Ever wondered how to pronounce Irish names like Caoimhe, Tadhg, or Saoirse? Join The Language Centre for a fun and interactive Irish Language Taster Session designed to help international students and staff (as well as local attendees) get to grips with the unique sounds of Irish names!
Date: Wednesday, 2nd April 2025 Time: 13:00 AM – 14:00 Venue: Auditorium, McClay Library, QUB Entry: free, but spaces are limited! Secure your spot now.
Whether you’re an international student, staff member, or simply curious about the Irish language, this session will help you understand and confidently pronounce Irish names, deepening your appreciation of Ireland’s rich linguistic heritage.
Happy International Nowruz Day to all those who celebrate!
“Afghan people say Nawruz and Iranian people say Nowruz, which doesn’t make any difference. It’s mainly because of our accent.”
Zahra Rahimi
Zahra Rahimi, a Queen’s alumnus with MSc in Advanced Food Safety, has just sent us the festive greeting and directed us to the cultures of practice from her personal perspective.
Today marks the first day of our new year in the solar calendar, which many of us celebrate as Nawruz—meaning “New Day.” It’s a time of renewal, joy, and fresh beginnings.
I just wanted to take a moment to send you a note and share our warmest New Year wishes with you! May this year bring you happiness, good health, and success in everything you do.
What is Nowruz/Nawruz?
Nowruz, meaning the ‘new day’, has its spelling varying from country to country, marking the first day of spring (usually occurs on 21 March) and celebrated as the beginning of the new year by more than 300 million people across the globe, with over 3,000-year-long tradition of celebrations in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions.
Nowruz is a rite dating back to at least the 6th century BCE, marking the new year and ushering in spring. Variously known as Novruz, Nowrouz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz or Nevruz, this historic rite is observed on 21 March in many countries along the Silk Roads, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
If you would like to learn more about the Nowruz/Nawruz culture, you are welcome to join the Iranian Association of Queen’s University celebration event coming on next Wednesday 26th March.
With the International Mother Language Day arriving on Friday 21st February, we are pleased to invite you, QUB students and staff members, especially those who are from different linguistic backgrounds to join in this special Tandem Language Exchange event for the celebration of the richness of our linguistic and cultural assets we bring together to Queen’s.
Happy World Arabic Language Day! It has been the second time that Wejdan, a PhD candidate from School of Arts, English and Languages, to volunteer to facilitate the celebration of the World Arabic Language Day. Here is the summary of the celebration.
About Word Arabic Language Day (Click for more info)
World Arabic Language Day, celebrated annually on December 18, highlights Arabic as one of the world’s most widely spoken languages. Renowned for its role in the Islamic Golden Age as the language of science, philosophy, and art, this day serves to honour and promote the preservation of Arabic, showcasing its significance in fostering cultural diversity.
On December 13th, Queen’s Language Centre marked the occasion by hosting an engaging workshop on Arabic calligraphy in the Auditorium, McClay Library. I took pride in delivering this session, offering participants an opportunity to explore the rich history of Arabic calligraphy, understand its evolution, and practise writing their names using the elegant Naskh script.
The workshop began with an introduction to the cultural and artistic importance of Arabic calligraphy, particularly in Islamic art, architecture, and manuscript tradition. Participants were guided through the historical development of Arabic scripts, from Kufic to refined cursive styles such as Naskh and Thuluth. A visual timeline and carefully curated examples illustrated the scripts’ adaptability and aesthetic nuances.
Hands-on activities followed, where attendees practised fundamental strokes using calligraphy pens and templates. With step-by-step guidance, they learned to write their names in the Naskh script, gaining an appreciation for the precision and discipline required in the art form. The session concluded with an insightful discussion on the contemporary relevance of Arabic calligraphy, including its applications in digital design, art installations, and cross-cultural dialogue.
Post-workshop interactions were particularly gratifying. Many participants shared how the session deepened their appreciation for the intricacies of Arabic calligraphy, fostering a newfound respect for its artistic and cultural significance. These conversations reaffirmed my belief in art’s power to transcend boundaries and unite people.
Being part of this initiative was an immense honour, as it aligned with Queen’s University Belfast’s commitment to fostering cultural diversity and inclusivity. The event showcased the university’s dedication to providing spaces where individuals from varied backgrounds can come together to learn, connect, and grow. Attendees from a diverse background enthusiastically participated, sparking meaningful discussions on the interplay between language, culture, and art.
On Monday, 2nd December, Queen’s students (including graduates and visiting students), alumni, and staff came together to celebrate International Volunteer Day with an engaging information session aimed at encouraging greater participation in the Cultural Diversity at Queen’s scheme.
Part of the participants attended the end-of-session group photo.
The event opened with a welcome address by Suyi Yang, the Student Union (SU) Officer for Equality and Diversity, who introduced the SU’s volunteering programs and hosted a lively Q&A session to address participants’ questions.
