by Zaynah Almasri
This year’s Power of Language (POL) Week was a resounding success, celebrating linguistic diversity and cultural exchange. Hosted by the Fries Center for Global Studies, the seventh annual POL celebration, honored the Bengali Language Movement and International Mother Language Day while promoting multilingualism on campus.
From February 13th to 22nd, students engaged in events that promoted cultural appreciation and language learning. The FLTA Carnival kicked off the week with international games and snacks, students could fold origami from Japan, play French Pétanque and guess Chinese riddles. The Samba Fest highlighted Black history, Brazilian culture, and Portuguese, while the Chinese Mahjong Club introduced students to this traditional game.
February 15th brought the Bad Bunny New Album Listening Party, paired with heartfelt discussions on Puerto Rican culture and traditional food and a delightful after party. The Vietnamese Student Association hosted a session on Vietnamese name and dish pronunciation, offering cultural insights through language.
A highlight was the February 18th book discussion with Professor Valeria López Fadul, exploring Indigenous languages and Spanish colonialism, where students participated in a geography quiz to win a signed copy of her book. ASL Karaoke and Poetry Night provided an inclusive space for engagement with sign language, while the Film Series showcased international films, allowing students to experience diverse languages through cinema.
The entertaining finale on February 22nd featured a multilingual music afternoon at Espwesso, where students sang songs in various languages while enjoying coffee, matcha, hot chocolate, and conversations.
POL Week, a successful high-energy tribute to the beauty of multilingualism, left students with a renewed appreciation for language as a tool for cultural preservation, self-expression, and community building. Whether belting out tunes in different languages, diving into deep discussions, or simply bonding over delicious international snacks, this week was more than just an event—it was a reminder that language is a bridge, a celebration, and a force that brings people together.
A big thank you to everyone, all the event organizers and sponsors, the steering committee whose effort and hard work made this event possible, and of course all of the enthusiastic attendees who brought life to this wonderful week! We hope to see you next year!