We are encouraging Newcastle schools to enable their pupils to get involved in one or more of the national language competitions happening from Autumn 2023 to Spring 2024. Participating in a range of different activities is a wonderful way to bring excitement and fun into the languages curriculum. These opportunities give children and young people the chance to express themselves through writing, speaking, translating, singing, art and poetry. They also spark conversations and discussions within schools about the importance of language learning and the rich diversity of languages and cultures across our school communities.
Most of these competitions are open now for entries and activities with deadlines ranging from October 2023 to May 2024. We work with organisers to promote these opportunities to schools and pupils in the city.
Read on to find out more and follow the links for further information about each. You can also find out more about support for language teaching and learning as part of Newcastle City of Languages and the next annual Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages (January to March 2024), which we host and co-ordinate.
UK EDoL writing competition for schools (open until 11th October 2023)
This annual writing competition is run by Association of Language Learning North East and Network for Languages NE. It is open to learners of any language (other than English), in any key stage anywhere in the UK. This is a great opportunity to raise the profile of languages in schools and celebrate the diversity of languages and cultures.
The theme this year is ‘Treasure’ and full details, guidance and links to resources, as well as how to enter and where to send entries are provided in this document: European Day of Languages UK Schools Competition 2023. Entries must be submitted by 11th October. There are certificates for entries and prizes for winners at each Key Stage. The activity can be used as part of activities in schools.
Poésíæ and Poésíært (open now, deadline 27th October)
Poésíæ and Poésíært are global competitions open to Y3 to Y13 pupils (7-18 years old).
Get your pupils enthused by getting involved and reciting a poem in one of seven foreign languages: French, German, Spanish, Italian, Welsh, English as a foreign language and Japanese. It is the perfect opportunity to develop oracy skills, learn about different cultures, and develop confidence.
The accompanying art competition is a great opportunity for pupils to express their vision of the poem of their choice on paper. Activities should be run up to 20th October, with submissions of videos and art by 27th October. Click here to find out more and join in the 2023 competition. Winners announced at the end of November.
GCHQ National Language Competition 2023 (6-10 November 2023)
This is the annual competition from GCHQ, the UK’s intelligence, security and cyber agency in November 2023.
Open to Year 9 pupils in England, pupils compete in teams of four and multiple teams per school are encouraged. If your school was not involved last year, please email nlc@gchq.gov.uk to register interest, using your official school email address. Schools will be contacted by GCHQ regarding enrolment in the competition.
Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators (open 20 Sept, competition 5th Feb to 28th March 2024)
The Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators is a UK-wide creative translation competition for students aged 11-18 studying French, German, Italian, Mandarin and Spanish. From 20th September creative translation teaching packs will be shared with teachers and are designed to help teachers bring creative translation into the MFL classroom as well as to help students prepare for the competition task.
The competition runs from February to March 2024. Area and national winners will be announced in May or June. They will receive certificates and national winners will receive book prizes. Register to receive the resources and for updates about the competition task here. Contact Oxford University Translation Exchange team at translation.exchange@queens.ox.ac.uk.
World Children’s Haiku Contest (open 1st October to 15th January 2024)
Originating from Japan, Haiku is the shortest form of poetry in the world. In a short descriptive verse of three lines, it captures a moment. JAL FOUNDATION biennially organize this contest for under 15 year olds. This year the theme is ‘family’. Through the contest, children are given the opportunity to compose haiku that will encompass their memories, along with an artwork.
There are prizes for the winners and the possibility of attending an award ceremony in Tokyo, Japan. Click here for details of the contest for UK entries and for tips about writing them.
Celebrate Speaking with British Council (February 2024 tbc)
British Council runs an annual festival to celebrate pupils and students speaking in different languages they are learning or use in their community. The 2024 festival dates will be announced shortly – sign up to the newsletter here to be the first to hear.
Pupils will prepare a short poem, presentation, sketch or dialogue in the target language of no more than 90 seconds, as a solo or joint performance. Recordings of the performance or for under 16s PowerPoint slides, Bitmoji, images or video are uploaded to social media and shared with the hashtag #CelebrateSpeaking and the language chosen (e.g. #Polish). Winners will be part of a national event.
French Pop Video Competition (submissions by 1st May 2024)
The French Pop Video Competition is a national competition organised by Francophonie UK supported by TV5Monde for all KS1 to KS5 students of French in the UK. Schools can enter students and engage them in writing an original song in French, singing (or rapping!) and filming a performance to submit.
There will be prizes for winners and the chance to attend the award ceremony in London in June 2024.
Newcastle City of Languages support for schools
Newcastle City of Languages is a partnership approach led by International Newcastle, working with the City Council School Effectiveness team and a wide range of partners locally, regionally and nationally to support language teaching, learning, take up and progression in Newcastle. Click here to find out more about the support available for teachers and schools in Newcastle.
Teachers can also sign up to join the Primary or Secondary MFL Networks of languages teachers in the city by contacting sarah.edgar@newcastle.gov.uk, which share information, opportunities, learning and good practice across the city.
Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages (January to March 2024)
521 schools and 21,532 children and young people participated in this year’s Festival from January to March 2023. International Newcastle co-ordinates the festival on behalf of the region, working with a wide range of local, regional and national partners to offer free, fun and engaging activities.
We will be launching the 2024 programme by the end of this year and sharing this with schools across the region.
There will be large scale creative projects (singing, art, writing) for 7-18 year olds running from January, with free events, activities and resources available in the Festival month of March 2024. This includes in person events and online activities around diverse languages and cultures, languages and careers and fun activities, games and challenges.
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