Tag Archives: cultural diversity

A Taste of Irish Names

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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.

We look forward to seeing you there! 🌿✨

Registration

Nawruz Mubarak

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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.

UNESCO

  • Memories of 2018
  • Memories of 2018
  • Memories of 2021

Here is a brief introduction to the Haft Sen, referring to 7 items starting with S, as Zahra recommends.

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.

Seachtain na Gaeilge 2025/Irish Language Week 2025

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Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig, a chairde! Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone!
March 17th is a hugely significant date for Irish people around the world each year, St. Patrick’s Day!
This date also marks the end of Seachtain na Gaeilge/Irish Language Week, a worldwide annual event, celebrating Irish language and culture.

Míle buíochas/Many thanks to everyone who attended or facilitated our events, and to our various partners who collaborated with us for Seachtain na Gaeilge 2025, including An Cumann Gaelach, Department of Irish & Celtic Studies, QFT, and Irish language organisation, An Droichead.

Our Seachtain na Gaeilge events for 2025 included:

Maidin Taighde/Research Morning
An Chéadaoin 5ú Márta/Wednesday 5th March 10-12 @Cultúrlann Mac Adam Ó Fiaich

Our students from the Department of Irish & Celtic Studies presented their latest research findings. This extensive research covered themes such as Seamus Heaney’s poetry, Irish place names and their origins, languages rights and community groups, and the influence of religion and politics on the Irish language.
This was an engaging and informative event with a large audience in attendance.

Ciorcal Comhrá le ceol/Irish language conversation circle with music
An Déardaoin 6ú Márta/Thursday 6th March 12.30-1.30 @Junction Café

Junction Café, the venue on campus for our monthly Ciorcal Comhrá/Irish language conversation circle, drew a large gathering, with Irish language speakers of all abilities in attendance, using their ‘cúpla focal’ and enjoying a ‘cupán tae’ together.
We were delighted to welcome our special guests from Ollscoil Dhún Éideann/Edinburgh University, visiting as part of a university exchange programme.
A special thank you to our Student Traditional Music Group who added so much to the event, performing a selection of songs in front of a captivated audience.

Ióga le Sinéad/Yoga with Sinéad
An Aoine 7ú Márta/Friday 7th March 12.30-1.30 @Blue Sky Room – One Elmwood

Yoga Instructor and fluent Irish speaker, Sinéad McCartney, guided us through a relaxing and revitalising yoga class ‘as gaeilge’!
In the comfortable surroundings of the Blue Sky Room, One Elmwood, our yoga enthusiasts enjoyed the mix of language and yoga with Sinéad.

Céilí Mór Sheachtain na Gaeilge/Seachtain na Gaeilge Céilí Dance
An Domhnach 9ú Márta/Sunday 9th March 8.30pm @Mandela Hall

A huge crowd attended our Céilí Mór Sheachtain na Gaeilge, with those in attendance learning and practising well-known traditional Irish céilí dances, such as ‘Waves of Tory’ and ‘The Siege of Ennis’.
Mandela Hall was filled with céilí dancers of all abilities and backgrounds, who were expertly guided through the dances by Claire Hughes, from the local Irish Language Centre, An Droichead.
Huge thanks to Loch Lao Céilí Band who performed the music for the event and added so much to the occasion.

Ceardlann T-léine/T-shirt Workshop
An Mháirt 11ú Márta/Tuesday 11th March 7pm @Auditorium, McClay Library

An Cumann Gaelach hosted a wonderfully creative evening, as those in attendance had the opportunity to design and print their own Irish-themed t-shirts.
The final products were of a high standard and everyone thoroughly enjoyed this workshop.

Lí Ban
An Chéadaoin 12ú Márta/Wednesday 12th March 10.00am @QFT

Scoil an Droichid pupils visited us in the QFT for a screening of the Irish language animation sensation, Lí Ban.
Máire Zepf (Writer/Co-Producer) and Claire Handley (Development Producer, Paper Owl Films) called in to meet our young guests, with Máire speaking about the making of Lí Ban, and having a Q&A session with Scoil an Droichid pupils afterwards.
Máire has a strong connection with Queen’s, not least as she became the first ever Children’s Writing Fellow at the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry in 2017.

Rocky Ros Muc
An Chéadaoin 12ú Márta / Wednesday 12th March 3.30pm @QFT

Acclaimed Irish Language film, Rocky Ros Muc, came to the QFT as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge 2025. Recounting the story of famous Irish boxer, Seán Ó Mainnín, the film follows the Irish speaking fighter from his humble beginnings in Ros Muc, Co. Galway, to the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, and a World Title fight.
The audience enjoyed Rocky Ros Muc immensely, and a huge thank you to our partners in QFT for collaborating with us for Seachtain na Gaeilge again this year.

