ESL Holiday Lessons.com: Mother Language Day

THE READING / TAPESCRIPT

International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is observed every year by member states of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It started in 1999 with the purpose of promoting linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. It also aims at protecting the hundreds of languages around the world that are in danger of dying out. The day has its origins in Bangladesh, who had celebrated its own language with its own Language Movement Day in 1952. Several Bangladeshi students were killed by police for campaigning for the Bangla language to be included as a main language in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Even though their protests were peaceful, the police opened fire.

UNESCO stated that "by deciding to celebrate mother tongues…member states wished to recall that languages are not only an essential part of humanity's cultural heritage, but the irreducible expression of human creativity and of its great diversity." IMLD celebrates the fact that 6,000 languages are spoken around the world today. Each year has had a special theme. In 2002, UNESCO promoted its ‘3,000 Languages in Danger’ campaign. In 2005, people commemorated Braille and sign languages. A UNESCO spokesperson said “Languages are the mirror of the souls of the societies in which they are born.” The former President of Iceland said languages were "humanity's most precious and fragile treasures."

Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted sites.

PHRASE MATCH

Match the following phrases from the article.

Paragraph 1

1.	IMLD is observed	a.	for campaigning
2	promoting linguistic	b.	every year
3.	languages around the world that are in	c.	in Bangladesh
4.	The day has its origins	d.	and cultural diversity
5.	students were killed by police	e.	were peaceful
6.	their protests	f.	danger of dying out

Paragraph 2

1.	deciding to celebrate mother	a.	around the world today
2	an essential part of	b.	souls of the societies
3.	6,000 languages are spoken	c.	and sign languages
4.	people commemorated Braille	d.	fragile treasures
5.	Languages are the mirror of the	e.	tongues
6.	humanity's most precious and	f.	humanity's cultural heritage

LISTENING GAP FILL

International Mother Language Day (IMLD) _________________ year by member states of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It started in 1999 _________________ promoting linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. It also aims at protecting the hundreds of languages around the world that are _________________ out. The day _________________ Bangladesh, who had celebrated its own language with its own Language Movement Day in 1952. Several Bangladeshi students were killed by police for campaigning for the Bangla language to be included _________________ in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Even though their protests were peaceful, _________________ fire.

UNESCO stated that "by deciding _________________ tongues…member states wished to recall that languages are not only _________________ of humanity's cultural heritage, but the irreducible expression of human creativity and _________________." IMLD celebrates the fact that 6,000 languages are spoken around the world today. Each year has _________________. In 2002, UNESCO promoted its ‘3,000 Languages in Danger’ campaign. In 2005, people commemorated Braille and sign languages. A UNESCO spokesperson said “Languages are the _________________ of the societies in which they are born.” The former President of Iceland said languages were "humanity's most _________________ treasures."

WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL

Put the words into the gaps in the text.

International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is __________ every year by member __________ of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It started in 1999 with the __________ of promoting linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. It also aims at protecting the hundreds of languages around the world that are in danger of __________ out. The day has its __________ in Bangladesh, who had celebrated its own language with its __________ Language Movement Day in 1952. Several Bangladeshi students were killed by police for campaigning for the Bangla language to be included as a __________ language in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Even though their protests were peaceful, the police __________ fire.

own
purpose
origins
main
observed
dying
opened
states

UNESCO stated that "by deciding to celebrate __________ tongues…member states wished to recall that languages are not only an essential __________ of humanity's cultural heritage, but the irreducible expression of human __________ and of its great diversity." IMLD celebrates the __________ that 6,000 languages are spoken around the world today. Each year has had a special __________. In 2002, UNESCO promoted its ‘3,000 Languages in Danger’ campaign. In 2005, people commemorated Braille and __________ languages. A UNESCO spokesperson said “Languages are the mirror of the souls of the societies in which they are __________.” The former President of Iceland said languages were "humanity's most precious and fragile __________."

fact
born
part
sign
mother
treasures
theme
creativity

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.

International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is observation / observed every year by member states / statements of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It started in 1999 with the purpose at / of promoting linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. It also aims at protection / protecting the hundreds of languages around the world that are in danger of dying out. The day has its origins / original in Bangladesh, who had celebrated its own language with its own Language Movement Day in 1952. Several Bangladeshi students were killed / dead by police for campaigning for the Bangla language to be included as a mainly / main language in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Even though their protests were peaceful, the police closed / opened fire.

UNESCO stated that "by deciding / decision to celebrate mother tongues…member states wished to recall that languages are not only an essential apart / part of humanity's cultural heritage, but the irreducible expression of human / humanity creativity and of its great diversity." IMLD celebrates the fact / facts that 6,000 languages are spoken around the world today. Each year has has / had a special theme. In 2002, UNESCO promoted its ‘3,000 Languages in Danger’ campaign. In 2005, people commemorated Braille and sign / signed languages. A UNESCO spokesperson said “Languages are the mirror of the soles / souls of the societies in which they are born.” The former President of Iceland said languages were "humanity's most / some precious and fragile treasures."

