FEATURE: For winners of UN essay contest, multilingualism makes the world go ‘round
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Yet, these linguistic mavericks are among the 60 winners of an essay competition co-organized by the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and ELS Educational Services, Inc. Their love of languages has brought them to New York, and their enthusiasm for global citizenship helps them bridge cultural divides.
The winners were chosen from among more than 4,000 students worldwide – from freshmen to doctoral candidates, majoring in fields as diverse as architecture and pharmacy – who participated in the “Many Languages, One World” contest. Today, they presented their essays at a Global Youth Forum in the General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters.
Unlike a traditional essay competition where entrants write in their native language, participants in the UN Academic Impact contest were not only required to write in one of the six UN official languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish – but one that was not their mother tongue or the medium of instruction of their education.
“It's not just the acquired fluency in a foreign language that has astonished us in so many of the entries,” said Ramu Damodaran, Deputy Director of the Outreach Division and Chief of UNAI at the UN Department of Public Information, commenting on the outcome of the essay contest.
“[It is] the thoughtful and reasoned perspectives they bring, making elusive concepts almost colloquial,” he stressed.
To that end, one of the winners, Sandratrarivo Randriamanohisoamalala, a Malagasy student who attends university in China, told the UN News Centre : “For young people, multilingualism [is like a] passport is for travelers.”
Winners of the essay contest participate in youth forum at UN Headquarters. Photos: Jing Zhang
In her opinion, a person who can speak more than one language can have more fulfilling interactions and exchanges with people from different cultures. “Not only does multilingualism make people communicate better, it also helps bring something from your [experience] to share with others [so you are] not just stuck in one place,” she said.
Typically, a student who comes to China comes to learn Mandarin. However, Randriamanohisoamalala, who spoke Malagasy and French at home, picked up yet another language there: English. “When I’m in China, I have to use Chinese on a daily basis. But English is also commonly used on campus as the main language among foreign students.”
Nelson Mandela once said: “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language – that goes to his heart.”
Karim Ibrahim, another contest winner, would certainly agree. Born in Portugal to an Egyptian father and mother of South-African and Portuguese descent, he was brought up in France, attended school exchange in Hong Kong, and now studies in London. Ibrahim’s life is full of multilingual and multicultural flavors.
“In today’s globalized world, being multilingual enables us to negotiate with our counterparts less judgmentally and more cooperatively,” said Ibrahim, underscoring that multilingualism helps overcome prejudice and xenophobia.
“My experience has taught me to lift myself up beyond national borders and to better understand other parts of the world,” he said proudly.
"Multilingualism does much more than merely allow us to communicate with each other,” said Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information and Coordinator for Multilingualism at the UN, adding “it enriches our understanding of each other and the human experience.”
Chinese student Lin Zhao could not agree more. Lin did not choose Arabic when considering majors for university, but in her travels, she discovered she had an interest in both Arabic and Persian cultures and later decided to become a professor in Middle Eastern pre-modern history.
“Some people might think Islam is a strange religion [because] Muslims do not eat and drink during the day [during Ramadan],” said Lin. “But since I started learning Arabic, I now also have a better understanding of Islam. I found out that people fast because they want to know how poor people feel.” In her view, the more languages a person speaks, the more tolerance he or she will have for other cultures.
Mr. Launsky-Tieffenthal, an Austrian UN official who himself speaks English, French, German and Spanish, told the UN News Centre that he believes multilingualism “brings multiple perspectives to global issues and challenges. It preserves a diversity of languages and cultures. And it promotes unity in that diversity. In today's globalized world, multilingualism is more important than ever."
Today’s youth forum kicked off 16 months of planned events to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the United Nations. The world body’s Charter was signed in San Francisco on 26 June 1945 and came into force four months later, on 24 October.
United Nations Academic Impact , launched by the Secretary-General in 2010, is a global initiative that aligns institutions of higher learning and research with the UN in actively supporting 10 universally accepted principles, including in the areas of peace and security, human rights and sustainable development. It currently has more than 1,000 members in some 120 countries.
