#ThinkLanguages Week 2025 kicks off

#ThinkLanguages Week 2025

21,000 students from over 240 schools across Ireland are set to take part in #ThinkLanguages Week this week. The celebration of languages and cultures is in its eighth year and has consistently grown since its inception in 2018.

This increase in participation showcases the growing enthusiasm for language learning as well as the variety of languages spoken in Ireland today and the unique cultures they represent. The student-led event will take place in schools across the country and is set to be an exciting week!

Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee, said about the event: “#ThinkLanguages Week is a powerful reminder of the role languages play in shaping inclusive, connected, and opportunity-rich futures for our young people. I commend the students, teachers, and partners who make this celebration possible. Language learning is not just about communication – it’s about intercultural understanding, empathy, and global citizenship.”

Students look forward to a week of interactive workshops, foreign language films, guest speakers, and campus visits. They will explore how foreign languages open doors to global opportunities, personal growth, and cultural connection.

Partners

This year Languages Connect is collaborating once more with several partners, including the Irish Film Institute, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and universities across the country.

The Irish Film Institute will be hosting screenings of foreign language films throughout the week in regional partner cinemas across Ireland, encouraging students to think of languages outside of a classroom context.

Universities across the country are also participating in the event, inviting students onto their campus to gain an insight into the life of a language student. Many are also running language-based workshops as well as making student language ambassadors available to those schools unable to visit.

This year, we are excited to welcome Cultural Institutes as new partners who will host onsite events, provide workshops, guest speakers, online resources and more!

The Department of Foreign Affairs is also supporting #ThinkLanguages Week through their A Career for EU Strategy, emphasising the significance of language skills in a European context. As part of this initiative, six lucky students as part of the #ThinkLanguages Champion Team, and two teachers will win a trip to Brussels to experience the multicultural vibrancy of the city and discover what a career in the EU could look like first-hand. 

Planning Packs & Event Resources

To support schools with their preparations, registered schools have been sent event kit packs. A Champion Team Handbook has helped guide students and teachers through what can be done before, during and after the event. Bunting to promote the day in the school and beyond are also included in the pack, as well as t-shirts for the members of the Champion Team. A mix of supports including a pre-recorded Opening Ceremony with inspirational speakers from Enterprise Ireland, EU institutions, social media and TV; online language workshops, and a selection of live workshops have also been made available for the events nationwide. For more info on what happened in previous years, click here.