Sing, sign and play the Festival Song: Love is the Only River 6th January to 31st March

North East schools and groups (ages 7-18) are invited to sign, sign, play, perform and film different language versions of the song: ‘Love is the only river’. Compilation video of performances will be shared.

Together we fly! World Friendship origami project 6th January to 31st March

North East schools, community schools, schools internationally (ages 5-18). Children and young people will create colourful origami butterflies with messages of friendship and be part of our public art exhibition.

Mother Tongue Other Tongue poetic writing project 6th January to 31st March 2025

North East schools (ages 7-18). Children and young people share poems and drawings in their home language or write an original piece of poetry in a language they are learning. Compilation in a digital anthology.

Language Calligrams Celebration and workshop activity 6th January to 31st March

NE schools (7-9 and 9-11 year olds): Create calligrams in any language (other than English) based on words children already know. School certificates for all and ebook with selected entries.

World Recipe Book: exploring food and cultural heritage 6th Jan to 31st March

NE schools, youth and community groups: Share recipes in languages (other than English) and why these are important to different cultures. Digital recipe book will include selected entries.

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Love Your Language Party at West End Library, Newcastle 11.00-12.30 on Monday 16th February

For families with children (5-12, all welcome): Join in multilingual storytime, share stories, play games and enjoy arts and craft activities to celebrate International Mother Language Day.

Love Your Language Day at Newcastle City Library 11.00-12.00 on Saturday 21st February

For families with children (5-12, all welcome): Join in multilingual storytime, share stories, play games and enjoy arts and craft activities to celebrate International Mother Language Day.

Learn Arabic with songs and games (6 sessions for 2 schools) January to March

For 2 North East Primary Schools (30 children each): Six sessions delivered in school over 6 weeks with Arabic teachers, helping children to learn Arabic through songs and games.

Language Student Immersion at Durham University (KS5) Flexible dates 12th January to 6th March

For North East KS5 language learners: Half-day programmes for 2 pupils per visit, who will meet language students and do task-based activities in languages they study or take at degree level.

Asian Creative Journeys: Indian & Chinese cultural workshops Flexible bookings Feb-March

For North East schools KS2-5: South Asian and Chinese arts and culture workshops delivered in school by GemArts artists. Options include festivals, dance, visual arts, traditional arts and crafts.

Afro-Ecuadorian Fairytales at the Multilingual Library 1.30-2.30pm on 4th, 11th, 25th Feb, 11th Mar

For NE KS2-3 pupils: An engaging event (English/Spanish) bringing fairytales to life and learning about the importance of traditions and knowledge in different cultures. With teaching resources.

Language and culture sessions (Careers with Languages option) Flexible dates Feb-March

For NE KS2-KS5 pupils (7-18): 30-45 min online or 2-hour in-person sessions (with an option for a Careers with Languages session) at Newcastle University Language Resource Centre

Primary school games & stories at the Multilingual Library  Flexible bookings in March

For North East primary schools: Children will enjoy a library tour, games, quizzes and stories using our many books and celebrate diverse cultures and languages around the world.

Language Treasures at GNM 10am-2pm 4th March; self-guided in March

For schools (KS2-3): Book hands-on workshops exploring galleries through a linguistic lens and connecting across cultures or use teacher-led resourced activities throughout March.

Afro-Ecuadorian Fairytales at the Multilingual Library 1.30-2.30pm on 4th, 11th, 25th Feb, 11th March

For NE KS2-3 pupils: An engaging event (English/Spanish) bringing fairytales to life and learning about the importance of traditions and knowledge in different cultures. With teaching resources.

Welcome to China events (3-18 yrs) 9.30-11.30am on 10th, 11th, 12th, 17th, 18th and 19th March

For North East schools (5-18 yrs): Join in a Mandarin taster session and cultural workshops – Tai Chi, Kungfu, calligraphy, printmaking, Chinese Tea Ceremony, lacquer fan, lantern making, paper cutting.

#LetAfghanGirlsLearn! Webinar for 11-18 year olds 12-12.45 10th March 

For 11-18 year olds (UK wide): Share the experiences of Afghan girls, their fight for education and what pupils in the UK can do to support them. Education pack provided.

Mini Olympics – world sports, languages and cultures  10am-2pm, 12th March at Newcastle Uni

For NE primary/middle schools (Y3-5): Join in the Mini Olympics! Children compete as 6 country teams, with sports and tasks linked to the history, culture and language of the country.

Experience Japan with The Japan Society (KS2-3) 10-12 and 1-3pm on 13th March in Newcastle

For North East schools (KS2-3): Pupils can join in 2-hour interactive sessions with The Japan Society. They will learn some Japanese language and take part in Japanese cultural activities.

Yorùbá in-person cultural activity sessions 9.30-11.30am & 12.30-2.30pm on 24th & 30th March

For NE primary schools (KS2): Inspiring interactive sessions celebrating Nigerian and Yorùbá language and culture through dance, song, drumming and storytelling.

Welcome to the Arab World workshops (Y5-8) 9.30-12, 12.30-3pm on 23d March, Newcastle

NE schools (Years 5-6) Children will learn about the Arab world, culture and traditions, practice some Arabic language and try Arabic calligraphy in these fun, in-person interactive workshops.

Chinese Documentary Film Screening (14-18yrs) 10am-2.30pm on 25th March

For NE schools (KS4-5): Screening of 3 Chinese documentaries, offering insights into Chinese society, education and social inequality and documentary filmmaking. With Q&A.

