Multilingualism Day

Multilingualism Day is your opportunity to peek behind the curtain and see how the European Parliament works in 24 languages. You can meet European Parliament interpreters and translators, get a glimpse into their work and set foot inside the Hemicycle plenary chamber itself.

Multilingualism ensures that all Europeans can use their own language to follow the work of their democratic representatives in the world’s most multilingual parliament. Linguistic and cultural diversity is one of Europe's strengths and is woven into the European treaties as a core value. As the linguist and philosopher Umberto Eco said, ‘the language of Europe is translation’. Multilingualism Day is your chance to see this language in action. 

You can take part in Multilingualism Day 2019 at the House of European History and European Parliament Hemicycle.

House of European History

History of language diversity (45-minute tour)

Join one of the tours that will take a look at the history of languages in Europe, using anecdotes and objects in the exhibition to show how languages have shaped its rich diversity.

Register: historia-learning@ep.europa.eu or on the day at the museum desk.

Schedule: English 10:00, German 11:00, French 14:00, Dutch 15:00

Hemicycle

Activities (10:00-18:00)

Explore multilingualism with fun activities.

Ground floor

Citizens’ language in text, audio and video workshop: Discover the importance and impact of multilingual communication

Photo booth: Get your multilingualism day souvenir

Audio booth: See how the European Parliament records podcasts and record your own

My House of European History recording corner: Take a seat and add your European story to this collaborative history project

Kids’ corner: Face painting and take home a (temporary) tattoo

4th floor

Interpretation booths: Try interpreting into your mother tongue in a real interpreters booth

Translation games: Test your language skills in a fun way

Translation & clear language workshops: Become a translator working on a real text. Registration at entrance required

Experience the European Parliament Hemicycle (10:30-17:30, every 30 minutes)

Discover where debates and votes take place with presentations, including Q&A. 4th floor. In Dutch, English, French and German.
 

Talks with translators and interpreters

Dive deeper into translation and interpretation with 30 min talks and Q&A sessions. All talks interpreted into Dutch, English, French and German.

Ground floor

10:30 – 11:00: Q&A with translators: tips and tricks of the trade

11:00 – 11:30: How to become an interpreter

11:30 – 12:00: The future of translation

12:00 – 12:30: Interpreting tricks of the trade

12:30 – 13:00: European Parliament interpreters and translators working for you

14:30 – 15:00: How to become an interpreter

15:00 – 15:30: Clear Language, clear results

15:30 – 16:00: Interpreting tricks of the trade

16:00 – 16:30: Q&A with translators: tips and tricks of the trade