• make the general public aware of how important language learning is
• encourage lifelong language learning, both inside and outside of the traditional education systems, in response to the social-cultural changes that are taking place, and as a means of self-fulfillment
• become aware of the various language training opportunities, on a national and continental level, both in terms of cultural courses and also professional ones (considering the increasing importance of languages for those wishing to break through in the world of work in today’s global society)   

Why study languages today?
Knowledge of foreign languages means more opportunities in the workplace and may well, in some cases, play a role in promotion or open interesting career prospects. Those who can speak several languages can communicate directly with people of other nationalities and, for many employers, this is skill which is becoming more and more important. Languages also mean that you can live and work abroad.  It has been shown that, in the age of globalization and the gradual dismantling of barriers to co-operation and international exchange, businesses that can function well in more than one language are more able to make a mark on the international market. Those who are looking for work and who know foreign languages have a competitive advantage and a greater chance of finding a job.  But knowledge of languages is not only useful for working abroad. It can also be advantageous at home and in various working environments, such as government authorities (e.g. customs and immigration services), schools, the travel and tourism sectors etc. Furthermore, there are communities in every country where the people speak a language different from the local one. Language skills can help to improve performance in services such as health care, social services and commerce.

Languages on an International Level

Language skills offer greater prospects for those working on an international level. Professionals operating in sectors such as information media, politics, fashion, cinema, publishing and sport are very much aware of the career opportunities that open up to those who know languages. As international communication and, therefore, languages, become more important, new prospects are appearing in the language sector itself (teachers, interpreters, translators etc.) And it doesn’t stop there. Multilingual training is also a powerful instrument of intercultural dialogue When we speak today about dialogue between cultures, we mean education with a view to interculturalism, by which we mean discovering the differences within ourselves, but which is also an ability to take on board, and inter-relate with, those differences which are outside of ourselves.   The premise is that this is what intercultural education means: it is the key to reading the differences as well as the possibilities that we have at our disposal to interact easily and constructively with those who seem to be different from us. 

What the event consisted of:
The event was introduced to the general public and to the media with a press conference on Thursday 24^th September.  The first of the two days, Friday 25^th September, was Sorrento Lingue’s Open Day, during which the doors of the institute were opened to the general public. The school’s language teachers gave mini-lessons, open to all, so that those taking part were able to appreciate the modern methods and professionalism of our teachers. The lessons were opened to students attending schools in the Sorrento peninsula (primary, middle and senior), along with their foreign language teachers. One of the participants, the winner of a prize draw, will be able to take a free week-long study holiday at a college in Great Britain. 

Throughout the afternoon of 25^thSeptember, a series of language training sessions was organized for  teachers. Teachers were able to participate in lessons with foreign teachers who have come to Sorrento especially for the purpose, and had the chance to evaluate the validity of didactic methodologies as yet unknown to them (focusing especially on classroom interaction and on developing students’ communication skills).    Those teachers taking part were able to enjoy a somewhat rare chance to put themselves to the test and bring themselves up to date, trying out new approaches in the classroom, and testing the most recent language teaching and classroom management techniques.

During this phase, it was possible to pick the brains of internationally qualified teachers specialized in LS/L2 teacher training and certification.      

For the 26^th September - Saturday -  there was a convention (held at the local Teatro Tasso theater) which was opened to students in their third year at middle school and to all students from senior schools, along with their teachers and anyone else operating in the field of language training, either publicly or privately. It was opened to those in local administration, language teachers working in the area, and to Campanian companies operating internationally.    

From this edition onwards, Sorrento Lingue wishes to concentrate on a theme, which will be different every year, and which will be connected in some way to multilingualism and language training. Central to the 2009 edition was the possibility of language exchanges and international training for students from Italian senior schools (which will be followed in 2010 by study abroad programs and university level language training and, in 2011, with top notch international post-graduate training).

Educational and professional opportunities offered by the EU (the Erasmus, Leonardo, Comenius and Grundtvig projects) as well as the importance of languages as a competitive instrument in the world of work, both in Italy and abroad (especially in an area with a high level of tourism, like Sorrento and the peninsula) were also an important part of this event.