On August 8th, Colegio Concepción celebrated the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth with a captivating Literary Gathering centered around the theme “All Forms of Love.” Organised by the English Immersion program, this event brought students and teachers together to explore the many facets of love as portrayed in literature, across multiple cultures and languages.
Throughout the event, our talented students showcased their linguistic and dramatic abilities by reading poems and literary excerpts in various languages, each representing different forms of love present in society: romantic, familial, platonic, self-love, and universal love. Here are a few of the featured readings:
German: Ich hab dich so lieb by Joachim Ringelnatz, read by Benjamin Sáez (9th grade, secondary)
German: Ewiges Band by an unknown artist, read by Ignacio Ortiz (10th grade, secondary)
Portuguese: Soneto de Fidelidade by Vinícius de Moraes, read by Ana Durán (11th grade, secondary)
Chinese: Què Qiáo Xiān by Qín Guān, read by Antonia González (11th grade, secondary)
French: À Célimène by Alphonse Daudet and À Cupidon by Ronsard, read by Josefina Bonifetti (12th grade, secondary)
Bosnian-Croatian: Opomena by Desanka Maksimović, read by Ms. Mia Kreca (teacher)
Spanish: Descanzo by Luis González, read by Mr. Luis González (teacher)
English: Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 34, by Jane Austen, read by Mr. Marcos Riveros (teacher)
The event began with an introduction by Ms. Patricia Álvarez, who provided a contextual framework for the representation of love throughout literature and various cultures. Following this, the student and teacher readings captured the essence of love through a wide array of emotional expressions, from passion and devotion to selflessness and eternal commitment.
Adding an extra layer of atmosphere, Tomas Farfan from 12th grade, secondary provided live music throughout the event, setting the mood and further immersing the audience in the literary experience.
The celebration of Jane Austen’s work and the various forms of love within literature allowed our students to explore emotions and cultural diversity in an engaging and creative manner. It was an unforgettable gathering, one that demonstrated the power of multicultural literature and how it brings people together, no matter their language or background.
We invite you to explore the photo gallery and relive the highlights of this special event. Let’s continue to celebrate the magic of literature across cultures!
