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Want to learn Swahili, Wolof, or Yoruba? How about an Indian language such as Quechua or Amayra or Guarani? Or, what about a more traditional language like Italian or Japanese, or Chinese? Maybe you would like to send a message to your friends by African Drum. Or perhaps learn about sign language or even learn how to write cuneiform on clay tablets. Well if you love languages and communication, or are just curious about linguistics, language teaching and culture, come to the 3rd annual LinguaFest1 in Tours, France, on March 8 and 9, at les Halles de Tours, France from 9 o1clock in the morning to 8 in the evening. It is free to the public, and offers more than 400 languages courses and activities as well as music from many countries, and some 45 stands, 10 of which will be pre presenting local cuisine.

More than 70 languages!

During this unique and amusing two-day Festival of Languages, more than 250 minicourses of 70 to 80 foreign languages will be presented in class sizes ranging from 10 to 100. Languages from all over the world including some 20 African languages and 20 European languages will be presented. In addition, numerous codes and communication systems will be taught such as French Sign Language, Sending Messages by African Drum, Braille, Morse Code, Calligraphy, Cuneiform, Hieroglyphics, or even the language of the birds and the bees! A complete listing of last year1s languages, with the attendance figures, is given on the internet at http://geocities.datacellar.net/Athens/5183/

Interactive methods

Each minicourse starts at the top of the hour and lasts just 40 minutes, just enough time to get a rough overview of each language. Each teacher has his or her own style, most are natives, and all are encouraged to give an interactive, fun presentation of the language and culture. Some teachers give little dialogues; others teach the grammar of I love you yet others teach through music.

A souvenir diploma for the kids and mom and dad

Visitors get a chance to visit a new language each hour, and if they have completed three language courses, they can receive the 3Le Petit Polyglotte2--a nice diploma-souvenir of the weekend1s events and printed up in real time in the Festival Center.

Internet "courses" too!

But language courses are not the only linguistic event at LinguaFest1, in addition, there will be 88 internet 3courses2 with scores of foreign countries contacted during the day. The internet courses will not be traditional language courses for the most part, but rather short sessions to allow the public to see the vast linguistic, geographical, and cultural resources of the World Wide Web.

Language discussion groups throughout the day

Besides the 88 internet courses and the 264 planned minicourses, there will also be language discussion groups in the Halles Café throughout the day. Language learners will get a chance to try out their skills in English, German, Spanish, Italian, and even Esperanto while speaking with native speakers around a table with a cup of coffee. During the lunch hour students will get a chance to eat lunch with native speakers of numerous languages. In total, there are more than 400 planned language activities.

Music between the language courses

As mentioned, each minicourse lasts 40 minutes. At the end of the courses, students are treated to a wide variety of musical entertainment, which occurs between each course in the center of the Halles. Samba, Salsa, music groups from Colombia, and other South American Countries, and a number of Africa musicians provide ten minutes of lively entertainment between the courses.

Stands and more entertainment in the central hall

In the central hall, there will also be some 35 stands representing associations, language schools, voyages linguistics, embassies, folklore groups, book stores, and many others. Traditional music, dance, and mime will also be presented in the central hall every hour.

Origin and organization of the Language Festival

The 1997 LinguaFest' (Festival of Languages, Festival des Langues) is organized by the association LinguaFest' 37 with Beata Plonka, Stéphane Gaudin, Christophe Berthier, Pierette Formen, Nadia Keefe, Eric Morin, Samuel and Aristide Ze, Elias Acuña, José Kandot, and more than 100 volonteers. LinguaFest' is based on an original idea of Dennis Keefe, University of Illinois, director of the VIIPPs Program (a program designed to prepare international students for study at leading American MBA Programs.

For more information

For more detailed information on LinguaFest1 in English and in Esperanto, contact
More about LinguaFest' or send an email to
dkeefe@uiuc.edu