More than 100 students from high schools in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wayne counties attended the third annual World Languages Day on Thursday at the University of Scranton. The event’s theme was “Make Yourself More Interesting Than AI.” Organizers said that even in this age of seemingly effortless automatic translation tools, language learning efforts still set individuals apart while bringing them together. Keynote remarks, mini-lessons and cultural breakout sessions feature U of S Department of World Languages and Cultures instructors whose topical backgrounds and areas of expertise include American Sign Language, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian and Spanish.

University of Scranton Professor Kazumasa Fujita teaches students Japanese during World Languages Day in the school's Leahy Hall Thursday , March 5, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)University of Scranton Professor Kazumasa Fujita teaches students Japanese during World Languages Day in the school’s Leahy Hall Thursday , March 5, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
University of Scranton Russian Language teacher Anastasia Maume, right, talks with West Scranton students Emily Lopez and Elle Brewster during World Languages Day in the school's Leahy Hall Thursday , March 5, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)University of Scranton Russian Language teacher Anastasia Maume, right, talks with West Scranton students Emily Lopez and Elle Brewster during World Languages Day in the school’s Leahy Hall Thursday , March 5, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Area high school students take an intermission to learn about different languages during World Languages Day in the University of Scranton's Leahy Hall Thursday , March 5, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Area high school students take an intermission to learn about different languages during World Languages Day in the University of Scranton’s Leahy Hall Thursday , March 5, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Valley View juniors Matt Biondo and Alexa Sweeney, center, learn about the German language during World Languages Day in the school's Leahy Hall Thursday , March 5, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Valley View juniors Matt Biondo and Alexa Sweeney, center, learn about the German language during World Languages Day in the school’s Leahy Hall Thursday , March 5, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)