Bangla Day in Sunderland (KS2-5) 11-12.30 and 1.30-3pm on 25th March, SBIC

For NE schools and colleges: Activities to celebrate richness of Bangladeshi culture, heritage, traditions and language with the Bangladeshi community in Sunderland.

Celebrating Bengali culture, language and heritage 10am-12pm on 26th March in Newcastle

NE schools (KS2): Join members of Newcastle’s Bangladeshi community to experience a carousel of cultural activities celebrating Bengali culture, language and heritage.

Welcome to Japan Workshops (Y5-6) 10-12 and 1-3pm on 11th March at Durham University

For NE schools (Y5-6): Learn about Japanese culture and language in these fun, interactive workshops with Japanese students and staff from Durham University and Teikyo University of Japan at Durham.

Culture Box Asia: Indian and Chinese cultural workshops Available 6 Jan-31 March

For 7-18 year-olds in North East schools, community schools and groups. Four fun, interactive pre-recorded workshops exploring and celebrating Indian and Chinese arts, language and culture (drumming, dance, puppetry and origami).

Ursa Lingua’s Castle Quest Escape Room Adventure Available 6 Jan-31 Mar

For KS2 7-11 years, UK schools: Help polar bear, Ursa Lingua, escape the castle using the power of languages and the magic of teamwork! An exciting language adventure with interactive resources.

Multilingual Me: Exploring and celebrating languages in pupils’ lives (KS2) 6 Jan-31 March

For UK primary schools (KS2): Lesson and materials to help pupils’ explore languages, celebrate linguistic diversity and learn about multilingualism and migration in the context of their classroom and community.

Yorùbá workshops: Language, Culture, Expression (KS2) Available 6 Jan-31 March

For NE primary schools (ages 7-11): Join in three fun pre-recorded interactive workshops with teaching resources to celebrate Nigerian and Yorùbá language and culture and children’s emotional expression with songs and stories.

Stories from around the world – Food on Film activities (ages 5-15) Available 6 Jan-31 March

NE and UK schools (ages 5-15): Access 3 short films, revealing different cultures, communities and languages whilst exploring underlying themes that unite us all through the culinary language of food. With teaching resources.

Exploring and celebrating indigenous African languages (KS1-4) Available 6 Jan-31 March

For UK schools and groups (5-16 years): Teaching resources and interactive activities to run in a classroom, youth group or community workshop introducing 4 indigenous African languages: Yoruba, Swahili, Tamazight, Xhosa

Afro-Ecuadorian Fairytales resources (English/Spanish) Available 6 Jan-31 March

For UK schools, youth and community groups: Resources in English and Spanish bringing Afro-Ecuadorian fairytales to life, learning about the importance of traditions and knowledge in different cultures.

Fun with Japanese interactive activities for children (5-11 years) Available 6 Jan-31 March

For children UK-wide (KS1-3):  A simple and fun introduction to Japanese for all pupils and community groups or families with children aged 5-11. A series of short videos online plus a calligraphy workshop.

Multilingual digital stories -5 films made by children Available 6 Jan-31 March

For UK primary, secondary, community schools & groups:  Share short multilingual digital stories created by children and young people aged 7–16 in a range of languages, with English subtitles. Teacher guide provided.

Puppet shows – have fun learning French! (3 shows, 3-11 years) Available 6 Jan-31 March

For NE early years, primary (ages 3-11): 3 interactive puppet shows tailored to different ages. Children learn French words while enjoying a story told with puppets by Nathalie Paris. With teacher guide and additional resources.

6 Primary French lessons: World Cup 2026 (Y5-6, Y7) Available 6 Jan-31 March

For NE and UK primary schools (Y5-6) and KS2-3 transition: Enthuse pupils to explore French with 6 creative lessons themed around the World Cup. Includes pre-recorded videos, powerpoint and lesson plans.

Spanish Cinema in the Classroom (KS4-5) Available 6 January to 31 March

For KS4-5 UK schools: Teachers can access recent Spanish films for classroom screenings.  English subtitles and teaching guides provided to ensure pupils’ Spanish learning is enhanced through this engaging and motivating activity.

JaLaChamp 2026 (Japanese) Open Nov 2025 to March 2026

For UK primary and secondary learners of Japanese. The 2026 theme is ‘My favourite sandwiches’. Speech and video categories. Finals day on 20th June in London. Guidance and downloads.

Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators (deadline 27 Mar)

UK schools register to access creative translation teaching resources in French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish. Competition tasks released 2 Feb, deadline 27 Mar.

Celebrate Speaking! UK schools 1st-28th February 2025

UK schools: Practice and celebrate a language your students learn or use in their community and take part in the virtual festival of speaking in by sharing performances online.

World Children’s Haiku Contest UK-wide, submissions by 28 Feb

For under 15 year-olds: Compose your own haiku with accompanying artwork by 28th February for a chance to win prizes. Individual and school entries welcome.

Multilingual Verses Entries open with various deadlines to 2027

UK schools: Share your children’s multilingual texts, verses and nursery rhymes and encourage family involvement and intergenerational learning. Entries and resources are shared.

World Speech Day Japan 21st March 2026

All ages: World Speech Day Japan is an opportunity for young people to share their thoughts with the world in Japanese (for students learning Japanese) and in English (for Japanese students learning English).

ENACT Around the World Club packs

UK and worldwide schools can set up their own Around the World Clubs with free resources, Children and young people can learn about different languages and cultures, while doing hands-on activities.

Around the World Education Packs from British Council

Explore a selection of British Council’s Education Packs with specially designed lessons and resources for schools linked to different countries and cultures across the world.

European Centre for Modern Languages

Classroom resources and publications in multiple languages are available free to support teachers. Available from this Council of Europe supported website.