Challenges & Competitions
A number of ALL's member-led local groups (Branches, Networks and Primary Hubs), Language Networks and partners run challenges and competitions for language learners in their local area, or at a regional or national level. Information about competitions which are currently open for entry can be found below. Competition results and success stories can be found under the News tab.
Competitions
The Stephen Spender Prize 2018
The Stephen Spender Prize 2018 for poetry in translation is open for entries. Entrants are invited to submit an English translation of a published poem from any language, ancient or modern, together with a commentary of no more than 300 words. The translation should...
Nominations now open for CIOL’s award for an original language-learning initiative
Would you like to see your school recognised for originality and inspiration in language teaching and learning by being the next winner of CIOL’s Threlford Cup? Our corporate member, CIOL (Chartered Institute of Linguists) awards the Threlford Cup annually to an...
German Teacher of the Year Awards 2018
German Teacher Award 2018 The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany has issued an invitation for nominations for the 2018 German Teacher of the Year Award. The winners will receive a personal prize and a certificate. The prizes will be presented during...
German Olympics 2018
This competition has now closed. The German Olympics (IDO) is the biggest competition for the German language, with over 100 students meeting to compete every two years. The German Olympics will be coming to the UK for the second time, taking place from Friday 27...
Have Your Say Competition 2018
Entries for this competition have now closed. Schools are invited to enter pupils for this year's exciting competition for young linguists, run by ALL's Essex and East Anglian Branch. Have Your Say is a speaking competition for pupils in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10. Pupils...
Annual Competitions
ALL Calligrams Celebration
The ALL Calligrams Celebration for Primary Schools will run again from January and February in 2026. Reports on earlier celebrations are Here
Have Your Say
Have Your Say is a speaking competition for pupils in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10
UK Linguistics Olympiad
Competition for any age, any ability level where competitors have to solve linguistic data problems
Strictly in Isolation
The Strictly Speaking competition as modified for use remotely.
Poetry Live
Poetry Live is a competition for Year 8 pupils with a focus on spoken poetry performance in French, German and Spanish.
French Pop Video
Organised by the Institut français du Royaume-Uni, students compete in age-group categories across primary and secondary
Arabic Reading Competition
The Arabic Teachers' Council in London and Southern England launched this competition Read more
Foreign Language Spelling Bee
Information on Spelling Bee , other Bees and further projects is available on the Routes into
Languages website or by email to Sarah Schechter: [email protected]
Foreign Language Translation Bee
Information on Spelling Bee , other Bees and further projects is available on the Routes into
Languages website or by email to Sarah Schechter: [email protected]
German Language Competitions
The 2025 German Language Competition details will appear here: Click Here
European Day of Languages
ALLNE, NfLNE and partners are planning the annual European Day of Languages writing competition for Schools 2025. Details will be posted here.
The Stephen Spender Prize
This annual prize for poetry in translation is open for submissions for 2025!
For further information please: Click here
Strictly Speaking
An outline of how to run a Strictly Speaking Poetry Recitation competition within a class, your school or between a group of schools, complete with sample anthologies in three languages.
Read more here
Strictly Speaking 2022 - a school / student review
Review of a Strictly Speaking celebration in German 2022
Strictly Speaking is a poetry recitation event, with a class round of a rehearsed poem, and, for those who proceed to a second round, an unseen poem. An outline of how to run your own event is available to download here.
As teachers, we were really delighted to see how positively and enthusiastically the students participated in the event. All 120 of our Year 8s joined in, and in the class rounds they all had a chance to perform their poem and listen to each other. The students demonstrated great creativity in performing the poems. Some participants sang or rapped their poem to great effect, and all of them enjoyed the Year group final. It was a really fun celebration of German poetry.
Oscar Year 8 (winner)
When I first stepped on stage I felt overwhelmed and extremely nervous. After I performed my first poem though, the crowd went wild, and this gave me the confidence to then perform my mystery poem. Thinking of a musical rhythm was a great way to pronounce and deliver the words in an easier but sophisticated way.
When my name was called out as the winner I was astonished and extremely happy, I was very grateful, and loved performing.
It was a great achievement and am really hoping to continue my German into the future.
Alfie Year 8
I found the German speaking competition something that really brought everyone taking German together, I can remember after I finished that all of the other contestants congratulated me on my performance. I think this is this sort of environment that makes me enjoy speaking German so much.
Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators 2023 - a school and student view from N Ireland
You can take the skills you learn in class a little bit further. We both really enjoyed seeing texts, poems and stories in different languages. We see lots of books in English, but it was fun to see real texts in French and Spanish.
Please click here for more information.
Languages East Competition Winners 2023
Congratulations to all who participated in 2023 in any of the RiL Bees or other activities. Details of the winners are here, along with a description of the activities and how schools can access them.