Advancing Youth Global Engagement | 2024 World Citizen Essay Contest
March 24th, 2024.
In September 2024, the United Nations (UN) will host “The Summit of the Future , a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance cooperation on critical challenges and address gaps in global governance, reaffirm existing commitments including to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the United Nations Charter …to positively impact people’s lives. Building on the SDG Summit in 2023, Member States will consider ways to lay the foundations for more effective global cooperation that can deal with today’s challenges as well as new [challenges] in the future.”
2024 World Citizen Essay Contest Prompt:
This year’s prompt centers the UN’s meaningful inclusion of youth participation as a foundation for safeguarding the future. If you had the opportunity to present at the Summit of the Future, WHAT global issue do you feel is the most important to address for your generation and WHY? WHERE is this issue having a significant impact? WHAT would be your action-oriented plan to resolve this issue? HOW could world leaders support this plan?
2024 World Citizen Essay Contest Winners:
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| McDonald International School " | Narrows View Intermediate School " | Glacier Peak High School " |
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| Bryant Elementary School " | Charles Wright Academy " |
Glacier Peak High School
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| Bryant Elementary School "
| Summit Trail Middle School " |
Glacier Peak High School " |
2024 World Citizen Essay Contest Prizes:
First Place | This year's first place prize was sponsored by FRS Clipper! Each winner was awarded a gift certificate for an international but accessible Day Trip from Seattle to Victoria, B.C. on the Clipper for two!
Second Place | This year's second place prize was sponsored by the Seattle Storm! Each winner was awarded a voucher for themselves and three friends/family to attend a Seattle Storm home game of their choosing!
Third Place | This year's third place prize was sponsored by Seattle's Tall Ship! Each winner was awarded a voucher for themselves and one friend/family member to embark on a Sunset Cruise or cruise of their choosing!
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Deadline Approaches for 2017 UN Student Essay Contest and Global Youth Forum
ELS and the United Nations Academic Impact are sponsoring the fourth Many Languages, One World Student Essay Contest and Global Youth Forum. This year welcomes Northeastern University as the host of the Many Languages, One World Global Youth Forum and the sponsor and organizer of the Northeastern University Global Youth Conference.
Sixty winners will be selected as delegates to the 2017 Many Languages, One World Global Youth Forum, where they will create action plans related to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in one of the six official languages of the UN.
ELS Educational Services, Inc. will award each winner with an all-expense paid trip to Boston and New York City between 15-26, July 2017 . At the Global Youth Forum, the students will create action plans addressing selected topics from the Sustainable Development Agenda, and will present their views at UN Headquarters in New York City. These international delegates will also have the opportunity to interact with invited international scholars and tour Boston and New York City. The deadline for essay submissions is 11:59 p.m. EST Thursday, 16 March, 2017. At last month’s launch, Mr. Ramu Damodaran, chief, United Nations Academic Impact, Department of Public Information, said, “In recent months, through resolutions of its General Assembly and in the definition of the world’s sustainable development goals, the United Nations has affirmed the principle of global citizenship; of the international individual proud of her national and linguistic identity, and the pride enhanced by sharing it with others who choose to make the effort to listen and to learn. We are honored to welcome sixty of these young and receptive minds again this year.”
“The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that 65.3 million people have been forced to leave their homes due to conflict or disasters. Most of them will need to learn a new language in order to participate in education and work in any country that offers them asylum. Core values of global citizenship include tolerance and respect of other cultures and advocacy of peaceful coexistence, intrinsic to MLOW and the UNAI. These will be central themes of the 2017 MLOW Global Essay Contest and Youth Forum,” said ELS president emeritus and co-founder of Many Languages, One World, Mark W. Harris.
Northeastern University president Joseph Aoun added, “In our globalized world, there has never been a greater need for mutual understanding, and language remains our foremost tool for expression, connection, and creation. Northeastern is pleased to support this event that champions the written word in our global dialogue, and elevates understanding between students of all cultures and nations.”
