Our latest language writing competition winners are revealed!
Tuesday 9 December saw BAES celebrating our language learner’s creativity, cultural journeys, and the joy of language learning at Brasshouse Centre in the Library of Birmingham.
Learning a new language is more than memorising vocabulary – it’s an experience that invites us to step into new cultural worlds, new ways of thinking, and new ways of seeing ourselves.
Last night, our Languages team brought this idea to life as we celebrated the culmination of the Between Two Worlds writing competition. The event gathered learners from across language courses to share stories, connect with one another, and see their work published in a commemorative booklet.
Between Two Worlds: A Celebration of Language and Culture
Last night at the Brasshouse Centre in the Library of Birmingham, our Languages team hosted a warm and lively celebration to mark the finale of the Between Two Worlds writing competition. The evening offered a wonderful opportunity for learners to meet, share experiences, discuss their work, and enjoy hearing each other’s pieces read aloud.
Our latest writing competition was created to highlight what it means to be a language learner: to move between cultural worlds, to explore unfamiliar ways of speaking, and to gain fresh perspectives on everyday life. Participants were invited to write about their learning experiences in the language they are currently studying.
The event opened with words of thanks from Pauline Desch, Head of Faculty – ESOL & Languages, who acknowledged the submissions received across the subject are and from all levels, from Beginners to Advanced. The entries tapped into a rich vein of experiences – amusing stories of cultural misunderstandings, heartfelt reflections on the joy of learning, and thoughtful observations about how language reveals the subtle nuances of culture.
These stories served as a reminder that language is a bridge to another world—a bridge that brings discovery, connection, and the delight of communication.
Celebrating this year’s winners
Although every submission had something special to offer, three prizes were awarded:
- 1st Prize – Maria Staikopoulou
- 2nd Prize – Nick Beavan
- 3rd Prize – Rachel Douglas
- With a Special Mention to – Adam Petherwick
Maria, surprised but thrilled to take first place, shared that the competition “spoke to my heart.” Her piece expressed the tension many learners feel – loving a new language while doubting their own ability – and then impressed the audience further when she explained her writing process: she felt the sentiment in Greek, wrote it in English, and then translated it into Spanish!
Other learners also shared their creative approaches—from finding inspiration while walking the dog, to building a piece around key vocabulary to meet the 50-word brief. One particularly touching contribution came from a learner who wrote about an early moment in her 99-year-old mother’s life. Writing the story in her mother’s native language made the connection even more special when it made her mother laugh.
A collection of stories worth reading
The competition has produced a thought-provoking collection of pieces that highlight the transformative power of learning a new language. These stories show how language broadens our perspectives, enriches our lives, and helps us see the world – and ourselves – with fresh eyes.
You can read all the submissions online here, or pick up a copy of the commemorative booklet at the Brasshouse Centre while stocks last.
