Our mother tongue or first language is part of our identity, and our right to express ourselves in that language is a human right. The use of learners’ first languages strengthens their cultural and linguistic identities. If this use is integrated into the curriculum, it supports learners’ intellectual and academic development and enables them to participate more fully in curriculum activities and benefit from their full range of linguistic resources.

On the occasion of the 2023 International Mother Language Day (IMLD), UNESCO will organise an event on “Multilingual education - a necessity to transform education” on 21 February 2023, from 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (CET). This event will discuss the potential role of multilingualism to transform education from a lifelong learning perspective and in different contexts, including in Small Island Developing States, crisis and emergency situations, and to promote gender equality. It will convene a range of key stakeholders who are drivers of change to promote multilingualism and multilingual education, and foster quality, inclusive and equitable learning for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4.

• Visit the IMLD website
• Watch the UNESCO event live

Selection of ECML projects and resources for encouraging the use of first/home languages in language learning and teaching:

Current projects (2020-2023): 

• Resources for assessing the home language competences of migrant pupils
• Young children’s language learning pathways – Making early language learning visible

Resource websites: 

• Inspiring language learning in the early years – Why it matters and what it looks like for children age 3-12
• Developing teacher competences for pluralistic approaches – Training and reflection tools for teachers and teacher educators
• A framework of reference for pluralistic approaches to languages and cultures
• Towards whole-school language curricula – Examples of practice in schools
• Teaching the language of schooling in the context of diversity – Study materials for teacher development
• Website dedicated to the European Day of Languages