To Participate: Write an original essay (2,000 words or fewer) discussing global citizenship and cultural understanding, and the role that multilingual ability can play in fostering these. The essay should reflect personal, academic, cultural, and national context.
Many Languages, One World promotes the continued learning of the six official languages of the United Nations-Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. To qualify, essays must be written in an official language of the United Nations that is neither your first language (language(s) spoken at home) nor the medium of instruction in either your primary or secondary education (or a medium of instruction if attending a bilingual school). You will need to demonstrate both written and verbal competency in the language of the essay. You must be a full-time university student, referred and endorsed by a faculty member or university representative, and must be 18 years of age or older by the contest deadline.
For full contest details, rules and entry guidelines, visit ManyLanguagesOneWorld.org .
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Student Essay Contest and Global Youth Forum …
21 July 2017
Student Essay Contest and Global Youth Forum "Many Languages, One World"
ELS and the United Nations Academic Impact are pleased to sponsor the fourth Many Languages, One World® Student Essay Contest and Global Youth Forum. This year welcomes Northeastern University as the host of the Many Languages, One World Global Youth
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Our judges have completed evaluating this year's entries and have awarded prizes to the following individuals:
First Place - $3000 scholarship
Undergraduate: Thomas Sarsfield Graduate: Mahira Horman
Second Place - $2000 scholarship
Undergraduate: Dora Bell Graduate: Shristi Rai
Third Place - $1000 scholarship
Undergraduate: Hamdiya Omer Graduate: Tashmia Sabera
Our judges would also like to recognize the essays of undergraduate Julia Sorn and graduate Raj Prasai with honorable mention.
The United Nations Essay Contest was endowed by Dorothy Schneider, St. Louisan, Red Cross worker, college English instructor, and author of the U.N. resolution to create United Nations Day. The contest consists of two categories: one for undergraduate students and one for graduate students. Only students at the University of Missouri-St. Louis are eligible to enter.
Entrants shall submit a two to three page written response to the prompt for their category.
First prize: $3000 scholarship
Second prize: $2000 scholarship
The theme of this year’s United Nations Day is “equality, freedom, and justice for all”, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights .
Undergraduate essay prompt:
Does the United Nations truly promote equality, freedom, and justice for all? If so, in what ways? If not, describe several ways the United Nations could better implement its ideals, including addressing policies and practices that support and reinforce the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Submit your essay here.
Graduate essay prompt:
The theme of this year’s United Nations Day is “equality, freedom, and justice for all”, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Since its adoption in 1948, how have communities (cities, states, nations, countries) advanced the ideals of the Declaration? What could we do better to make "equality, freedom, and justice" a reality for all?
Submit your essay here.
Essays are judged on the following:
- How well did you respond to your prompt?
- Were your ideas explained clearly?
- Was your essay engaging?
- Well-written, has a nice flow.
- Free of significant spelling, grammatical, punctuation, and syntax errors.
- Sources, when used, are cited properly.
- Concise.
If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Jimenez, contest coordinator at [email protected] .
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KABUL - Students from Afghanistan and the rest the world are invited to take part in an essay competition that puts their language skills to the test - and may take them to a youth forum at UN Headquarters in New York.
The third annual ‘Many Languages, One World’ essay contest calls on full-time students aged over 18 to write an original essay of 2,000 words or less discussing global citizenship, cultural understanding and the role that multilingual ability can play in fostering these.
The essay should reflect the entrants personal, academic, cultural and national context. It must be written in one of the UN’s official languages -- Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
“Start writing now and be a winner,” said UNAMA Spokesperson Dominic Medley. “What a great opportunity for a student from Afghanistan to join others from around the world.”
Sixty entrants – 10 from each language – will be selected and invited to New York to participate in a series of events in late July, including a Global Youth Forum on the theme, ‘Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’.
“It would be fantastic if an Afghan student is a winner,” said Mr. Medley. “They would then be heard at the highest level of the United Nations, and in the 70th anniversary year of Afghanistan joining the UN in 1946.”
The competition is run jointly by the United Nations Academic Impact, a program of the Outreach Division of the UN Department of Public Information, and ELS Educational Services.
The goal of both the essay contest and youth forum is to support multilingualism and to recognize the continued impact of the UN’s six official languages. In 2015, more than 3,500 people from 130 countries took part in the contest.
Contest winners will be provided with roundtrip economy class airfares, while their room, meals and travel in New York will be covered. Before entering, students are advised to familiarize themselves with the full and detailed rules on the contest website .
Good luck to all Afghan entries from UNAMA.
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| ” Deadline is 28 February 2011 | |
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Essay Contest
The Institute for Youth in Policy International Essay Contest was launched to empower students to critically think about the issues that matter to them. By providing a platform for students to express their ideas and opinions, we aim to spotlight valuable insights and ideas from young people around the world. Ultimately, the Institute for Youth in Policy International Essay Contest may be seen as an opportunity for the Institute to invest in the future by supporting and uplifting the voices of young people, and by fostering a sense of civic engagement and social responsibility in the next generation.
We launched the Institute for Youth in Policy International Essay Contest as a way to engage and empower students to think critically about the issues that matter to them. By providing a platform for students to express their ideas and opinions, we aim to encourage the next generation of leaders to become more informed and civically engaged citizens. Additionally, the contest may serve as a way to spotlight valuable insights and ideas from young people around the world. By encouraging students to write about the issues that concern them, our competition may help a general audience to better understand the priorities and perspectives of students. Ultimately, the Institute for Youth in Policy International Essay Contest may be seen as an opportunity for the Institute to invest in the future by supporting and uplifting the voices of young people, and by fostering a sense of civic engagement and social responsibility in the next generation. Create innovative solutions to real-world problems Tell your story and your perspective Research issues important to you Get recognized for your writing Win prizes for your outstanding work Get published for your writing
You have been invited to speak at the United Nations Peace Conference. The following topics are recognized by the United Nations as pressing issues for current and future generations. Choose one of these issues below to speak on:
- Climate Change (UNFCCC)
- Globalization (Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee)
- Technology (UNCTAD)
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Insight: Does the essay provide unique or interesting insights, analysis or perspectives on its subject matter? Impact: Is the significance or impact of the issue(s) being discussed, idea(s) being brought up, or point-of-views being communicated sufficiently captured in the essay? Clarity and organization : Is the essay easy to understand, with a clear and logical flow? Style: Is the essay engaging and well-written, with appropriate yet compelling tone, language and syntax for the subject matter?
Who can participate?
Any student, in any country, who is enrolled in an accredited high school or college/university at the time of submitting their essay is eligible to participate in the Institute for Youth in Policy International Essay Contest and compete for the prizes. Students taking academic gap years or semesters are also eligible. No current employees of the Institute for Youth in Policy, however, will be permitted to enter the contest.
Submission Guidelines
Essays can take the form of anything from an analytical research paper to a personal narrative to allegorical fiction. This means essays can be written in any citation style or with no citations at all if it is not a research-heavy paper. Word Limit: 1250 words All essays should be submitted as a .docx or a PDF document and should include your name as well as a title for your essay. Cover pages are acceptable but not necessary. Essays should be written in an easily readable font size (11 or 12 pt.) with a professional font style (Times New Roman, Arial, etc.).
A platform that honed my skills and perspectives.
Applications Due August 31st
Essay submissions are due by 11:59pm ET on August 31, 2024. This date is already an extension, so late submissions will not be accepted!
Results generally get released within 45 days after the initial deadline.
The monetary ($250) and publication prizes will be sent via email to winners directly.
Fall 2023 Prompt and Winners
You've been elected leader of your country. What would you say during your inaugural address to inspire the citizens of your country, including those of every race, religion, political party, and creed?
Salma Amanda Latifa, Indonesia
Indonesia: diversity, natural wealth, and a leader’s commitment to an inclusive future.
This essay shined in particular because of its excellent integration of academic research, personal voice, and policy-oriented focus. Furthermore, as an organization that greatly values youth civic participation, the essay’s focus on the importance of youth in the modern world deeply resonated with our team. Fantastic work Read the essay here.
