Celebrate the European Day of Languages on Tuesday 26 September by taking part in our poster competition!
To mark the European Day of Languages, we invite schools in the region to participate in our poster competition. With the number of UK languages learners reducing, whilst international commerce and travel increase, our aim is to spread the message of the importance of learning languages, promoting intercultural awareness and encourage uptake, particularly at GCSE and beyond.
Speaking another language can lead to new friendships, more fun when on holiday and opportunities to study or work abroad in the future. As many athletes and sportsmen and women speak more than one language, our theme for this year’s Poster Competition is “My Sports Language Role Model”. Pupils should research and design their own poster, using, if they wish, a variety of materials and languages!
Pupils should choose a sportsperson who speaks a language they study at school. The poster should tell us who they are, what they do, which language(s) they speak and what they admire about them!
Entries can be submitted in any foreign language or languages and may include some English if desired (for example, pupils may like to provide a translation of the facts they provide). Each poster should be no larger than a sheet of A4 paper and must be completed by hand but any form of materials can be used – felt tips, paint, fabric etc. Judges will be looking for originality of illustration as well as accuracy of language and content.
The competition is open to pupils in Year 7, 8 and 9 with one winner for each year group. Each entry MUST be clearly marked on the back with the pupil’s name, age, year group, teacher and school, as well as any necessary information about the language(s) chosen (i.e. if it is a less widely learned language) to facilitate judging. When sending school entries, teachers should provide a covering note with their contact details for ease of notifying winners.
Please note that entries cannot be returned, we advise making a scanned copy for pupils who wish to retain their work. In the event of insufficient entries of good quality, no prize will be awarded; the judges’ decision is final.
Winners will each receive a prize and the the winning entries will be displayed around the School of Languages and Social Sciences at Aston University, will feature on our website and may be used in a press release. They may also be used in publicity materials in future. Prizes will be presented in schools by a member of Routes into Languages staff or a languages ambassador who will also deliver a “Why Study Languages” presentation to your pupils.
We hope that you will encourage your pupils to take part in this competition as part of your in-school European Day of Languages celebrations. The deadline for submission of entries will be Friday 6 October.
Please send your entries to: European Day of Languages Competition, Routes into Languages West Midlands, Room NW803A, School of Languages and Social Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET. If you have any queries please email us at routes@aston.ac.uk or call 0121 204 4720.
Need some inspiration?
-
Encourage pupils to use home languages – they could even teach a few words or phrases to other pupils.
-
Take the opportunity to so some cross curricular work with your art department
