Express Yourself in Lockdown encourages language learners of all ages and backgrounds to perform and film a solo or joint performance of 90 seconds in a language they are learning or that is normally used in their home or community (other than English, if this is your mother tongue).
From poems, to conversations, presentations to sketches, show and share your passion for languages as part of this national celebration!
Who is it for?
- Language learners of any age or any background or speakers of languages other than English as a mother tongue
- All schools, including community language schools
- School pupils of any age (submissions must be made by teachers)
- Members of the public
- Community groups
When will it happen?
- Submissions are open from 20th January to 28th February uploaded to youtube, twitter or Instagram.
What is the activity?
This national celebration of languages is an opportunity for language learners to showcase a short filmed performance individually or with others.
Speaking a language confidently is an important part of the school curriculum, but is also a critical part of linguistic and cultural development for all learners of languages. This will be an opportunity to showcase language learners’ enjoyment of a language that they are learning or that is normally used in their home or local community (except for English unless you are an English as an Additional Language learner).
Language learners can prepare and film a spoken performance of:
- A short poem in the target language (written by themselves or by another author)
- A short presentation on any theme e.g. climate change, equality, why I love languages
- A short sketch
- A short dialogue
How do I get involved?
- Language learners should record their solo or joint performance of no longer than 90 seconds landscape mode. Those under 16 years old should use either PowerPoint slides, Bitmoji, other pictures or video imagery rather than showing their faces.
- For school pupils: teachers can upload the performances to a teacher or school Twitter (tag @Schools_British), Instagram (tag @BritishCouncil) or YouTube account with the hashtag #CelebrateSpeaking and the language chosen (e.g. #French or #EAL if applicable) by 28 February 2021.
- Adults can upload their performance from their own account
Further information and links
- Express yourself in Lockdown webpage, including tips for teachers and pupils, tips for rehearsal and what makes a good entry
- #CelebrateSpeaking
- @Schools_British on twitter
- @BritishCouncil on Instagram
Who is organising this?
British Council and the Association for Language Learning have worked with the cultural and linguistic bodies in the UK to devise this exciting activity.
