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LAFTAs video competition inspires UK language talent
(11/07/08)

The closing date for entries for the Languages and Film Talent Awards (LAFTAs) has now passed, giving us a fantastic total of over 150 entries.

Schools, FE colleges, universities and individuals from around the UK got involved in the first year of the competition, which invited 13-21-year olds to make two-minute videos showing the importance of language learning. The videos show a creative range of situations in which knowing a foreign language would be a great help, from dining abroad and being lost in foreign countries, to finding the love of your life or being attacked by sharks!

All of this year’s entries have been uploaded to the LAFTAs YouTube page, providing a resource for teachers who can use the videos to encourage pupils to continue with languages. A video of Bill Rammell (Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further
and Higher Education) speaking at the launch of Routes into Languages in February is also available under the favourites section.

The clips will shortly be sent to our celebrity judging panel, which includes comedian Eddie Izzard and broadcaster Trevor McDonald. Winners will be contacted in the summer and invited to the LAFTAs awards ceremony. Prizes include a trip to Spain sponsored by the Castille and Leon tourist office, and iPods donated by the French Embassy and Apple.

To view the videos on YouTube, visit www.youtube.com/routesintolanguages.