What can we learn from each other's languages? How do we handle the diversity in the language variants we speak? We are keen to exchange experiences. At VU Amsterdam, we see diversity, including in language, as an enriching attribute of our community. So we are delighted to announce the third VU Mother Language Day on Thursday 19 February 2026.
The day will feature a diverse programme of activities, including:
- a Language Holobox, showcasing various languages spoken by members of the VU-community.
- Language and culture workshops in which VU-students share the unique characteristics of their mother languages and cultures.
- a Spoken Word event in which VU-students present their own work about language, in their own languages. Abdelkader Benali will participate in this part of the programme with a contribution about Tamazight. In this context we will hold a dialogue about the role of language in global citizenship.
- a session in which we will practise parallel language use and we discuss “understanding one another” as a shared communicative goal.
The locations and times of the activities will be announced at the beginning of the new year.