Languages for the History: male and female travellers. With this title, the 2024 edition of the European Day of Languages pays tribute to Marco Polo, during the year that celebrates 700 years of his death. On September 26, Ca' Foscari University of Venice organises a series of initiatives that analyse the importance of learning foreign languages for personal growth, as well as for linguistic and cultural diversity. Therefore, in the same way as the famous Venetian traveller did with the writing of "Il Milione" and during the seventeen years he spent in China, where he familiarized himself with a very refined civilization.
Instituted by the European Council in 2001, the European Day of Languages is an event held every year in all of Europe on September 26 to sensitise the wide range of languages present in the continent, promote linguistic and cultural diversity and encourage people from every age to learn them.
The theme chosen for this year's edition, "Languages for the History: male and female travellers", aims to do just that: to celebrate linguistic and cultural plurality in Europe, highlighting the importance of language study for the professional growth of the individual and for the economic, social and cultural development of the territory. Under the guidance of experts in the field, attention will be drawn to the importance of translation activity for the communication, promotion and enhancement of cultural heritage, with a view to inclusiveness and accessibility.
Among the events dedicated to Marco Polo on Thursday, September 26, the reading of extracts from the beginning of "Il Milione" in some of the languages taught at the University will take place at 11.30 a.m. on the stage of the Santa Margherita Auditorium in Venice. This year, the European Day of Languages also sees the collaboration of Ca' Foscari's CLA (Centro Linguistico di Ateneo), which is enriching the programme at Palazzina Briati with an afternoon of workshops for adults, families and children on Mongolian language and culture: “In the footsteps of Marco Polo: let's get to know the Mongolian language and culture”. There will be three events, at 2 p.m. with a lesson for children, at 3 p.m. with a lesson for children and parents, and at 6 p.m. with a lesson for adults only.
A second day dedicated to the languages will begin on September 30 at Casa Robegan, in Treviso.
The 2024 edition of the European Day of Languages sees once again male and female students of the Veneto Region schools and the Ca' Foscari University as protagonists, involved in different formative activities for the acquisition of more languages and for the cultural awareness realized by the Dipartimento di Studi Linguistici e Culturali Comparati, by the 'USR Ufficio Scolastico Regionale Veneto, by the Italian headquarters of the Council of Europe and the Europe Direct of the City of Venice.
