International Volunteer Day Celebration 2024

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

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.

Related reading

Int’l Volunteer Day Celebration and Information Session

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.

Celebrating International Students’ Day

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

Ready, steady, go!

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!

Seachtain na Gaeilge 2024

Imeachtaí-Events – Bhí clár iontach againn i mbliana, chun Seachtain na Gaeilge a cheiliúradh…a mhaireann 17 lá, Márta 1ú-17ú!

We had a great programme of events this year, to celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish Language Week)…which actually lasts for 17 days, March 1st-17th!

An Mháirt 5 Márta/Tuesday 5th March – Seachtain na Gaeilge 2024 got up and running with our Tráth na gCeist/Quiz. The teams were made up from QUB students, staff and guests who enjoyed our Eolas Ginearálta/General Knowledge Quiz! Maith sibh a chairde! Well done everyone!

An Chéadaoin 6 Márta/Wednesday 6th MarchLá ag an phictiúrlann/Day at the cinema, hosted in the wonderful surroundings of the QFT, saw close to one hundred pupils from the local Gaelscoil (Irish-Medium School), Scoil an Droichid, visit us to watch Puffin Rock Agus Na Cairde Nua.

Tarrac, kept the audience captivated for the afternoon in the QFT, as QUB students, staff, and members of the public came together to watch the acclaimed Irish Language film on the big screen.

An Déardaoin 7 Márta/Thursday 7th March – In Oidhreacht Ghaelach Bhéal Feirste (Belfast’s Gaelic Heritage), Dr. Fionntán de Brún guided us bilingually around campus, with an informative and enjoyable ‘walk and talk’. Dr. de Brún explored the linguistic origins of our local place names and the crucial role that the Irish language plays in their meanings.

An Mháirt 12 Márta/Tuesday 12th March – Nuala Ní Scolláin, owner of Ióga le Nuala, guided us through a relaxing and energising Yoga session, as gaeilge (in Irish)! Go raibh míle maith agat, a Nuala! (Thanks very much, Nuala!)

An Chéadaoin 13 Márta/Wednesday 13th MarchRith/Siúil Spraoi (Fun Run/Walk) gave Irish language enthusiasts a chance to get their steps in, and also use their Irish with other gaeilgeoirí (Irish speakers).

An Déardaoin 14 Márta/Thursday 14th March – Chuir muid deireadh le Seachtain na Gaeilge 2024 le Comhrá-thon! (We brought Seachtain na Gaeilge to a close with a Comhrá-thon!)

From early morning to late afternoon, the conversation – as well as the tae agus caife (tea & coffee) – was flowing, ending in a céilí (music session) agus cóisir (party)!

Beatha teanga í a labhairt! (The life of a language is in the speaking of it!)

Happy Holi

Holi, or the festival of colours, is a religious occasion considered the second biggest Hindu festival after Diwali, generally celebrated by people from the north of India. It marks the beginning of spring after a long winter and signifies the triumph of good over evil. To those who celebrate, may your Holi be full of colour, love and happiness!

While we would like to hear how the celebration is to take place in Queen’s community this year, we want to invite you to read the post from Ying, on her last year’s experience of joining this celebration with her Indian friends at Queen’s.

Seachtain na Gaeilge 2024

Irish Language and Cultural Celebrations @Queen’s
Ceiliúradh Teanga agus Cultúrtha @Ollscoil na Ríona

The Language Centre team are delighted to invite you to join us in celebrating SEACHTAIN NA GAEILGE 2024.  All events below are open to all QUB students and staff and are free to attend.  If you would like to attend any of these events, please do register so that we can monitor registration numbers.

Tuesday 5th March: 12.30pm-1.30pm

Our Tráth na gCeist/Quiz gets Seachtain na Gaeilge underway here at Queen’s. Questions will be General Knowledge and will be asked as Gaeilge/in Irish. Teams will be provided with an Irish speaker, if required. Places are limited, so please book early.

Wednesday 6th March: 10.00am
Scoil an Droichid will celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge with us, as they visit the QFT to enjoy the Irish Language version of ‘Puffin Rock And The New Friends’.

Wednesday 6th March: 2.30pm
Acclaimed Irish Language film, Tarrac, comes to the QFT as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge 2024. This film is subtitled in English and is Rated 15. Seating is limited, so please book early.

Thursday 7th March: 12.30pm-1.45pm
Dr. Fionntán de Brún, Professor of Modern Irish in Maynooth University and Award-winning Creative Writer, guides us on a bilingual walk & talk around Queen’s and the surrounding area, exploring the history behind our local place names.

Tuesday 12th March: 12.30pm-1.30pm
Yoga Instructor, Nuala Ní Scolláin, guides us through a Yoga class…in Irish! Suitable for all levels of Yoga and Irish! Very limited spaces.

Wednesday 13th March: 1.00pm-2.00pm
We are teaming up with Queen’s Campus Run during University Wellbeing Week for a Run/Walk…in Irish! Get your steps and your ‘cúpla focal’ in one go! Choose your own distance…and pace!

Thursday 14th March: All day (9.00am-4.00pm) ‘Comhrá-thon’ is a day-long conversation…in Irish! We invite you to join us as we keep the conversation flowing throughout the day @Junction Café.

‘Comhrá-thon’ will conclude with our ‘Ciorcal Comhrá’, where we invite everyone for refreshments, music, and chat as Gaeilge/in Irish!

Email mark.harte@qub.ac.uk with your preferred 30-minute slot and the names of those taking part.

Happy International Mother Language Day

This annual observance, which takes place on 21st February every year, is a celebration of cultural and linguistic diversity.

This afternoon, our Language Centre team joined the celebration of multilingualism at the launch of a new Staff Network for Promoting Linguistic Diversity & Minority Languages. This well-attended event is a wonderful celebration of a belief in the power of language to connect people. Preserving, respecting and learning languages is so important for building tolerance and empathy in our divided world.

Language – A Bridge; Not a Barrier!

Don’t forget that registration opens for our Spring term courses on 1st March, via our Language Centre Website.

Welcome back to Winter Term

Welcome back to Language Classes and TLE!

The Language Centre 2nd semester classes kick off today Monday 15th and wish all the learners a great start!

Tandem Language Exchange activities restart from this Wednesday 17th January. All Queen’s students and staff members are welcome to attend TLE events throughout the academic year, whether they sign up for the language courses or not.

For those who sign up for both, it can be complementary way to develop your language skills with a potential language partner, with whom you can work with a buddy from another culture for mutual support. For those who are unable to attend a language class, perhaps joining our TLE will be a viable option for you to keep your flame of enthusiasm burn.

Welcome back and enjoy your learning!