EUTOPIA Languages Week 2026

These events will take place online or in hybrid format and are open to the whole alliance.

Monday 2 March

• UW - 9:30-11:00 CET: Opening & Plenary
  Professor Jan Danckaert will open the 2026 Languages Week with a welcome address. This will be followed by a plenary talk by Professor Ingrid Piller (Macquarie University Sydney and Universität Hamburg). More details coming soon.
  Registration coming soon.
• SU - 12:00-13:30 CET: IsiXhosa Taster Course 
  Discover the basics of isiXhosa. You will learn functional Afrikaans and get some insight into isiXhosa culture in a bite-sized lesson from an experienced presenter with over 20 years of know-how. Start your isiXhosa journey here and get ready for a fun and informative experience.
  Registration coming soon.

• VUB - 14:00-15:30 CET: From street poetry to dialect studies: how to do citizen science in Languages & Literature
  Interested to know how involving citizens can enhance your research and create exciting opportunities?
  Join our training to learn about the citizen science basics and to become acquainted with inspiring examples from the L&L field!
  Registrer here by 26 February.

Tuesday 3 March

 

• SU - 12:00-13:30 CET: Afrikaans Taster Course
  Discover the basics of Afrikaans. You will learn functional Afrikaans and get some insight into Afrikaans culture in a bite-sized lesson from an experienced presenter with over 20 years of know-how. Start your Afrikaans journey here and get ready for a fun and informative experience.
  Regisration coming soon.
• TUD - 13:00-14:00 CET: Yiddish: A Brief Overview of Language, History, and Contemporary Use
  This session offers an introduction to Yiddish, a language with deep historical roots and a rich cultural tradition. Closely related to German yet clearly distinct, Yiddish developed over centuries as a key language of Jewish life in Europe and beyond. The lecture will provide an overview of the origins and historical development of Yiddish, its linguistic characteristics, and its social and cultural functions. Participants will gain insight into how Yiddish has been used across regions and why it remains relevant today. The event is designed as an accessible introduction and does not require any prior knowledge.
  The session is connected to the 2026 “Year of Jewish Culture” in Saxony, in which TUD is participating with a range of formats. The event is free to attend. 
  Register here.

Thursday 5 March

• SU - 12:00-13:30 CET: South African Sign Language (SASL) Taster Course
  Discover the basics of South African Sign Language (SASL) in this online session. This is your chance to explore the world of SASL in a fun and interactive environment. You are bound to learn at least one sign and get some insight into a whole new world. Join us and start your sign language journey today.
  Registration coming soon.
• UW - 14:00-15:00 CET: Reflecting on Debbie Cameron's legacy - Jo Angouri and Lia Litosseliti in conversation
  Jo Angouri and Lia Litosseliti are organising a reading circle in memory of Debbie Cameron, as a space for reflection on her scholarship and its lasting relevance. The session will centre on the discussion of two selected papers, which Jo and Lia will introduce, followed by an open discussion with those who wish to take part. The aim is to look back at Debbie’s work while also considering how it continues to inform and (will) inspire current and future research. The reading circle is open to all, students of all levels, colleagues and friends. To allow us to plan the session and manage time effectively, those interested are asked to RSVP in advance. Further details, including the readings and structure of the session, will be shared with registered participants.
  Registration coming soon.
• UW - 16:00-18:00 CET: Roundtable: Evolving Expertise: Language Careers in a Changing Industry
  Speakers: TBC. Host: Dr David Orrego-Carmona (University of Warwick).
  The event aims to raise awareness about different career paths in languages, translation, and the language industries at large in times of AI. In particular, we will discuss future prospects in the industry and what current students can do to develop a sustainable career.
  Registration coming soon.

These events will take place internally and in person at the institution running them.
 

Activities at the VUB

All the VUB events below are on a drop-in basis, no need to register in advance, just show up!

• Monday 2 March, 8:00-10:00 CET, Film Screening: Como agua para chocolate (Spanish)
  Introduction: Castilleja/Jagafarova
  Venue: I.0.01
• Monday 2 March, 12:00-13:00 CET: Spanish Language Table
  Students can join us and (informally) practise their Spanish!
  Venue: VUB Student Restaurant
• Monday 2 March, 14:00-16:00 CET, Film Screening: The Farewell (Chinese)
  Introduction: Jianwei Xu/Julie Deconinck.
  Venue: D.3.07
• Tuesday 3 March, 13:00-14:00 CET: Italian Language Table
  Students can join us and (informally) practise their Italian!
  Venue: VUB Student Restaurant
• Tuesday 3 March, 18:00-20:00 CET, Film Screening: Lady Bird (English)
  More info soon.
  Venue: TBD
• Wednesday, 12:00-13:00: German Language Table
  Students can join us and (informally) practise their German!
  Venue: VUB Student Restaurant
• Wednesday, 13:00-14:00 CET, English Language Table
  Students can join us and (informally) practise their English!
  Venue: VUB Student Restaurant
• Wednesday, 14:00-16:00 CET, Film Screening: Das schweigende Klassenzimmer (German)
  Introduction: Philipp Bekaert
  Venue: D2.18
• Wednesday, 15:00-16:00 CET: French Language Table
  Students can join us and (informally) practise their French!
  Venue: Pilar
• Friday 6 March, 12:00-14:00 CET, Film Screening: Augure (French)
  Introduction: Sara Buekens
  Venue: D2.15

Activities at CY

At CY, Languages Week will take place from 9 to 13 March 2026.

