Though this be madness, yet there is method in ’t.
William Shakespeare, "Hamlet"
Celebrating the English language at the United Nations
English Language Day at the United Nations is celebrated on the 23rd of April — the date traditionally observed as both the birthday and date of death of . As well as being the English language's most famous playwright, Shakespeare had a significant . Shakespeare's creativity with language meant he contributed hundreds of new words and phrases: 'gossip'; 'fashionable' and 'lonely' were all first used by Shakespeare. He also invented phrases like 'break the ice', 'faint-hearted' and 'love is blind'.
English is one of the languages of international communication. People from different countries and cultures are increasingly able to communicate with each other in English, even if it is not their first language. This makes it an essential tool for global cooperation and diplomacy.
At the United Nations, English is one of the two working languages, along with French.
Events
AI Communication Showcase & Skills Lab for Career Growth
Date: 20 April 2026
Time: 12:00 - 1:30pm (EST)
Place: UN Secretariat Building, UNHQ Learning Centre (Floor 3B)
Sign up - space is limited:
Whether you are AI-curious or AI-confident, this session with the NYU Workplace Learning Innovation Lab will lead you through a series of “live” AI demos and practical ways to use AI-powered tools for upskilling in any job function.
Presented by the .
Online: Expert “Lightning Panel”: FRONTER MINDS: Upskilling
Communications in the AI Era
Date: 23 April 2026
Time: 9:00am - 10:30am (EST)
Place: online
Sign up:
An international "lightning panel" featuring experts from leading academic institutions in discussion about how to boost your career, use research-based strategies for global communication and become fit for “AI fluency,” with many key insights from the fields of communications, executive coaching and technology.
Presented by the .
Resources
British vs. American English: Test your knowledge
United Nations/Tulin Battikhi (with elements from Adobe Express)
Coming soon!
Test your knowledge - level 1 & Advanced
Adobe Express/AI generated illustration
UN English Language Programme
(ELP) offers regular core English courses (levels one through eight), which are designed to improve general English language proficiency, as well as communication courses and special courses to meet both the work-related needs and cultural interests of members of the United Nations community.
Multilingualism at the UN: Why it matters
Why it matters [pdf]:
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
UN Strategic Framework on Multilingualism
Strategic Framework [pdf]:
Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish







