International Year of Languages & the Ninth International Mother Language Day in China

• Thematic framework: Education
• Geographical outreach: National
• Types of project: Awareness-raising
  
  
• Beneficiary country: China
  
  
  
  
  
• Main responsible:
  UNESCO Office Beijing
  5-15-1 Jianguomenwai Waijiaogongyu
  Beijing
  China

Summary of the activities
In order to raise awareness on linguistic and cultural diversity, advocate the importance of multilingual education, and carry on the joint efforts undertaken in the past two years, the UNESCO Office Beijing, together with national counterparts, organized a one-day seminar to celebrate the International Mother
Language Day and the 2008 International Year of Language on 11 April 2008 in Beijing. The theme of this year’s seminar is “Promote Cultural Diversity and Prepare for the Olympic Games”.

The seminar brought together 92 participants from MoE, embassies, international organizations, universities, research institutes and NGOs. The participants shared their experiences and lessons learnt in multilingual education and had in-depth discussion over a variety of issues concerned, such as protection and development of ethnic minority languages, support to multilingual teachers, using mother tongue as a tool in teaching second language, etc.

Main partners
- China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE)
- Chinese National Commission for UNESCO
- Beijing Language and Culture University