World Languages Days opened to public this year

At Cornell University, language offerings are diverse and deep, reflecting the institution's commitment to fostering global literacy and cross-cultural understanding. To celebrate that commitment, the university's Language Resource Center (LRC) hosts World Languages Day (WLD) each year - an event for middle and high school students that showcases the diverse opportunities available for language learning on a university campus and the importance of connecting with people across the globe.

For the first time, this year's event, on Oct. 26, is open to middle and high school students from throughout the community. Pre-registration for this free event is required.

The day begins at 10 a.m. with breakfast and a welcome talk given by Daria Badger '26. Throughout the day, youth participants can attend sessions on various tracks including American Sign Language, Bangla, French, Korean, Swahili, Turkish and Ukrainian. In each session, students will not only study the language, but will also learn about the lives of the people who speak it, the food they eat and the festivals they celebrate.

An info fair in the afternoon will showcase various campus units with global focus areas and student organizations. Over lunch, participants will enjoy performances by student clubs. The event culminates with closing remarks and ends at 3 p.m. For more information and to register, visit WLD 24.

"By involving all members of the Cornell community in WLD, we create bridges between and among individuals and cultures," said Angelika Kraemer, director of the LRC.

Read the full story on The College of Arts & Sciences website.