Sophia Rosin, United States
What are the greatest attributes of our democracy.
This essay highlights that the backbone of Democracy, specifically in the United States, is its ability to encourage deliberation and tolerance. We as a nonpartisan organization that encourages depolarization find the importance in shedding light on this particular subject in the increasingly divided global political climate. This succinct and engaging description of democracy captured our attention. Read the essay here.
Clarence Tay Han Yang, Singapore
Looking forward.
This speech excelled in its powerful word choice and ability to efficiently incorporate and explain numerous challenging topics. Its smooth progression from the past to the present and future provided a well-researched image of Singapore that garnered our applause. Read the essay here.
Spring 2023 Prompt and Winners
Countless countries around the world suffer from a plethora of issues – economic hardship, social turmoil, political polarization, pandemic recovery, unreliable leadership, corrupt governance, warfare and conflict, the list goes on. If you were elected the leader of your country, what would you do to address the issues your country faces in order to build a more prosperous society?
Ethan Lee Yee Chien Singapore
"Singapore in the 21st Century: Addressing the Unique Challenges of my Homeland" Read the essay here.
Ototleng Molelekedi South Africa
"My South African Manifesto" Read the essay here.
Saarah Hussain Bangladesh
"Beyond the Paradox of Plenty: Battling Bangladesh’s Burdens" Read the essay here.
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Goi Peace Foundation – 2021 International essay contest for young people
Deadline: 15 June 2021
This annual international essay contest is organized in an effort to harness the energy, creativity and initiative of the world’s youth in promoting a culture of peace and sustainable development. It also aims to inspire society to learn from the young minds and to think about how each of us can make a difference in the world.
The program is an activity within the framework of UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development: Towards achieving the SDGs (ESD for 2030).
The theme of the contest: “What is Life?”
What does life mean to you? Have you had an experience that made you think about the meaning of life? What kinds of things can you do to cherish and invigorate your own life and all life on earth?
Guidelines :
- Essays may be submitted by anyone up to 25 years old (as of June 15, 2021) in one of the following age categories: a) Children (ages up to 14) b) Youth (ages 15 – 25)
- Essays must be 700 words or less in English or French, or 1600 characters or less in Japanese. Essays must be typed, with your name and essay title included at the top of the first page. There are no particular rules regarding formatting (font style, size, line space, etc.). However, essays must be submitted in either MS Word (DOC/DOCX) or PDF format.* Your name and essay title are not included in the word count limit.
- Entries must be submitted online. To send your essay online, you must go to the online registration page at www.goipeace.or.jp and follow the required steps. Entries submitted by postal mail or e-mail are not accepted. Teachers and youth directors may submit a collection of essays from their class or group by creating an ‘account for school/organization entrant’ on the online registration page. * Only one entry per person is accepted. * We are unable to con”rm receipt of essays.
- Essays must be original and unpublished. Plagiarized entries will be rejected.
- Essays must be written by one person. Co-authored essays are not accepted.
- Copyright of the essays entered will be assigned to the organizer
Entries must be received by June 15, 2021 (23:59 your local time).
The following awards will be given in the Children’s category and Youth category respectively:
- 1st Prize: Certificate, prize of 100,000 Yen (approx. US$900 as of March 2021) and gift ………… 1 entrant
- 2nd Prize: Certificate, prize of 50,000 Yen (approx. US$450 as of March 2021) and gift …………. 3 entrants
- 3rd Prize: Certificate and gift …………. 5 entrants
- Honourable Mention: Certificate and gift …………. 25 entrants
* 1st to 3rd prize winners will be invited to the Winners Gathering to be held online. * Additional awards (Best School Award, School Incentive Award) will be given if applicable. * All prize winners will be announced on October 31, 2021 on the Goi Peace Foundation website: www.goipeace.or.jp .
Additional links:
- Guidelines and Rules
- The Goi Peace Foundation (website)
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Winners of the 2023 Essay Contest
“A Funny Thing That Happened to Me”
Thank you to everyone who submitted an essay. Here are the 2023 winners featured in The 2024 Old Farmer’s Almanac.
