February 21st is International Mother Language Day

CELEBRATE!
Did you know??
That International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999.

International Mother Language Day 2011 The mother language, in which the first words are uttered and individual thought expressed, is the foundation for the history and culture of each individual. ... Languages are the best vehicles of mutual understanding and tolerance. Respect for all languages is a key factor for ensuring peaceful coexistence, without exclusion, of societies and all of their members." Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO Message for International Mother Language Day 2010

Every big change starts with small but meaningful action.

For more information on International Mother Tongue Day or to download a poster from UNESCO to honour this special day, please go to this link.

Today is an opportunity to let children know how much their unique personality, culture AND MOTHER TONGUE are valued in your school!

I would also like to propose a lesson plan for an elementary classroom: Please note that the lesson plan is easy to adapt if you dont have the book. The part where children learn to pronounce the word friend in different languages could easily be incorporated in other lessons. Lesson: International Mother Language Day February 21
Overview and Purpose This lesson is designed to teach children about International Mother Language Day and the specific rights of the child highlighted by this UN Day; their right to practice their own mother language (UNCRC Article 30), and their right to a name (UNCRC Article 7). Background Information for Teachers International Mother Language Day (21 February)
http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/language/

Profile of Languages in Canada

http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/Products/Analytic/companion/lang/canada.cfm

Grade Level Primary Materials Required 1. Book entitled The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi 2. Clear wide mouthed jar 3. Small pieces of paper, each with the word friend in the different mother languages spoken in Canada. (Printable copy on last page.)

Procedure Whole group activity 30 minutes 1. Begin by introducing February 21st as International Mother Language Day, a UN Day celebrated around the world. The day has special significance in Canada because we are a multilingual society with more than 100 different mother languages spoken. 2. Read aloud the book The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi. 3. Discuss the rights of the child (UNCRC Article 30 and 7) in relation to the book. 4. Refer to last page of the book, where Unhei discovers Joeys Korean nickname Chinku, which means friend in Korean. 5. Present the jar containing the pieces of paper with the word friend in different languages. Explain that each student will get a turn to pick a piece of paper from the jar and read it aloud. The rest of the class repeats the word aloud together. 6. Refer to the page where Unhei introduces herself to the class and teaches everyone to pronounce her name slowly and clearly. 7. Begin calling students one by one to take their turn in the activity and help each other pronounce the word if necessary. 8. Put the all pieces of paper back into the jar after all the students are done. 9. Ask the whole class to give themselves a round of applause for learning to say friend in so many languages for International Mother Language Day. Extensions Art Lesson: Have each student in the class write their name on a 8.5x11 blank paper and decorate it. Post artwork throughout the class. If students have an English name and a first language name, encourage students to make two pieces of artwork. Extension 2 Have students write a journal entry about their name. Story starters include: My name was given to me by... I like my name because... If I could have a new name it would be...

Friend in the Aboriginal (Cree) language is...

Friend in the French language is...

Wicewkan
(weech-ao-akan)

Ami
(ah-mee)

Friend in the Chinese (Cantonese) language is...

Friend in the Chinese (Mandarin) language is...

Pangyao
(pahng-yaw)

Pngyou
(puhng-yow)

Friend in the Punjabi language is...

Friend in the Spanish language is...

Friend in the Italian Friend in the Arabic language is... language is...

Amigo Dost
(do-st)

Amico
(ah-mee-koh)

Sahibi
(sa-hee-bey)

(ah-mee-goh)

Friend in the German language is...

Friend in the Tagalog (Pilipino) language is...

Friend in the Vietnamese language is...

Friend in the Portuguese language is...

Freund
(froynt)

Kaibigan
(kah-ee-bee-gahn)

Bn
(bah-n)

Amigo
(ah-mee-goh)

Friend in the Urdu language is...

Friend in the Polish language is...

Dost
(do-st)

Friend in the Persian (Farsi) language is...

Friend in the Russian language is...

Znajomy
(zah-yoh-mih)

Dust (do-st) Prijtel

Friend in the Tamil language is...

Friend in the Greek Friend in the Dutch language is... language is...

Filos Nanban
(nahn-bahn) (fee-lohs)

Friend in the Romanian language is...

Vriend
(frind)

Prieten
(pree-ehtehn)

Friend in the Hindi language is...

Friend in the Serbian language is...

Friend in the Bengali language is...

Friend in the Ukranian language is...

Dost
(do-st)

Prijatelj
(pree-yah-tehl)

Bondhu
(bond-hoo)

Odyn
(oh-deen)

Friend in the Croatian language is...

Friend in the Haitian (Creole) language is...

Friend in the Hungarian language is...

Friend in the Japanese language is...

Prijatelj
(pree-yah-tehl)

Zanmi
(zuh-mee)

Bart
(boh-raht)

Tomodachi
(to-mo-dah-chee)