
English Language Day 2025: Celebrating Language, Culture, and Creativity
Observed annually on April 23, English Language Day is a global celebration of the English language's richness, history, and influence. Established by the United Nations in 2010, the day coincides with the birth and death anniversary of William Shakespeare, honouring his immense contributions to English literature.
Why April 23?
The date was chosen to pay tribute to William Shakespeare, one of the most influential writers in the English language. His plays and poems not only shaped English literature but also introduced numerous words and expressions still used today.
A Global Language with Local Impact
English has evolved into the most widely spoken language worldwide, transcending borders and connecting people across cultures. It plays a critical role in global communication, diplomacy, education, science, media, and business. For millions, English is more than a language—it's a gateway to opportunity.
Origin and Purpose of the Day
Launched by the United Nations Department of Public Information, English Language Day promotes multilingualism and cultural diversity. Along with five other official UN languages—Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish—each has a day of recognition to foster mutual respect and understanding.
The Significance of English Today
English serves as a universal tool for knowledge exchange and collaboration. Beyond grammar and vocabulary, it embodies storytelling, critical thinking, and creativity. The day encourages people to reflect on how language shapes societies, opens minds, and inspires ideas.
Celebrating in the Classroom: Fun and Learning Combined
Engaging students through creative and educational activities can make English Language Day both fun and impactful. Here are some ideas:
• Shakespeare Performances: Have students perform monologues or scenes from Shakespearean plays.
• Word Games: Use games like Scrabble, Boggle, or vocabulary bees to promote word knowledge.
• Creative Writing Contests: Host poetry or short story writing competitions to spark imagination.
• Literary Exhibits: Create displays highlighting classic and modern English authors and their works.
These activities help students enhance their communication skills and deepen their appreciation for the beauty of the English language.
Language as a Lifelong Companion
As Lily Roy, Principal of Shree Balaji International School, Navi Mumbai, aptly says, 'Language shapes thought, and the ability to use English well empowers students to shape their own narratives. It strengthens academic rigor, fosters self-belief, and becomes a lifelong companion.'
Her words capture the essence of why English matters—not just in classrooms but in every aspect of life.
English Language Day reminds us of the power of words. It's a celebration of diversity, creativity, and global unity through language. Whether through literature, conversation, or education, English continues to be a vital thread that connects people around the world.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
7 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Day of the Jackal' author Frederick Forsyth dies at 86
Frederick Forsyth , the British author of "The Day of the Jackal " and other bestselling thrillers , has died after a brief illness, his literary agent said Monday. He was 86. Jonathan Lloyd, his agent, said Forsyth died at home early Monday surrounded by his family. "We mourn the passing of one of the world's greatest thriller writers," Lloyd said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Retirement Village Coming To Minneapolis - Take A Look At The Prices New York Retirement Village Click Here Undo Born in Kent, in southern England, in 1938, Forsyth served as a Royal Air Force pilot before becoming a foreign correspondent. He covered the attempted assassination of French President Charles de Gaulle in 1962, which provided inspiration for "The Day of the Jackal," his bestselling political thriller about a professional assassin. Published in 1971, the book propelled him into global fame. It was made into a film in 1973 starring Edward Fox as the Jackal and more recently a television series starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch. Live Events In 2015, Forsyth told the BBC that he had also worked for the British intelligence agency MI6 for many years, starting from when he covered a civil war in Nigeria in the 1960s. Although Forsyth said he did other jobs for the agency, he said he was not paid for his services and "it was hard to say no" to officials seeking information. "The zeitgeist was different," he told the BBC. "The Cold War was very much on." He wrote more than 25 books including "The Afghan," "The Kill List," "The Dogs of War" and "The Fist of God" that have sold over 75 million copies, Lloyd said. His publisher, Bill Scott-Kerr, said that "Revenge of Odessa," a sequel to the 1974 book "The Odessa File" that Forsyth worked on with fellow thriller author Tony Kent, will be published in August. "Still read by millions across the world, Freddie's thrillers define the genre and are still the benchmark to which contemporary writers aspire," Scott-Kerr said.


India Today
3 hours ago
- India Today
Ed Sheeran praises Arijit Singh's Tum Hi Ho in heartfelt post: I was spellbound
Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, who was recently in India and shot for a music video titled 'Sapphire' with Arjit Singh, dedicated a heartfelt note to him. Ed stated that he was impressed by the singer's talent. The English singer also cherished his memories of going on a scooter ride with shared a clip from 'Sapphire' on his Instagram handle. He admitted to being spellbound after listening to 'Tum Hi Ho' while watching 'Aashiqui 2'. The singer-songwriter wrote, "I first became aware of Arijit Singh's music when I watched 'Aashiqui 2' and heard 'Tum Hi Ho'. I was proper spellbound by his voice, the song, the scene in the movie."advertisementEd said that he later reached out to Arijit and even played an early version of 'Sapphire' for him. He further wrote, "I checked him out, and got in touch, and said whenever you want to sing together I'm down. He was playing london, so i went to guest with him and sing Perfect there, it was an incredible show. I played him an early version of Sapphire in the dressing room, and he instantly had ideas for instruments and melodies." "We then were pen pals over email for a bit, until I was in India for tour. I said to him, we should finish this in person, and he said, please come to my hometown so I can show you my home and culture. I was with my dad on tour, which is a rarity to get so much one-on-one time with him (sic)," Ed went Ed Sheeran-Arijit Singh's music video here: The 'Shape of You' singer then travelled to Kolkata with Arijit and revealed how the latter introduced him to Punjabi and Sitar. He said, "Me and him got a flight to Kolkata, then a 5 and a half hour drive to his home town. We arrived, went on a barge down the river, which was stunning, then got a scooty back to the studio where we finished the song. Arijit taught me Punjabi and how to pronounce it all properly, and showed me Sitar. We then had dinner, and scooted around the village to see the sunset and moon with my dad (sic).""Was a proper core memory I'll always cherish with my father, and I'm honoured to have created in this way with Arijit. He's one of the most talented humans I've ever met, and I'm so grateful he shared his talent with me for this song. The full Punjabi version we recorded will be out in a couple of weeks, but until then I'll be drip-feeding fun videos from our time together. Enjoy," he music video 'Sapphire', a collaboration between Ed and Arijit released on June 5. The song mesmerised fans as the English singer also sang in Punjabi.'Sapphire', is the third track from Ed's forthcoming album, 'Play'. Prior to 'Sapphire', the singer had released 'Old Phone' and 'Azizam'Trending Reel


The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Music school students to get Class X and XII-equivalent pass certificates
The School Education Department has issued orders to give Class X and XII-equivalent pass certificates to music school students. 'Students studying in district government music schools will be issued pass certificates equivalent to Classes X and XII if they pass the language courses conducted by the Directorate of Government Examinations,' the Government Order (G.O.) said. School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi had announced this provision in the Legislative Assembly earlier this year. The order stated that the move aimed to ensure that students of music schools can access higher education and employment opportunities without any hindrance, and to discourage them from dropping out. It added that if they pass the Class XII Tamil (Part-I) and English language (Part-II) papers, they could continue their musical education or pursue higher education and employment with a Class XII-equivalent pass certificate.