International Languages Week begins

Friday, 15 August 2008, 3:00 pm
Press Release: International Languages Week 2008

International Languages Week 2008 (ILW) will take place this coming week from Sunday 17 August to Saturday 23 August 2008.

Exciting things are happening in schools and communities. Language teachers from around the country will be taking ILW to the furthest corners of Aotearoa New Zealand with school-based activities and celebrations from the Far North to the Deep South.

ILW offers language teachers and students the ideal opportunity to inspire the wider community to learn more about foreign cultures and languages.

In the spirit of ILW we encourage New Zealanders to use a greeting in a different language each day. For example:

Monday 18 August - Ni hao!
Tuesday 19 August - Bonjour!
Wednesday 20 August - Guten Tag!
Thursday 21 August - Konnichiwa!
Friday 22 August - Buenos días!

Members of the public can find out more about ILW activities through various online channels and your local foreign language teachers.
The official International Languages Week website is at www.international-languages-week.org.nz
The Google Discussion group on ILW is at http://groups.google.com/group/languageweek
For Facebook users, a group has been set up at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12082261164

For further information on ILW and media enquiries, please contact one of the National ILW Facilitators Kenneth Leong (Auckland) (09-3040100) or Dr.Axel Laurs (Wellington) (04-913 6480)