Multilingualism and intercultural communication are becoming increasingly important in today’s globalised world. Foreign-language acquisition, for example, has long proved to be key in international business. To achieve their personal and career goals, a growing number of people are willing to invest in language learning activities, both locally and abroad.
On 18-19 November 2016 language students, professionals and enthusiasts will head to Berlin (Germany) to attend the 29th edition of the Expolingua fair. Participants will be able to meet over 150 exhibitors and discover a wide range of products and services, including language courses, certification and exchange programmes and work and internship opportunities.
A varied programme
This year’s programme features more than 80 activities, and 50 languages will be represented. Numerous lectures and workshops will cover topics such as teaching and learning methods, language tests, vocabulary, professional training, CV writing and tips for job interviews, study abroad, volunteering and opportunities for work as an au pair.
Attendees can also choose from an array of ‘taster lessons’ (mini language courses for beginners). In 45 minutes, they will be able to learn the basics of Hebrew, Portuguese, Japanese, German, Italian, Arabic, Indonesian, Spanish, Korean or Czech. In addition, a series of interactive performances will explore cultural variety and world traditions through art, theatre, music and dance.
Growing trends
A unique event of its kind in the German-speaking world, Expolingua Berlin attracted nearly 10,000 visitors in 2015, of whom 57% were under 30 years of age. The 2015 edition won a LIA (Language Industry Award) in the category ‘Best Learning and Networking Event’.
Last year, the language travel sector appeared to be booming. In fact, more and more people every day choose to learn a new language in the country where it is spoken. Their main motivation is finding new business partners and applying for a job or university. Popular destinations for learning English are Great Britain, Canada, Australia and Malta, while Guatemala and the Latin American countries are becoming increasingly attractive to people learning Spanish.
The event is organised by ICWE, an international events and communications company based in Berlin. Expolingua will be held at the Russisches Haus der Wissenschaft und Kultur (RHWK). All the activities will be either in German – the primary language of the event – or in English.
Free tickets can be acquired from the Expolingua Berlin website on the following link: http://www.expolingua.com/en/visit.php
The full programme is now available in German: http://www.expolingua.com/whatson.php#programme
More information can be found on the Expolingua Berlin website: http://www.expolingua.com