English Language Day 2024

Every year on 23 April, English Language Day is celebrated worldwide to highlight the importance of the English language. Also known as World English Day, this day was first observed to encourage and celebrate cultural diversity and knowledge of multiple languages. 

English Language Day also marks the birth and death anniversary of the Legendary author William Shakespeare. Born on 23 April 1564, Shakespeare revolutionised the English language with his famous plays and poems. Did you know that Shakespeare introduced over 1700 words in the English language? 

In 2010, the United Nations announced language days for its six official languages- Arabic, French, English, Chinese, Russian and Spanish. English is one of the most common languages in the world as it is the official language of almost 67 countries. More than 1.45 billion people can speak in English. 

This day aims to unite people from different backgrounds through a shared language. It also encourages people to learn more than one language so that they can get to know more about other cultures. On this day, various activities such as English quizzes and book-reading are organised to inspire people to develop habits that will improve their English skills.