What to include

Any activity can be an opportunity to promote and teach others your language – just ensure your language is featured. Deciding what to do depends on the interests, location and age of your community.

Here are some ideas:

• Run a poster competition. This is a great way to involve young people in your language celebration. The posters can also be used to publicise your event.
• Promote basic phrases and words, such as days of the week or greetings, on social media, as well as on posters and other information that publicise your language celebration.
• Ask your local library to run story time sessions in your language.
• Organise cultural nights involving traditional songs and other activities in your language.
• Run an essay or poetry competition. If you run it nationally, you’ll be helping to link language speakers across New Zealand.
• Organise a movie night and show movies in your language.
• Run a food festival. Everyone one loves to eat! Use your language on menus and encourage people to order in your language.
• International Languages Week is celebrated in New Zealand schools in mid-August and is a great chance to promote your language in local schools. Call schools in your area and offer to be part of the celebrations.
• Contact your local newspaper and radio station and encourage them to use your language. Phrases such as hello, how are you, and days of the week are something everyone can try.
• Promote internet language buddies by linking people with similar language skills to practise their language skills on Skype or email. If your community is spread across New Zealand, use your team’s connections to connect people from different areas. You can also connect with people across the world through facilitation sites such as The Mixxer(external link).
• Run speech competitions or debates. You could include your local schools.
• Organise play groups for young children and their parents. Encourage parents to speak your language with their children. Where parents’ language skills need support, invite older community members with stronger language skills to take part in the play groups.
• Hold sporting events where the players, coaches and supporters use your language.
• Contact your MP and local council and encourage them to try using a few phrases during your language celebration.

Does your language celebration need a theme?

For larger celebrations, a theme can create a focal point to connect various events to a common idea. Focusing on a particular theme can promote awareness of vocabulary for this subject. For example, a theme of ‘Modern Technology’ provides a focus on increasing basic vocabulary and skills related to objects and activities such as computers, phones and tablets.

Alternatively, a general theme can emphasise a particular way to support your language and inspire your community. For example, a theme of ‘Language in the Home’ can encourage parents to use your language with their children.