Essay Contest: Why Do I Learn Languages?
About
Undergraduate students who are or have been enrolled in a language course at UMass Amherst are invited to submit short essays by October 2024 on the topic: Why Do I Learn Languages?
This essay contest encourages our students to share with our campus community their experiences with multilingualism and language learning. An interdisciplinary faculty committee will select the best responses, and the prize-winning essays will appear in a social media campaign and on posters displayed across campus.
Essay Topic
In what way does learning another language contribute to your ways of thinking, your worldview, your attitude toward others, your career growth, or your self-awareness? How does it impact what you know, or facilitate formation of new knowledge?
Essay Guidelines
Competition: Submit a statement that addresses any of the questions above (150 to 200 words) in English and, if possible, in the language you are learning.
Deadline: Monday, Oct. 21, 2024
Eligibility: All UMass Amherst undergraduate students who are taking or have taken a language course at UMass Amherst are eligible to enter this contest.
Prize: Winners will receive a $100 cash prize. All winners and honorable mentions will have their essays and photos displayed on posters and video screens around campus. They will also be honored at a spring 2025 event. Details are forthcoming.
About the Contest
The contest encourages students to reflect on the way in which learning another language contributes to their ways of thinking, their worldview, their career growth, their self-awareness, and their sense of belonging.
Questions
For questions, please contact contest co-organizers Ela Gezen (egezen [at] umass [dot] edu (egezen[at]umass[dot]edu)) and Teresa Ramsby (tramsby [at] classics [dot] umass [dot] edu (tramsby[at]classics[dot]umass[dot]edu)).