(February 20, 2017) On the occasion of International Mother Tongue Day which is held on February 21, COMITES Dortmund supports, with an information campaign, the native language courses – HSU-Italienisch (Herkunftssprachlicher Unterricht) addressed to students of primary and secondary schools, funded and organized by the North Rhine-Westphalia Land. “Because maintaining contact with our linguistic origins and grow bilingual – explains a COMITES in Hamburg – is the first step towards a new European awareness.” February 21 is celebrated the World Mother Tongue Day, which was established by UNESCO in 1999. The goal of the day, which is held every year since February 2000, is to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. “And on this – says the statement – is based campaign announced by the COMITES of Dortmund in support of native language courses HSU-Italienisch (Herkunftssprachlicher Unterricht) addressed to students of primary and secondary schools, funded and organized by the North Rhine-Westphalia Land, a concept where material and immaterial come together, emphasizing the fact that growing up bilingual is the first step towards a new European identity, made of opportunities and wonders. ” The play on this double possibility is highlighted by a picture that you can look in two directions, simply by turning it upside down. An “OH” in the center of the picture can be read as an exclamation, or as a stick figure on its side. Similar to the dual destiny of the mother tongue which is made of identity and values that can be turned into twin opportunities of co-existence and development for those who know it. (Red)
