47th annual Southern Illinois University World Languages Day, October 4, 2022

September 30, 2022

Media Advisory: SIU to host about 900 students for World Languages Day 2022

CARBONDALE, Ill. — In celebration of World Languages Day on Tuesday, Oct. 4, Southern Illinois University Carbondale will be hosting about 900 students from 16 area high schools for a day of special experiences focusing on world languages, cultures, and how language works. 

The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the SIU Student Center. Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover a morning of interactive, hands-on demonstrations involving students from the following high schools: 

  • Anna-Jonesboro Community High School.
  • Benton Consolidated High School.
  • Carbondale Community High School.
  • Carterville High School.
  • Chester High School.
  • Cobden High School.
  • Eldorado High School.
  • Frankfort Community High School.
  • Johnston City High School.
  • Marion High School.
  • Mount Vernon Township High School.
  • Murphysboro High School.
  • Pinckneyville Community High School.
  • Red Bud High School.
  • Sparta High School.
  • Vienna High School. 

The event is open only to the students and teachers who are registered due to space restrictions. 

The School of Languages and Linguistics and the College of Liberal Arts are sponsoring the celebration of world languages and cultures with Joddy Murray, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, providing the opening welcome. 

Media will find numerous opportunities for engaging photographs and video during the breakout sessions as students “Salsa as You’re Able”; try to solve a linguistics escape room; try their hands at origami folding, American Sign Language and Japanese; experiment with language acquisition virtual reality and much more. There will also be an SIU information fair, photos with the Saluki mascots and other experiences, including students getting their names written in Arabic, Chinese, Hindi and Japanese. 

View the complete schedule. For more information, contact Brianna Janssen Sánchez, assistant professor, world language education, Faner Hall, Room 2423, at wld@siu.edu.