On the occasion of celebrating the European Day of Languages, it was stated that the European Union seeks to provide necessary information on rights, obligations and opportunities to its citizens in the 24 official languages. It was also stated that the language learning should be an important part of the formal and non-formal education of Montenegrin pupils.
On the occasion of celebrating the European Language Day, the Secretariat General of the Government organised an online competition for pupils of Montenegrin elementary schools in English, French, Italian, German and Russian, with 435 participants, while the best 15 contestants were provided with the awards.
The Head of the European Union Delegation to Montenegro, Aivo Orav, said that the European Day of Languages is an opportunity to raise awareness of language learning and linguistic diversity.
“I encourage you to learn as many foreign languages as possible – speaking multiple languages makes it easier to connect with people and find work. Even if you know only a few words of the language of the country you are visiting, it allows you to make new friends and new contacts”, Ambassador Orav said.
Deputy Chief Negotiator, Marko Mrdak, said that language is, in fact, a starting point for the culture development.
“The EU seeks to provide all the necessary information about its citizens in order to be informed of their rights, their obligations, but also of the opportunities of the EU, employment or education. You are a citizen of Montenegro today, and you will be an EU citizen tomorrow. Therefore, use this time to learn languages, through formal and informal education and use the opportunities of the EU”, Mrdak added.
Director General of the Directorate for Preschool, Primary and Inclusive Education in the Ministry of Education, Arijana Nikolić – Vučinić, told the pupils to spread their perspectives and acquire new information through their language skills. She recalled that the Ministry of Education has done a lot when it comes to language learning in the previuos period.
The top 15 contestants today visited the embassies of the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany and the Russian Federation in Podgorica, where they discussed with the Ambassadors about the culture and history of the countries whose languages they learn at school.
The Competition was organised in accordance with the Action Plan for 2019 for the implementation of the Public Information Strategy on the Accession of Montenegro to the European Union 2019-2022, within the framework of the EU4ME project, funded by the EU and implemented by UNDP in Montenegro, and in cooperation with the embassies and cultural centres of these five countries in Montenegro.
GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO
SECTOR FOR INFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE EU AND THE EU ACCESSION PROCESS
Arijana Nikolic Vucinic Evropski dan jezika IZJAVA
Aivo Orav Evropski dan jezika IZJAVA
Marko Mrdak Evropski dan jezika IZJAVA
Ucenica Anja Mitric, dobitnica diplome Evropski dan jezika IZJAVA
Evropski dan jezika dodjela diploma ucenicima KADROVI