The Junior Language Challenge is the only national language competition in the UK open to primary school age children.
Run by language learning company uTalk, it aims to introduce children to new languages and make learning fun. By using uTalk’s FREE app pupils are given their own user account and encouraged to learn independently. There are some great prizes to be won and all money raised from registration fees goes to the charity onebillion which works to educate children in developing countries.
Take a look at the photos from the 2017 final or watch the video below to see what it’s all about.
Register today and discover how good you can be at languages!
The Junior Language Challenge takes place across 3 rounds.
Round 1 launches in February 2018. Children use the JLC app to learn their first language by playing the games and scoring points. At the end the round, the top scorers will go through to Round 2.
Round 2 - anyone who gets through is given a second language to learn ready for live semi-finals around the UK in September.
Winners of the semi-finals will have a month to learn their third and final language before the grand final at Language Show Live, London in November.
There's a fun parents' round at the finals and the new Laeticia Collender Memorial Fund offers awards for pupils and teachers. This fund also provides financial support to schools who may find it hard to get to the finals.
Anyone aged 10 or under on 1st September 2018 can take part in the JLC. There's no minimum age.
This year we are opening up the challenge to international schools for the first time. Please contact us if you have any questions about registration.
100% of the £5 entrance fees are donated to onebillion, a non-profit software publisher with the goal of transforming learning for one billion marginalised children - £11,000 in 2017.
Their maths apps are already in use in more than 30 solar-powered learning centres in Malawi. onebillion is now developing a literacy software that will take a child with no reading ability to fluency in their own language.
To find out more about onebillion and the apps they make for individuals and schools here in the UK, please visit their website.
There are lots of reasons to join this year's Junior Language Challenge, but don't take our word for it. Children, teachers and parents alike all love the JLC.
"I love JLC because it is a chance to show skills in something that isn't school"
- Joanne
George, Aldrington CE school, 2017 finalist.
"This competition gave me confidence and hopefully I will learn more languages in the future"
- William Harwood, Nottingham High Infant and Junior school , Runner Up 2017
""Each year when the initial language is announced a buzz of excitment goes around the school. It is a great motivator and has really brought languages to life."
- Teresa Stark, St Helen’s College, Uxbridge
“Communication is so important and if we can help our younger generations to try to build
on that it is a great thing and a positive experience for everyone”
- Heidi Garrett, Red House
school.
“Go for it, it is hard work but it is fun”
- Anne Marco, mother of Jeevan, 2017 JLC Winner