Researchers have collaborated with Sheffield based educational providers Twinkl to create resources championing multilingualism as part of the City of Languages project.
The resources follow Ursa Lingua, the bear of many languages, as she explores Sheffield and its languages. The resources feature games, displays and activities that promote language learning for young people, including a local scavenger hunt and a celebration of European Day of Languages 2025.
Sabine Little, Senior Lecturer in Languages Education in the School of Education, co-leads City of Languages alongside Home Heritage Community Languages Lead Clare Allison:
“The Sheffield City of Languages initiative is built on a longstanding commitment to multilingualism and language learning within the city, as we also have a branch for the Association for Language Learning that has been active in the city for over 30 years. Many teachers and educators are helping children and young people to develop the skills to thrive in a multilingual and multicultural society, so being able to support this work through the resources developed, local to the city of Sheffield, is simply wonderful!”
The Sheffield City of Languages project draws on the city’s history of migration and multilingualism, and its legacy as the UK’s first “City of Sanctuary"
Sheffield has joined eight other UK cities as a ‘City of Languages’, to highlight the importance of multilingualism as a cultural asset, and the University of Sheffield is working alongside partners across the city, supported by the British Council and Association for Language Learning.