GESS held 2025’s International Language Week under the theme “Languages of Food”. A veritable feast of linguistic and cultural activities unfolded across GESS, giving students from preschool through secondary with a rich menu of learning experiences.
The week kicked off with events tailored to each school section, emphasizing the integration of diverse languages that go beyond conventional English and German. Each segment of the school participated in uniquely designed activities that not only highlighted linguistic diversity but also demonstrated the universal language of food.
Preschool: A Playground of Languages and Flavors
In Preschool, the youngest of our learners were visited by our secondary school students for mini-language lessons and story readings in various home languages. Highlight for Preschool was the “International Language Day,” celebrated on the UN’s designated International Mother Language Day. Our parent volunteers presented an array of 13 different countries, offering insights into distinct cultures and languages through creative and engaging activities.
Preschool International Language Day
Primary School: Stories from Around the World
Primary students got to hear stories in languages such as Finnish, Croatian, Korean and more, read by parent volunteers during school breaks. This storytelling was complemented by a visit from Singaporean author and illustrator Quek Hong Shin, who brought his book ‘The Marvellous Sugee Cake’ to life, inspiring students with his illustrations and narratives.
Secondary School: Dialogues on Food and Culture
Over at our Secondary School, the programme was especially robust, featuring a panel discussion with Singaporean author Christopher Tan and Bavarian chef Patrick Sikora on the theme “Passion to Cook – Passion to Eat.” This discussion explored how culinary practices serve as a bridge across different cultures. Additionally, Professor Anthony Medrano from Yale-NUS engaged students with a lecture on “The Language of Food,” providing them with a deeper understanding of how food shapes our cultural and linguistic identities.
Highlights and Honours
One of the week’s main events was an award ceremony for the 4th GESS Writing Competition, showcasing the creativity of students from Grades 2 to 10, who submitted original compositions in German. The week also unveiled the start of a “Roots & Wings” GESS Cookbook, a student initiative that will be compiling recipes and food stories from the diverse GESS community.
Engaging the Community
Encouraging involvement across the board, the Multilingualism Working Group urged teachers, particularly language educators, to incorporate thematic activities into their curriculum. The week also featured musical interludes with an international twist, and an International Dress Up Day.
Multilingual and Multicultural at GESS
The enthusiasm for International Language Week at GESS underscores the school’s commitment to its linguistically diverse community. With over 70 languages spoken by students, staff, and faculty, GESS is a true mosaic of cultures and languages, dedicated to fostering an environment where every language and culture is respected and celebrated.
According to Daniela Albania and Dr. Markus Meyer who lead this, “21 February was designated International Mother Language Day by UNESCO in 1999 and has been celebrated worldwide since 2000. At GESS, we also celebrate this day in past years across sections. GESS Language Week was introduced in AY2021/22 as part of our school’s GESS 50 anniversary celebrations, expanded to a full week by our Multilingualism Working Group to honour the linguistic and cultural diversity at our school.”
As we reflect on another successful Language Week, we are reminded of the power of food not just to nourish the body, but to enrich our minds and souls by bringing us closer to understanding the diverse world we share. We look forward to continuing this rich tradition in the years to come, building bridges through language and cuisine at GESS.