“A Funny Thing That Happened to Me”
First prize ($250), read next, a southern vegetable garden plan and layout, my most memorable wildlife experience, my most memorable animal experience.
–Bruce Kubec, Longwood, Florida
Second Prize ($200)
My son was 6 years old, about halfway through first grade, and he was in that magical stage when learning to read permeated every aspect of his life: reading street signs, reading posters in store windows, reading cereal boxes. He would focus, squint, and silently mouth the printed letters, then decode them into language. He’d do it again and again, the ratio of success creeping up with practice.
So it was that Mom had an evening meeting, and my son and I headed to a local family restaurant for dinner. The menu became his prized focus, a small universe of words and pictures, puzzles to be solved, and a playground for exercising his current favorite sport. He got “french fries” and “ice cream,” but stumbled on “spaghetti” and “appetizer.”
Then, as we neared the end of our dinner, a look of concern wrinkled his face. He scanned the dining room with mild confusion. His eyes lingered on an adjoining, smaller dining area. Finally, he asked, “Do we have to go there if we get ice cream?” I asked what he meant. He then pointed to the menu and read, “It says here, ‘Leave room for dessert.’”
–Rick Schnable, Dover, New Hampshire
Third Prize ($100)
The night before Thanksgiving, one year before, my husband sent our young daughters out to the freezer in the garage with instructions on how to bring in the turkey to defrost. They came back to report that there was no turkey. He told them to look again, adding that it was smaller than usual. They came back with a shrink-wrapped Cornish game hen, asking, “Is this really our turkey?” He assured them that it was, explaining that he’d learned about a new product called Expand-O Turkey.
They put the wrapped bird in the sink with water, and he assured them that—like their fun bath sponges—it would be full size by morning. After they were asleep, he cut open the shrink-wrap to look like it had burst wide open, wrapped up the game hen, and returned it to the freezer.
Before they awoke, he took our real turkey from a cooler where it had been defrosting, removed its shrink-wrap, and placed it in the sink. The game hen’s torn tiny shrink wrap was placed in the water to await the girls’ discovery. Their eyes widened at the scene. Expand-O Turkey was amazing. They spread the word far and wide.
–Cindy Dobrez, Grand Haven, Michigan
Honorable Mention
We were on the road to the Renaissance Festival in Sterling, New York. Upon arriving, my husband parked the van on a large grassy field. We headed toward the entrance. We presented our tickets at the gate, walked into the wooded grounds, and made a beeline for the food stands—pulled pork pockets with creamy coleslaw; turkey legs; strawberry shortcake with whipped cream, and much more. We chose our desired delicacy, and off we ran to see the sights.
Except that I don’t run. I can’t even walk quickly. I have multiple sclerosis and walk with a limp. Climbing stairs is especially difficult, and this festival had plenty of stairs built into the ground. I was ascending one set of stairs as a woman going down stopped me. “How’s the leg?” she asked. I did a quick memory jog: “Do I know her? Apparently, she knows me and knows that I have MS . Is she from church? The neighborhood?”
I didn’t know, but I answered her: “The leg’s a little weak, but I’m sure it’ll get better.” She nodded, smiling strangely at me. She went along her merry way, as I lifted a huge 1-pound turkey leg to my mouth.
–Geraldine Bereziuk-Lowrey Buffalo, New York
Carol Connare
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Winners of Multilingual Essay Contest to Meet at United Nations General Assembly in July 2016
United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and ELS Educational Services, Inc., are pleased to announce that 60 students have been selected as winners of the 2016 Many Languages, One World® international essay contest. This is the third year ELS Educational Services Inc. and UNAI have partnered to organize Many Languages, One World®.
