Linguist of the Year Award 25-26

Competition award for Modern Foreign Language, for Primary and Post-Primary students, from 1st to 6th year

This UCD award, which was launched in the academic year 2023 - 2024, by Dr Bowman, in the School of Education of University College Dublin, aims to recognise and reward the linguistic endeavours of Primary and Post-Primary students. 

The students being awarded will have to demonstrate first and foremost a love of languages. They will submit their entries around a yearly theme which will help to promote the value of learning a Modern Foreign Language. 

This award is funded with the support of Languages Connect (https://languagesconnect.ie/about/). 

Students can submit an individual project or can submit a group project (no more than 3 students in a project).

There must be some target language on the projects submitted. 

Submit your entry via https://wetransfer.com/ addressed to linguistoftheyear@gmail.com by the deadline specified annually. Be mindful that some WeTransfer has an expiry date so you are better off sending your entry on the day of the deadline or a day before.

A consent form must be signed by the parent/guardian to validate the competition entry. Click on the Google Form (click on the underlined word and it will bring you the the form directly).

Winners will contacted by email to attend the Award Ceremony in UCD, to collect their award and prize. No prize will be posted.

This year's theme is 'All the things I like'.

We invite students to submit an interactive poster using Genially for example. They can add as much information as they like! We encourage the students to add their own voice recording of words and sentences in the target language as well as written sentences in the target language.

See an example of Genially here:

https://view.genially.com/6759c4c1aee786887c4f80fb/horizontal-infographic-diagrams-example 

The entries submitted must be in the languages taught and studied in school.

Submit your entry via https://wetransfer.com/ addressed to linguistoftheyear@gmail.com by the deadline specified annually. Be mindful that some WeTransfer has an expiry date so you are better off sending your entry on the day of the deadline or a day before.

This year's theme is 'All the things I like'.

We invite students to submit a ONE MINUTE video through the target language of all the things they like, in the target language.

The entries submitted must be in the languages taught and studied in school.

Submit your entry via https://wetransfer.com/ addressed to linguistoftheyear@gmail.com by the deadline specified annually. Be mindful that some WeTransfer has an expiry date so you are better off sending your entry on the day of the deadline or a day before.

This year's theme “My World, My Language”. Entries will show how learning a language opens your eyes to new ways of thinking and living. Entries should use the target language to share personal experiences, or stories linked to language learning.

We invite students to submit a ONE MINUTE video on this theme, in the target language.

The entries submitted must be in the languages taught and studied in school.

Submit your entry via https://wetransfer.com/ addressed to linguistoftheyear@gmail.com by the deadline specified annually. Be mindful that some WeTransfer has an expiry date so you are better off sending your entry on the day of the deadline or a day before.

Deadline for submissions: 23rd of February 2026

All submissions will be made via WeTransfer and sent to the linguistoftheyear@gmail.com

Winners will contacted by email.

Please note that no award or prize will be posted. Winners will need to attend the Award Ceremony in UCD to collect their award and prize. If winners cannot attend, the next winner in line will be contacted.

The ceremony will take place in UCD on the 11th of March 2026, at 1:30pm.