University hosts third Language Festival

Monday, 11 February 2013

The University is hosting its third Language Festival on Wednesday 13 February and Thursday 14 February in the Minghella Building.

The Festival is open to all staff and students, particularly those who have an interest in other cultures, and promises to be a fantastic event. The Festival engages with languages beyond simply those taught in the University, and celebrates other languages such as Russian and Kurdish.

The theme of the festival is Languages in Literature, and this is reflected in the great range of activities that the programme offers for staff and students to get involved with.

Highlights include:

Wednesday 13 February

• Poetry readings from 12.30 - 2.00pm in the Bulmershe Theatre, Minghella Building
• Readings of German fairy stories from 1.30 - 2.00pm in the Bob Kayley Theatre , Minghella Building
• A screening of the film Como agua para chocolate from 4.00pm - 6.00pm, HumSS 230

Thursday 14 February

• Performances of Italian, German, Welsh and French opera songs in the Bulmershe Theatre, Minghella Building at 1.00pm - 2.00pm
• A performance of French Sketch La Cantatrice Chauve in the Bulmershe Theatre, Minghella Building on 14 February from 1.00pm - 2.00pm
• A screening of the film Nirgendwo in Afrika in HumSS230 from 4.00pm - 6.00pm

The European Day of Languages, which celebrates the 6,000+ languages spoken throughout Europe in fact falls during September this year, however the University will be out of class at this time. Reading therefore joins a large group of universities who have decided to celebrate language whilst its students are present, with festivities beginning on Wednesday 13 February. Rather fittingly the Festival takes place the day after the international festival of Mardi Gras, and allows staff and students to experience a slice of the carnival spirit.

Do come along and join in the festivities, whether you speak a foreign language or just want to soak up the experience of another culture.