World Languages Day

Teacher Info Packets

Student Passports  - Updated with a special thanks to Global and Area Studies!

Winners and some photos are available in this PowerPoint. 

News: Local Students Take Top Honors in World Languages Competition 

World Languages Day (WLD) introduces Wyoming foreign language students to the UW campus, exposes them to experts from around the world, and leaves a lasting impression of friendship and global understanding. The main event is a poetry and drama contest, in which the students compete in a number of categories for small prizes. We also have booths and activities to generate excitement about world languages and other fields of international study. A resource fair reveals opportunities available at the University of Wyoming. Last year, UW hosted 240 students and instructors from across the state. Languages represented include Spanish, German, French, Chinese, Japanese, English as a Second Language and American Sign Language.

Besides the language-focused events, students have a chance to get a taste of UW campus life. Our world languages graduate students will welcome our guests with a guided tour of campus followed by dinner at the Washakie Dining Hall, a Planetarium show and entertainment by international campus clubs. During these activities, visiting students form bonds with others from around the state.

Rules, Artwork, Language Levels, Formats

Competition Guidelines

• All competition entries must explicitly address the WLD theme “Festivals” in level-appropriate language.

• Of students attending WLD from each school, at least 30% must be competing in the judged or art competition.

I. Judged Competition

• All performances must address this year's theme (Festivals). Each must have a beginning, middle, and end. The beginning must include the presenter’s name, school, and presentation title.

• Students may enter the competition a maximum of two times: once as an individual performer and once in a group.

• Live presentations: Students may recite an existing work of cultural value. Students may also recite an original work of cultural value such as a poem, drama, song or a cultural presentation. The presentation must be entirely in the target language. For ASL competition examples and ideas, see below. Max. 5 minutes.

• Videos: Videos are highly discouraged. Live presentations are a better way to showcase one's language competence in this competition. If students wish to submit a video, special permission must be obtained from Mollie Hand or Yan Zhang, Co-Directors. If this format is insisted upon, keep in mind that student videos must be original, necessary, and explicitly address this year’s theme. Necessary means that the material presented cannot be presented live, i.e. falls in a category listed above. Example topics could include a music video, a cooking demonstration, etc. The video must be entirely in the target language and the spoken parts must be rehearsed. Each must have a beginning, middle, and end. The beginning must include the presenter’s name, school, and presentation title. Max. 5 minutes. The video must be uploaded to the University of Wyoming cloud. Contact Mollie Hand for details: mhand4@uwyo.edu

II. People's Choice Art Award

• Students may submit one original work of art which creatively addresses the WLD theme (Festivals).

• Submission size limits: 2-dimension max. 36” x 24”, 3-dimension max. 36” x 24” x24”.

• All competition submissions must be registered ahead of time.

• Each submission must include a card with the artist’s name, title of artwork in the target language and English, as well as a brief, level-appropriate explanation in the target language and English how the artwork addresses the theme. Please use this template. Please do not change the font sizes.

Language Levels

• Please use the ACTFL, WIDA, or SLPI guidelines to determine your student’s language level.

Judging Criteria

This is the rubric the judges will use for the live presentations and videos. The final score will be an average of the relevant components, i.e. a performance of Goethe's "Der Erlkönig" would not include a score for "originality" since it is an existing work. A  video of a cooking demonstration would not receive a score for "content and creativity" as it would have original content.

ASL Competition Ideas