Students and Community Celebrate International English Day
On 23 April, our Station Plaza campus in Hastings hosted a special event celebrating International English Day, bringing together around 50 participants from diverse backgrounds.
The event welcomed native English speakers, college students, and learners of English as a Second Language (ESL), representing a wide range of proficiency levels, from beginners to advanced. Teachers, lecturers and members of the local community also attended, creating a truly inclusive and dynamic environment.
English Language Day is celebrated annually on 23rd April, also St George's Day, to mark the birthday and death of William Shakespeare and to celebrate the history, culture, and diversity of the English language. Established by the United Nations in 2010, the day promotes multilingualism and highlights English as a major, influential language in global communication, literature, and diplomacy.
Speaking at the event, East Sussex College's Head of Curriculum for ESOL & International in Hastings, Otto Haas, highlighted the lasting influence of Shakespeare on the English language. He noted that Shakespeare is credited with introducing or popularising many words still widely used today, including gossip, lonely, bedroom, and fashionable.
The Mayor of Hastings, Cllr Becca Horn addressed the audience, highlighting the importance of the English language in connecting people and communities.
“English is such an inclusive language with a rich history,” said the Mayor of Hastings, Cllr Becca Horn. “Shakespeare has always been a passion of mine - I studied drama and even had the chance to perform on stage in Stratford-upon-Avon, which was an unforgettable experience.”
The centrepiece of the event was a live dictation session led by a professional actor Laurence Temple, where participants of all levels wrote the same text simultaneously.
Combined with Laurie’s clear and expressive delivery, the format created a strong sense of unity, bringing people together through a shared experience of language (without the pressure of formal assessment!).
The text will shared on the AUGB social media pages, giving participants the opportunity to review their work independently, while a prize will be awarded to the most accurate entry.
As the organiser of the event, Khrystyna Mashchenska, Chair of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB), Hastings & Rother Branch, emphasised that it was not about perfection, but about participation and creating a shared space where language becomes a point of connection rather than a barrier.
The event was a great example of the local community in Hastings coming together to demonstrate that inclusivity and cultural exchange are at the heart of everyday life.