Ms. Dan Zhou, a Queen’s alumna and Marketing graduate, shared her inspiring journey as an international student taking on voluntary work during her studies. She highlighted the diverse events and activities she supported and reflected on the invaluable soft skills she developed through her volunteer work, particularly in intercultural settings. Dan’s volunteering experience played a pivotal role in her entrepreneurial success, helping her establish her local Belfast-based business, Eco Fresh Food.
Dan (right in picture) was sharing her experience as a volunteer when at Queen’s.
Dr. Liang Wang followed with an overview of the Cultural Diversity at Queen’s scheme. He encouraged students and staff to contribute to upcoming initiatives designed to promote diversity, equality, and inclusion within the Queen’s community. To illustrate, Dr. Wang shared examples from previous Chinese New Year celebrations, offering participants inspiration for their involvement in the upcoming Year of the Snake celebrations.
The informal networking session provided a platform for attendees to exchange ideas, brainstorm, and even outline a few provisional proposals for future cultural events.
Participants enjoyed hot finger foods provided by The Language Centre and refreshments generously sponsored by Ms. Dan Zhou.
The event was a lively celebration of the Queen’s community’s collaborative spirit, fostering connections and generating enthusiasm for making cultural diversity a central part of campus life.
Every year on 18th December, the United Nations celebrates its World Arabic Language Day, recognising its “legacy and immense contribution to humanity.”
To mark this special occasion, we warmly invite you to join us for an Arabic Language and Calligraphy workshop, celebrating the World Arabic Language Day. This workshop will demonstrate the beauty of the Arabic language through the timeless art of calligraphy. Participants will learn about its historical and cultural significance while gaining hands-on experience in crafting their own Arabic calligraphy pieces.
Organiser: The Language Centre
Facilitator: Wejdan Mohammed A Alawad (PhD student from School of Arts, English and Languages)
Date: Friday 13th December 2024 Time: 11:00 – 13:00 Venue: The Auditorium, McClay Library
The event is free and you are welcome to bring along colleagues and friends who may be interested in attending. Registration is required due to room capacity.
Every year on 5th December, the United Nations celebrates its Volunteers Programme, recognizing “the power of collective humanity to drive positive change through volunteerism.”
At The Language Centre at Queen’s, we take pride in offering volunteering opportunities for students and staff to contribute to our Cultural Diversity scheme. Each year, we collaborate with passionate individuals to develop initiatives that celebrate and enrich the University’s cultural diversity. Learn more about our efforts at Cultural Diversity at Queen’s page.
To mark this special occasion, we warmly invite you to join us for an information session celebrating International Volunteer Day. This session will feature updates on our programme with upcoming events, and new opportunities for voluntary involvement.
Event Details: Date: Monday 2nd December 2024 Time: 12:00 – 15:00 Venue: The Auditorium, McClay Library
The event is free, but booking is required on a first-come, first-serve basis. A light lunch will be provided. Feel free to bring along colleagues and friends who may be interested in attending. We look forward to celebrating with you and exploring how we can make a positive impact together!
Scan the QR code above or click the button below to register.
Calling QUB students (and staff members) – Your attendance and engagement make a difference!
This year, the International Students’ Day (17/11) fall on Sunday and we are inviting you to join us in this celebration on Friday 15th November, 2024.
This special TLE event will cover a wide range of topics, from the international student experience to support for intercultural mobility, extending well beyond language learning. Students of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds, whether as individuals or society members, as well as staff, are warmly invited to attend. Light refreshments will be provided on site.
Date: Friday 15th November 2024 Time: 14:00 – 16:00 Venue: The Auditorium, McClay Library
Happy Friday! What a bustling first week of language courses! We hope you’ve all had a great start to your language learning journey.
For QUB students and staff, don’t forget that if you’re looking for additional or alternative practice opportunities, you can join the Tandem Language Exchange programme to find a language partner.
It’s easy — just sign up, match up, and meet up! Visit TLE page (https://blogs.qub.ac.uk/lc/learning-support/tle/) or scan the QR code in the image for more information and to register. Our next event is scheduled for Friday 18th October, from 1:30 to 2:30 PM at the Auditorium, McClay Library.
What an overwhelming September with all new and returning students and staff on campus for a bustling start of their new academic year! We are also enthused to see a warm response of taking our language courses alongside their study programme and work plan. For those who are keen to sign up for a course but not able to do so yet, please remember to do it via our website before 5 pm, Thursday 3rd October.
If you are not able to register for a course but would like to be involved in informal language learning and practice, you are welcome to consider signing up for the Tandem Language Exchange (TLE) programme. The TLE platform is an ongoing service that enables one to swap their native languages with each other in order to find language partners on a mutual support basis. It suits those who have signed up for a language course, in particular.
For more details and registration information, please read the TLE page.
Date: Wednesday, 2nd April 2025
Time: 13:00 AM – 14:00
Venue: Auditorium, McClay Library, QUB
Entry: free, but spaces are limited! Secure your spot now.