The winners have been invited to attend the Many Languages, One World Global Youth Forum at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. The event includes an all-expense-paid trip to New York City and the opportunity to speak at the General Assembly of the United Nations. Students will present action plans related to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Many Languages, One World contest challenged college and university students around the globe to write an essay examining global citizenship, cultural understanding and the role that multilingualism can play in fostering both. Entrants submitted essays in one of the six official United Nations languages, which could be neither the student's first language nor his/her primary language of instruction. More than 9,000 individuals from 165 countries took part in the initial phase of the contest. The official languages of the United Nations are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
The 60 winners were selected from a pool of over 3,600 entrants. United Nations Academic Impact and ELS would like to congratulate the 60 winners of the Many Languages, One World® 2016 essay contest.
The winners are as follows:
| NAME | UNIVERSITY | HOME COUNTRY | LANGUAGE GROUP |
| Abdul Gafoor Kunnathodi | Jawaharlal Nehru University | India | Arabic |
| David Scot Chesnut | Defense Language Institute | United States | Arabic |
| Gabriela Rossainzz Jardon | University of Oklahoma | United States | Arabic |
| Guohong Liao | Xi`an International Studies University | China | Arabic |
| Jamie Deanne Clegg | Brigham Young University | United States | Arabic |
| Michelle Elizabeth Carney | University of Oklahoma | United States | Arabic |
| Rachel Anne Lott | Brigham Young University | United States | Arabic |
| Shabab Anwar | Jawaharlal Nehru University | India | Arabic |
| Sophia Clara Smith Galer | Durham University | United Kingdom | Arabic |
| Xiaowen Sha | Shanghai International Studies University | China | Arabic |
| Bolor-Erdene Mendbayar | Renmin University of China | Mongolia | Chinese |
| Francisco Enrique Lopez de la Pena | New York University Abu Dhabi | Mexico | Chinese |
| Léa Agathe Buatois | ENS de Lyon | France | Chinese |
| Mahmud Abdul-Nazif | Jiangsu University | Ghana | Chinese |
| Moldir Arapova | Heilongjiang University | Kazakhstan | Chinese |
| Nham Thi Ngo | Tomsk Polytechnic University | Vietnam | Chinese |
| Nishchit Pandey | Jiangsu University | Nepal | Chinese |
| Oumarou Zougmore | Chinese Culture University | Burkina Faso | Chinese |
| Qianying Zheng | Kobe City University of Foreign Studies | Japan | Chinese |
| Ritika Philip | University of Pennsylvania | India | Chinese |
| Amani Alfred Naburi | African Leadership University | Tanzania | English |
| Bahati Ernestine Hategekimana | Moi University | Kenya | English |
| Federico Wynter | Universidad ORT Uruguay | Uruguay | English |
| Jorge Federico Jaef | Universidad Nacional de Rosario | Argentina | English |
| Maria Jose Ramirez Cañas | University of Edinburgh | Chile | English |
| Ngoc Minh Tu | Texas Christian University | Vietnam | English |
| Rind AlHage | Université Saint-Joseph | Lebanon | English |
| Shazana Eliza Rohr | Rijksuniversiteit Groningen | Germany | English |
| Tom Claudino dos Santos | Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina | Brazil | English |
| Venus Suleiman Akef | University of Cincinnati | Iraq | English |
| Anna Khalonina | Saint-Petersburg State University | Russia | French |
| Aparna Clarke | University College London | United Kingdom | French |
| Elisa Capobianco | Università degli studi di Roma La Sapienza | Italy | French |
| Guillermo Antonio Vidarte | Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales | Argentina | French |
| Jose Ildo de Oliveira Junior | Universidade Federal de Sergipe | Brazil | French |
| Karina Aracely Gonzalez Sanchez | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | United States | French |
| Matthew Anthony Trojic | Universite Sorbonne Nouvelle Paris 3 Ecole Superieure d'Interpretes et de Traducteurs | United States | French |
| Melina Blostein | Facultad de Filosofía y Letras - Universidad de Buenos Aires | Argentina | French |
| Pooya Naderi | Université de Picardie Jules Verne | Iran | French |
| Sebastian Raphael Heinz | TU München | Germany | French |
| Adrian Savcenco | State University of Moldova | Moldova | Russian |
| Cristina Crăciun | Hochschule Fulda University of Applied Sciences | Romania | Russian |