MULTIPLE CHOICE

International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is (1) ____ every year by member states of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It (2) ____ in 1999 with the purpose of promoting linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. It also aims at protecting the hundreds of languages around the world that are (3) ____ danger of dying out. The day has its (4) ____ in Bangladesh, who had celebrated its own language with its own Language Movement Day in 1952. Several Bangladeshi students were (5) ____ by police for campaigning for the Bangla language to be included as a main language in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Even though their (6) ____ were peaceful, the police opened fire.

UNESCO stated that "by deciding to celebrate (7) ____ tongues…member states wished to recall that languages are not only an essential part of humanity's (8) ____ heritage, but the irreducible expression of human creativity and of its great diversity." IMLD celebrates the (9) ____ that 6,000 languages are spoken around the world today. Each year has had a special theme. In 2002, UNESCO (10) ____ its ‘3,000 Languages in Danger’ campaign. In 2005, people commemorated Braille and sign languages. A UNESCO spokesperson said “Languages are the mirror of the (11) ____ of the societies in which they are born.” The former President of Iceland said languages were "(12) ____ most precious and fragile treasures."

Put the correct words from this table into the article.

1.	(a)	observed	(b)	observation	(c)	observes	(d)	observe
2.	(a)	starts	(b)	started	(c)	starting	(d)	start
3.	(a)	in	(b)	on	(c)	of	(d)	at
4.	(a)	originals	(b)	originally	(c)	origins	(d)	originality
5.	(a)	killer	(b)	killings	(c)	kill	(d)	killed
6.	(a)	protesting	(b)	protest	(c)	protests	(d)	protestor
7.	(a)	mother	(b)	mummy	(c)	maternal	(d)	mum
8.	(a)	culturally	(b)	cultures	(c)	cultured	(d)	cultural
9.	(a)	facts	(b)	factual	(c)	fact	(d)	fact of
10.	(a)	promotion	(b)	promoted	(c)	promotes	(d)	promoting
11.	(a)	soulless	(b)	souls	(c)	soul mate	(d)	soulfully
12.	(a)	humanity	(b)	humans	(c)	humane	(d)	humanity’s

SPELLING

Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.

Paragraph 1
1.	ervdbeos every year
2.	auucltlr diversity
3.	in danger of indgy out
4.	vlreeSa Bangladeshi students were killed
5.	nieuddcl as a main language
6.	the police nepode fire
Paragraph 2
7.	an lseatenis part
8.	human vitcteiayr
9.	6,000 languages are eospnk
10.	a special meteh
11.	Languages are the iromrr of the souls
12.	precious and igarefl treasures

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( )	are not only an essential part of humanity's cultural heritage, but the irreducible expression of human creativity and of its
( )	linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. It also aims at protecting the hundreds of languages around the world
( )	though their protests were peaceful, the police opened fire.
( )	for the Bangla language to be included as a main language in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Even
( )	great diversity." IMLD celebrates the fact that 6,000 languages are spoken around the world today. Each year
( )	UNESCO stated that "by deciding to celebrate mother tongues…member states wished to recall that languages
( )	own Language Movement Day in 1952. Several Bangladeshi students were killed by police for campaigning
( )	has had a special theme. In 2002, UNESCO promoted its ‘3,000 Languages in Danger’ campaign. In 2005,
( 1 )	International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is observed every year by member states of the United Nations
( )	that are in danger of dying out. The day has its origins in Bangladesh, who had celebrated its own language with its
( )	languages were "humanity's most precious and fragile treasures."
( )	Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It started in 1999 with the purpose of promoting
( )	people commemorated Braille and sign languages. A UNESCO spokesperson said “Languages are the mirror
( )	of the souls of the societies in which they are born.” The former President of Iceland said

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.	every observed states member by year
2.	cultural and linguistic promoting of purpose the diversity
3.	danger of dying out languages around the world that are in
4.	Bangladeshi were by Several students killed police
5.	were protests their though Even peaceful
6.	essential of cultural an part humanity's heritage
7.	the languages around today 6,000 spoken world are
8.	had special Each has a theme year
9.	of souls are mirror the Languages the
10.	and precious most humanity's treasures fragile

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	________________________________________________________
2.	________________________________________________________
3.	________________________________________________________
4.	________________________________________________________
5.	________________________________________________________
6.	________________________________________________________

THE INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY SURVEY

Write five questions about International Mother Language Day in the table. Do this in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out. Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITING

Write about International Mother Language Day for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

______________________________________________________________________________

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about International Mother Language Day. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about International Mother Language Day. Write about what happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with people who did something on this day.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. POSTER: Make your own poster about International Mother Language Day. Write about what will happen on this day around the world.