Your language counts

Join us for an inspiring opening event that bridges cultures, languages, and borders!

What to expect:

1. Keynote Speech: Gisi Cannizzaro (Heritage Language Education Network)
2. EU Project “Your Language Counts”:
   - Discover the project supported by the EU and Erasmus +.
   - Learn how this initiative promotes intercultural awareness across Europe.
3. Interactive Poll: What are your experiences with HLT?
4. Panel Discussion:
   - “Heritage Language Education in Sweden, Finnland, Netherlands and Germany: Nurturing Inclusion and Equity”

Kindly note: The event takes place from 2 pm - 3.30 pm (CET)

Keynote Speech: Gisi Cannizzaro (Heritage Language Education Network):  

Countless ways to support heritage language educators
A recently launched Global Call to Action for Heritage Language Education urges that a great deal be done worldwide to improve the circumstances surrounding this valuable form of education. Something as simple as being aware of which heritage language education programs are available in your community can lead to greater sustainability of those programs! In this talk, we highlight additional ways to show appreciation and support for mobilized groups offering language and culture education to multilingual children.

About the project

Welcome to the "Your language counts! All languages matter in a multilingual society, starting in school." project, dedicated to supporting the integration and educational success of multilingual students with a heritage language background. In an increasingly diverse Europe, multilingualism is the norm, presenting many opportunities but also challenges for students who must navigate a school system dominated by a language different from their heritage languages.

Our project aim is to contribute to students’ overall academic achievements and foster a sense of belonging through knowledge and therefore pride in their languages.
The term "heritage language" (or “home language”) refers to languages spoken at home, reflecting individual histories, traditions, and cultural identities. This includes students with a refugee or migrant background, heritage language speakers, second or third generation heritage language speakers, and any student with a diverse heritage language background.

Our vision includes the development, testing, and implementation of a Heritage Language Education model launching in six schools, focusing on the lower secondary years (students aged 12-16), in Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden. The targeted languages include Arabic, Farsi, Russian, Somali, Turkish,Ukrainian, or any other language spoken by students at home.
Anticipated outcomes are the establishment of a shared platform for HL teachers to exchange experiences and materials, an HLT implementation handbook and a roadmap for the effective integration of heritage language teaching in schools.

Through this approach, we aim to create a supportive and inclusive educational environment for all multilingual students, promoting linguistic diversity and cultural understanding.

The project is designed for school leaders, heritage language educators, education policymakers, and families from diverse backgrounds to ultimately empower students in their multilingual identity. Join us in this transformative journey towards a more inclusive European education landscape!