In this keynote, I start by centring language as a verb, moving beyond languages, multilingualism and translanguaging. This conceptual shift seeks to attract attention to both meaning and mattering in language education. I ask questions such as, ‘what are the implications for conceptualising language as a verb in education? Why does it matter for children and young people?’. While doing so, I discuss the intersection between meaning and mattering as part of a broader language education policy and practice that moves from the focus on individual progress to collective thriving in a languagised world. After that, the talk presents examples of children’s voice in the context of language activism in order to argue that our theories of innovation and liberation in education can indeed speak to and from the lived experiences, dilemmas and struggles of children and young people.