| Diana Marwan Khasawneh | Yarmouk University | Jordan | Russian |
| Ihor Kasianov | Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University | Ukraine | Russian |
| Kim Ngan Thi Le | Tomsk Polytechnic University | Vietnam | Russian |
| Mahinbonu Abdualievna Toshmatova | Khujand State University | Tajikistan | Russian |
| Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Petrenko | Odessa National Medical University | Ukraine | Russian |
| Sardor Khusanov | Tashkent Chemical-Technological Institute | Uzbekistan | Russian |
| Sheroz Juraev | Bologna University | Tajikistan | Russian |
| Yelyzaveta Dovhinka | National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy | Ukraine | Russian |
| Anindita Roy | Jawaharlal Nehru University | India | Spanish |
| Ellen Da Silva | Universidade de Brasília | Brazil | Spanish |
| Karla Drpic | University of Essex | Croatia | Spanish |
| Leonardo Alves | Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul | Brazil | Spanish |
| Luke McCluskey | Universidad Pontificia Comillas | Ireland | Spanish |
| Sammy Duncan Musungu | Universidad Nacional Experimental Fransisco de Miranda | Kenya | Spanish |
| Tallulah Matilda Doris Bur | University of Sydney | Australia | Spanish |
| Tijana Čupić | Freie Universität | Serbia | Spanish |
| Tom Okot | Earth University | Uganda | Spanish |
| Xiaofeng Xu | University of Cambridge | China | Spanish |
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On Stonehenge and Mispronouncing ‘Kamala’: The Winners of Our Week 10 Summer Reading Contest
As our contest comes to a close, we honor both a video and an essay, and hear from students and judges about their experiences participating this year.
By The Learning Network
Our 15th annual Summer Reading Contest received 9,329 entries over the 10 weeks it ran. This week we crown our last collection of finalists, and honor two top winners, Ranvir Sharma , 14, in video and Aarushi Bahadur , 17, for her essay.
Was it worth participating? According to many students, it was. Ranvir, the video winner , called the contest “a good use of my time compared to playing video games or scrolling on my phone.”
But you didn’t have to win to enjoy the challenge. According to Cindy Cristal Alberto Bonetti , “It was a really good experience to read various articles and keep up with what was happening with the world, but I also benefited from the advice given in the guides and resources that turned out to be really helpful and that I will carry with me throughout the rest of my life as a writer. This was a genuinely pleasant way to develop new skills and acquire new knowledge during the summer.”
Many students told us the contest encouraged them to read things they never would have otherwise. Kareena Gunawardana said, “ I found myself looking at all types of articles, from mainstream news to opinion.” And Alice Nadtochiy noted that the contest changed her news-reading habits. Where once she mostly kept up with big events, this summer she started connecting to articles on all kinds of things, including “feet, Ukraine and anxiety.”
Several students welcomed our new 90-second video option. Ms. Gunawardana said that, because she often finds her voice more powerful than her writing, submitting via video “was more enjoyable and I felt it expressed my personality more.” Though one commenter, who wishes to remain anonymous, remarked that while video was a great addition, they “wish you guys would follow more of a pattern in what you were looking for in these videos … I really wished we, as ‘losers,’ could receive feedback. Like when we don’t win anything, we have NO idea what we are supposed to do differently next time.” Anonymous, we hear you, and next year we’ll add to our guide by analyzing why our judges chose the various video finalists they did.
Many students had advice for other participants. Jawaher Korichi wrote, “ I think the most important, and consequently, the most challenging part was finding an article you truly connect with. Once you find a piece that resonates to your heart, the rest all falls into place.”
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The 60 winners were selected from a pool of over 3,600 entrants. United Nations Academic Impact and ELS would like to congratulate the 60 winners of the Many Languages, One World® 2016 essay contest.
Our 15th annual Summer Reading Contest received 9,329 entries over the 10 weeks it ran. This week we crown our last collection of finalists, and honor two top winners, Ranvir Sharma, 14, in video ...