CARBONDALE, Ill. (KFVS) - 1,400 students from across the state visited Southern Illinois University Carbondale on Thursday, March 19 to celebrate the 50th World Languages and Cultures Day.
“50 Years of Learning, 250 Years of Belonging” was held from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Student Center.
According to the university, the students from 23 high schools learned the history and future of languages and cultures.
We caught up with some people who shared the significance of the event.
“When you learn of another language, or about another language, it’s a whole other way to understand the world and that’s something that I think is more important in today’s world than ever before, that we are looking for ways to understand those around us and see the world through their eyes,” Dr. Brody Bluemel said.
ADVERTISEMENT
This year’s event had several new features, including a poster contest for high schools based on this year’s theme and numerous interactive sessions.
Some of the sessions included:
- Hot Ones Challenge with SLL faculty
- The Spanish Sprint: Race Through the Regions — a high-speed scavenger hunt across virtual Spain
- Kichwa Musical Instruments, Dancing, and Language
- Syriac: The Language of Middle Eastern Christianity
- Discover Taiwan: Study Abroad and Cultural Exploration
- Chinese Paper Cutting: The Art of Jianzhi
- Immerse Yourself in Tswana Culture
- The Rhein in Germany
- Non-verbal Communication in Ghanaian Community: Gong-Gong Beating, Stone Throw, Whistling and Dance Language
- Meditate Like a Monk
- Language As User Interface
Students from the following schools attended:
- Arcola Jr/Sr High School
- Benton Consolidated High School
- Carbondale Community High School
- Carterville High School
- Central A&M High School, Moweaqua
- Chester High School
- Cobden High School
- Du Quoin High School
- Eldorado High School
- Frankfort Community High School, West Frankfort
- Herrin High School
- Johnston City High School
- Marion High School
- Massac County High School
- Mount Vernon Township High School
- Murphysboro High School
- Odin High School
- Okaw Valley High School, Bethany
- Pana High School
- Pinckneyville Community High School
- Red Bud High School
- Trico High School
- Vienna High School
Copyright 2026 KFVS. All rights reserved.