Learning outcomes

* Become aware of the different languages spoken in the group

* Become aware of how people feel about their languages

* Develop a way of representing multiculturalism visually

Resources

* Body shapes malefemale (from www.ncrcl.ac.ukeset )

* Colouring pencils

* Sticky tape

Session outline

Give participants one “body shape” each and ask them to colour it in proportion to the languages they speak. For example, if they are fluent in English, but also speak a bit of French and Spanish, they should colour a large part of the shape in one colour, with smaller parts in other colours.

Get participants to work in pairs to discuss:

* Which colours represent which languages on your partner’s “body”? What colour is chosen for the first language and why? How do the coloured body parts relate to the different languages?

* Are certain body parts associated with certain languages ? (For example, are the head and heart always the colour of the first language? Are the hands and feet for languages of work or travel?)

* Do you have a language you would like to speak but have never had the chance to learn?

* How did you come into contact with all the languages in your portrait?

* Hang up the language portraits as an exhibition. Each can then be presented to the group by the partner of the person portrayed.