A presentation on the World Langauge Day at the University of Mary Washington and possible ways to make this a state-wide event.

1. WORLD LANGUAGE DAY
University of Mary Washington

2. MOTIVATION AND HISTORY
• to strengthen the connections with and reach out to high school students
and their FL teachers
• to demonstrate how the University of Mary Washington as an institution that
thinks globally
• to make world languages visible to the community
• to advocate world language learning in general
***
• First WLD -> 2008 with 55 participants
• 2013 = 140 participants
• 2011 = combination with VOGS convention -> 210 participants

3. ACTIVITIESCompetitions:
• spelling bees
• poetry recitations
• extemporaneous speech
• poster exhibition
• video/skit screening
New language workshops
• Arabic
• Basque
• Chinese
• Korean
• Polish …
Workshops on studying abroad,
Peace Corps, Fulbright
Hands-on workshops:
• Schultüten,
• Paper flowers in national
flowers
• Paper fashion
• Friendship bracelets

4. 8:30 am – 9:00 am –
Anderson Center
Students will arrive with their teachers on the UMW campus and
proceed to Anderson Center where they will receive orientation
packages and lunch bags. Early arrivals can take advantage of our
continental breakfast buffet.
9:00 am – 9:15 am Dodd
Auditorium
Greetings from the department. A spokesperson from the
department will describe the day’s events.
9:30 am – 10:30
pm Combs Hall
Competitions (Spelling Bee, Extemporaneous Speech, Poetry,
Posters, Video/Skits) When not competing, students may see the
poster exhibition or the video screenings. In addition, they may visit
information tables.
10:30am-12:30pm –
Combs Hall
Workshops! Learn new languages, listen to fascinating accounts
from people who lived abroad, learn a craft.
12:30-1:30 p.m –Anderson
Center
Closing Ceremony After some presentations by UMW students,
certificates will be given to all participating schools and awards will
be presented to the winners of the day’s competitions.

5. ARRIVAL AND
REGISTRATION

7. COMPETITIONS

14. HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS
German Schultüten basteln

18. CLOSING CEREMONY
Cultural Presentations, Awards

24. WINNING SCHOOLS 2015
• French and German: Hampton HS
• Spanish: Stafford HS
• Individual certificates and prizes in all competitions

25. POTENTIAL FOR STATE-WIDE
COMPETITIONS
• Regional World Language Days in March of each year
• A central State World Language Day in Richmond in April / May with
competitions between regional winners
• Potential widening of scope to include proficiency-based competition rules
Other examples / models:
• University of Northern Colorado (since 45 years!)
• Michigan State University
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Missouri State University

26. COST AND LOGISTICS
• Food: $15-18 / participant
• Prizes – mostly donated by cultural institutions, local vendors,
• some targeted buys: $300
• UMW’s 2015 WLD was about $3000 (for 200 participants)
• All participants pay $9 early-bird fee, then $12
• Registrtation through Google Documents