On November 1, 2022, the Multimedia Language Centre (MLC) and the ESL Open Learning Centre (ESL OLC) hosted an Open Doors Event in South Ross 117. This event, entitled “Why Do We Need More Languages? Learning about Global Languages and Cultures,” featured language learning quote posters designed by the MLC team. It was sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures & Linguistics, and the Department of French Studies. More than 60 students and faculty members attended the event that included an opening ceremony and activities. 

The event kicked off with speeches from Professor Maria João Dodman, Chair of the Department of Languages, Literatures & Linguistics, and Professor Janusz Przychodzen, interim Chair of the Department of French Studies.  

Professor Dodman gave a lively and passionate speech of the importance of learning a language and culture as a key component for students to become “world citizens” of our times. 

Professor Przychodzen’s speech entitled “The Future of Language Lab: Old Questions, New Answers” provided reflections on the growing importance of learning and studying languages as a key component of cultural intelligence and the use of the language lab as an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary tool. 

Following the speeches, Professor Olga Makinina, director of the ESL OLC, provided an overview of the services offered at the ESL OLC. MLC’s services coordinator Tom Bassakyros introduced the services offered at the MLC.  Professor Gang Pan, academic coordinator of the MLC, outlooked the MLC’s future to become the language learning hub that brings faculty and students together in language and culture teaching and learning with more innovations. 

Attendees later participated in various activities including a poster-based translation game, poster-based debates and a scavenger hunt conducted by the ESL OLC team.  

The poster exhibition ran from Nov. 1 to Nov. 15.