Seachtain na Gaeilge 2025

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Ceiliúradh Teanga agus Cultúrtha @Ollscoil na Banríona
Irish Language and Cultural Celebration @Queen’s University

We are delighted to invite you to join us in celebrating SEACHTAIN NA GAEILGE 2025!
The events below are open to all QUB students, staff and members of the public, and most events are free to attend.
We have collaborated with An Cumann Gaelach, QFT, Queen’s Students’ Union, Queen’s Radio, An Droichead, Cultúrlann Mac Adam Ó Fiaich and others to bring you a range of Irish language events at Queen’s.
If you would like to attend any of these events, please register via the ‘Registration’ button. Bígí linn!/Join us!

An Mháirt 4ú Márta/Tuesday 4thMarch @2pm Lá na bPancóga/Pancake Tuesday @Sunset Room – Students Union

Join An Cumann Gaelach as they make pancakes ‘as gaeilge’ for Lá na bPancóga!

Registration

An Chéadaoin 5ú Márta/Wednesday 5th March – Maidin Taighde/Research Showcase 10-12 @Cultúrlann Mac Adam Ó Fiaich

Join our students from the Department of Irish & Celtic Studies as they present their latest research findings.

Registration

An Chéadaoin 5ú Márta/Wednesday 5th March – Just Dance…as Gaeilge! 9pm @An Droichead, 20 Cooke St. Belfast.

Join An Cumann Gaelach in the local Irish language and cultural centre, An Droichead, for the dance craze, ‘Just Dance’… as Gaeilge!

Registration

An Déardaoin 6ú Márta/Thursday 6th March – Ciorcal Comhrá le Ceol! 12.30-1.30 @Junction Café

Junction Café is the venue for our monthly Ciorcal Comhrá/Irish language conversation circle, as some of our students from the Irish Traditional Music group showcase their talents!
*Free tea/coffee for all attendees.
Bígí linn!

Registration

An Aoine 7ú Márta/Friday 7th March – Ióga le Sinéad – Yoga with Sinéad 12.30-1.30 @Blue Sky Room – Students’ Union

*places limited!
Yoga Instructor, Sinéad, guides us through a relaxing and revitalising Yoga class ‘as gaeilge’!

Registration

An Satharn 8ú Márta/Saturday 8th March – Rugbaí: Éire v An Fhrainc – 2pm @Wee Bar Queen’s Students’ Union

Enjoy Ireland v France in the Six Nations Rugby and use your ‘cúpla focal’!

Registration

An Domhnach 9ú Márta/Sunday 9th March – Céilí Mór Sheachtain na Gaeilge – 8.30pm @Mandela Hall

Join us in Mandela Hall for our Céilí Mór. Learn traditional Irish Céilí dances, enjoy traditional Irish music and much more!
Please use the link below to book your ticket. There is a cost of £5.00 for this event.

Registration

An Mháirt 11ú Márta/Tuesday 11th March – Ceardlann T-léine/T-shirt workshop 7pm @Auditorium, McClay Library

*places extremely limited!
Join An Cumann Gaelach for a t-shirt printing workshop, where you get to be creative! Bain triail as!
Click the link below to book your place! There is a cost of £6.00 for this event.

Registration

An Chéadaoin 12ú Márta/Wednesday 12th March – Lí Ban 10.00am @QFT

Scoil an Droichid pupils visit us in the QFT for a screening of the Irish language animation sensation, Lí Ban.
*This is a private screening.

An Chéadaoin 12ú Márta / Wednesday 12th March – Rocky Ros Muc- Scannán/Film – QFT@3.30pm

Acclaimed Irish Language film, Rocky Ros Muc, comes to the QFT as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge 2025.
This film is subtitled in English and is rated PG.
Seating is limited, so please book early to secure your place.

Registration

An Aoine 14ú Márta/Friday 14th March – Rith/Run leis An Chumann Gaelach 6pm @Lanyon Building gates

Join An Cumann Gaelach for a fun run…as Gaeilge!
Starting at the front gates of the University at 6pm.

Registration

World Arabic Language Day Celebration

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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.

Related reading

International Volunteer Day Celebration 2024

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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.

Celebrating World Arabic Language Day

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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.

Registration

Related reading

Int’l Volunteer Day Celebration and Information Session

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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.

Registration

Celebrating International Students’ Day

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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

Registration
Back to International Students’ Day

Ready, steady, go!

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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.

Everyone is welcome!