Think Languages Celebration at MIC inspires TY students to embrace multilingualism
Mary Immaculate College (MIC) hosted the Think Languages Celebration on 18 November 2025, welcoming nearly 100 Transition Year students from three post-primary schools. The event aimed to promote language learning and cultural awareness, in collaboration with MIC faculty and student Language Ambassadors.
The celebration was opened by Professor Gary O’Brien, Vice-President of Governance and Strategy at MIC; Dr Mairéad Ní Bhriain, Lecturer in French Studies at MIC; Dr Sabine Egger, Associate Professor in German at MIC. This initiative was supported through €10,000 in funding from the Languages Connect programme, secured by Caoimhe Nioclás, Assistant Professor in Education. The funding enabled MIC to celebrate languages through a series of events for the college community and beyond.
Students engaged in interactive workshops: French with Dr Anissa Bennaïli, Teaching Fellow and Dr Mairéad Ní Bhriain; German with Charlotte Lehmpfuhl, DAAD teaching assistant; and a STEM-focused session led by Dr. Eleanor Walsh, CRAFT Maker Space Manager and STEM Outreach Project Officer, Enterprise and Community Engagement at MIC. They were supported by Language Ambassadors Maiya Rivas McHigh, Jessica Glesson, Tuva Oliana Willes, Devis Waiß, and Nele Dzienkowski. These sessions highlighted the link between language learning, creativity, and problem-solving across disciplines.
A highlight was the opportunity, led by Dr. Ní Bhriain, for students to reflect on ‘what it is to think a language’ and ‘what it is to be a language’, emphasizing the deep connection between language, identity, and global citizenship.
Speaking in advance of the event, Caoimhe Nioclás, Lecturer in Irish at MIC and the main coordinator of Think Languages Celebration said:
“Today is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with colleagues across the faculties of Arts and Education in welcoming post-primary students and their teachers to celebrate languages and the opportunities they offer.”
MIC continues to champion multilingualism and cultural diversity, reinforcing its role as a leader in innovative language education.
