Each year on February 21, communities around the world recognize International Mother Tongue Day, a United Nations day of observance that promotes linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. It’s a day that reminds us that language is not only a means of communication—it’s a container that holds our identities, traditions, and worldviews. At Nagoya International School (NIS), where students and families represent more than 34 home languages and 37 countries, the celebration of mother tongues is not just important, it’s a reflection of what makes us great.
To honor the spirit of this observance, NIS hosted its own International Mother Tongue Week in early April, bringing students together through conversations, performance, and play. The event was organized by two passionate student leaders, Shino and Karin, co-presidents of the Home Language Club (HLC), a secondary school co-curricular group that fosters language pride and intercultural understanding across the student body.
For Shino and Karin, this event was not part of a school assignment or a CAS project—it was something more personal. “This was just a genuine act that we have taken on as co-presidents of the Home Language Club this year,” said Shino. “Creating a space for people to proudly share who they are was such a big goal for us.”
With the guidance of their club supervisor, Ms. Anna, the students planned a week full of inclusive and creative activities. Monday kicked off with discussion and debate, where students from the ELC through Gr 11 chose from a curated board of engaging activities, exploring language and identity through storytelling and dialogue. Tuesday, students of all ages took part in a flag and culture drawing activity, illustrating symbols, objects, and images that represented themselves and their home countries. Wednesday featured one of the highlights of the week - a school-wide parade where students proudly wore cultural clothing or held items representing their heritage. Primary students also participated in the HLC's “Around the Globe Day,” a language-themed games day run by secondary HLC members. By Thursday, everyone was ready to enjoy lunchtime performances, showcasing music, dance, and storytelling from a variety of cultures and traditions.
This week-long celebration was a powerful reminder that language is more than words—it’s the foundation of how we see and interact with the world. At NIS, celebrating the mother tongues of our students and staff helps affirm each person’s cultural identity while strengthening our community as a whole.
“Our school is so diverse,” Shino reflected. “Most of our students are coming from foreign countries right now, so this was a chance to make sure people feel involved and included in the NIS community.”
Beyond the color and energy of the parade or the creativity of the drawings, International Mother Tongue Week offered something deeper: an acknowledgment that every language spoken at NIS carries with it a unique history, a set of values, and a way of seeing the world. In a place where global citizenship is not just a concept but a daily reality, such celebrations help students see that diversity is strength, and that language is one of the richest expressions of who we are.
Looking ahead, the HLC already has plans to grow the event further. “We saw so many aspects we can improve on,” said Shino. “Next year, we’ll introduce a dedicated event coordinator to help with organization and communication. But overall, we’re really proud of what we accomplished this year.”
Through student-led initiatives like this, NIS continues to live its values: Inspire, Inquire, Impact, and of course…INCLUDE. By lifting up every voice and every language, we make space for every story—and that’s something worth celebrating.
