The motto of the “Cultures and Languages Festival” at the Language Institute of Louvain-la-Neuve (ILV) sums up the spirit of the festival: promoting an active learning of foreign languages.
From March 22nd till April 30th, the ILV invites students, teachers and visitors to celebrate multiculturalism.
Events such as poetry or fairy tales nights, photo exhibitions or films, music conferences and shows from different countries will take place on the campus of Louvain-la-Neuve.
“The purpose of this”, the director of the ILV, Philippe Neyt explains, “is to integrate a cultural dimension to the learning of languages”. Living languages rather than simply learning them; this is what the organizers are looking for. The festival aims to be both intercultural and educational. Teachers, students and members of Kots-à-projet have worked together to set up the events. For the second edition of the festival, they decided to focus on the oral aspect of languages, their “music”, as they call it.
The Catholic University of Louvain is then going to honour multiculturalism and openness to the world, both of which often constitute its identity. In a country where linguistic issues are daily in the news, the organization of such a festival appeals to a better understanding of cultural differences.
Valérie Gillioz, Ecole de Journalisme / Université Catholique de Louvain, student in the Master’s degree, as part of the English Course ‘Entry to professional life’