In this special episode of I Speak Your Language, produced in celebration of and collaboration with Leeds City of Languages, Kadi is joined by Dr. Sofia Martinho, Associate Professor in Portuguese, and Dr. Bettina Hermoso Gómez, Associate Professor in Spanish, both from the University of Leeds and co-founders of the festival. Together, Sofia and Bettina share how the festival was born, how it brings communities together, and why celebrating linguistic diversity matters more than ever.
Taking place from 10–24 November 2025, Leeds City of Languages is a two-week celebration of the 170+ languages spoken across the city, showcasing the linguistic and cultural richness of Leeds through concerts, poetry, language tasters, workshops, and community-led events. What began as a local initiative during Leeds 2023 has now grown into a regional festival connecting schools, libraries, cultural institutions, and grassroots organisations across Yorkshire.
Find more details on how to take part here:
@leedscityoflanguages