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 Language Resource Center (LRC) in the College of Arts & Sciences 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.
The LRC first hosted World Languages Day in 2019 to showcase the diverse opportunities available for language learning on a university campus and the importance of connecting with people across the globe. The event is organized by the LRC and Upward Bound and sponsored by many campus units, as well as the Office of the Vice Provost for International Affairs, the College of Arts & Sciences and the Einhorn Center for Community Engagement.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn about other languages and cultures, connect with other students and Cornell faculty, and engage in new ways of thinking,” said Anna Marchetti '28, who attended last year’s event as a high school senior. “I had a ton of new experiences there, such as learning phrases in ASL, taking a K-pop dance class and being immersed in an indigenous language.” Marchetti is a volunteer at this year's event.
Cornell offers instruction in almost 60 languages, located within eight departments/programs within the College of Arts & Sciences. Some courses are also taught through the Shared Course Initiative, an agreement with Columbia and Yale universities.
“I have a deep interest in learning Mandarin, and since coming to Cornell, I have been enrolled in a Mandarin class every semester, and plan to continue until graduation,” Badger said.
Students in the College of Arts & Sciences have to complete a language requirement as part of their degree program.
“In times of global unrest, it is crucial to celebrate different languages and cultures and allow the future generation to engage with new experiences and individuals from different backgrounds firsthand,” Kraemer said. “WLD brings people closer together and fosters cross-cultural understanding on and beyond campus.”
Elizabeth Lara-Rivera '26 is a communications assistant for the College of Arts & Sciences.
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