• More info coming soon.

Activities at the UPF

• Thursday 5 and Tuesday 10 March, 10:30-12:30 CET: Intercultural Spaces, Languages and Identities Student Conference
  Students from the UPF course “Intercultural Spaces, Languages and Identities,” taught by Prof Mireia Trenchs at the UPF, will present the original research they carried out as their course project. Through this project students have developed their understanding of (1) socialization spaces that are shared by interlocutors from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and (2) how to investigate such spaces. They have done so by conducting an original piece of research whose results may be transferred to society. The exploration of these spaces has been undertaken from a transdisciplinary perspective that includes concepts and methods from (critical) discourse analysis, (educational) sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, linguistic anthropology, and social psychology. Each presentation is followed by a brief Q&A time.
  Venue: UPF Ciutadella Campus, Jaume I building, Room 20.051
  Students and instructors from other classes and disciplines are welcome to attend either or both of the sessions.

Activities at Warwick

Register for all your Warwick events [link coming soon].

• Wednesday 4 March, 14:00-17:00 GMT: Language Taster Sessions
  Come try a new language!
  Venue: FAB building, 3rd and 4th floors
• Wednesday 4 March, 19:00-21:30 GMT: Human vs Machine Live Translation Slam
  Come and watch the battle of man vs AI live on stage! One human professional translator takes on the combined power of some of the world’s most advanced technologies. Who will be faster, better and more creative? Will technology replace the human translator right there and then, or will the human touch and approach win the day? Two contestants on stage will compete over two rounds, dealing with translation tasks involving French, German and English, and then discussing their work with each other and the audience.
  Host: Dr Christophe Fricker (University of Bristol). Professional Translator: Lloyd Bingham. Machine Operator: Martin Percy.
  Venue: Faculty of Arts Cinema
• Thursday 5 March, 13:00-14:00 GMT: Reflecting on Debbie Cameron's legacy - Jo Angouri and Lia Litosseliti in conversation
  Jo Angouri and Lia Litosseliti are organising a reading circle in memory of Debbie Cameron, as a space for reflection on her scholarship and its lasting relevance. The session will centre on the discussion of two selected papers, which Jo and Lia will introduce, followed by an open discussion with those who wish to take part. The aim is to look back at Debbie’s work while also considering how it continues to inform and (will) inspire current and future research. The reading circle is open to all, students of all levels, colleagues and friends. To allow us to plan the session and manage time effectively, those interested are asked to RSVP in advance. Further details, including the readings and structure of the session, will be shared with registered participants.
  Speakers: Prof Jo Angouri (University of Warwick) and Dr Lia Litosseliti (City St George's, University of London).
  Venue: Social Sciences building, S0.08
• Friday 6 March, 15:00 - 18:00 GMT: Languages Games Night with Pizza
  Join us for a fun, linguistically very diverse evening with classics such as Scrabble, Taboo and other board games, but also a quiz, a cockroach xylophone, silly games where you have to jump, run and twist to win, a treasure hunt and cool prizes for the winners. There will also be playful introductions to different languages such as German, French, Spanish, Italian and Arabic if you‘re up for a challenge.
  Venue: FAB, 4th floor

Activities at Stellenbosch University

 

• Wednesday 4 March, 12:30-14:00 SAST: Multilingual Karaoke
  Join us for an unforgettable karaoke experience where staff and students have the exciting chance to sign up in advance to showcase their vocal talents! Join in the fun as participants take the stage to belt out tunes in languages that resonate with them. This engaging event not only celebrates linguistic diversity but also creates space for the art of  performance, fostering a sense of camaraderie and cultural appreciation. So, join in, support the one behind the mic and let the multilingual melodies sound!
  Facilitators: Asambese Mkumatela & Jaydey Sass
  Venue: TBC
  Registration coming soon.
• Wednesday 4 March, 18:00-19:30 SAST: Language & Belonging workshop
  Join us in exploring the relationship between language and belonging at Stellenbosch University. Presented as a special Languages Week edition, this workshop uses storytelling, discussion and creative reflection as an opportunity for connection, reconnection and reflection.
  Facilitators: Sanet de Jager/Arné Binneman/Helga Sykstus/Bongiwe Dlutu
  Venue: TBC
  Registration coming soon.
• Thursday 5 March, 18:00-19:30 SAST: Language Café
  Language learners unite! You are invited to join an evening of games and connection to informally practise the language you are learning with other language learners and first-language speakers. The languages represented at the Language Café will include all those languages that are taught at Stellenbosch University, through degree programmes or partner institutions. Currently, this list includes English, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, German, French, Dutch, Mandarin Chinese and Japanese.
  Facilitators: Sanet de Jager
  Venue: TBC
  Registration coming soon. 

Below you will find a talk on Multilingual Communication and Translation and how to build relationships across languages given by one of our EUTOPIA Young Leaders, Dr David Orrego-Carmona (University of Warwick) as part of the TeamWork programme: