Language Competition - The Polyglot Challenge

🎯 The challenge is to create the most creative “Linguistic Chain” of idiomatic expressions in Ireland. Your team’s mission is to pick an idiomatic expression ("to wish someone luck", for example) and trace the cultural equivalents through as many languages as you can find speakers of within the school and local communities. 

👉 Can you reach 20 languages? 

We are looking for creative entries that highlight language, visual creative skills and your connection to the language in a fun and engaging video. 

1. Choose an "Anchor" Idiom: e.g. "Break a leg" to wish someone good luck.

2. Build the chain: Find students or staff who speak other languages and build the “Linguistic chain” as they provide an idiom from their culture or the language/culture they are studying that conveys the same meaning, e.g. Hals- und Beinbruch in German or In bocca al lupo in Italian. 

   ⚠️ Note: No literal translations! We want the "real" way people say it.

3. Visualise the Language: Students must draw/illustrate the idiom from their culture or language. Bonus points for creativity! 
4. Film the Relay: The video should show a fun and energetic relay of participants "catching" the camera and performing their segment consisting of 

• the cultural equivalent idiom
• the relevant country flag
• the artistic visual element
• the participant’s connection to the language (e.g. my dad is from Brazil or I taught English in Japan for two years), before handing it off to the next participant. 

🗣 The Idiom: spoken in their language

🇮🇪 The Flag: corresponding to the language you are using

🎨 The Drawing: literal meaning!

🌍 Connection Context: one sentence explaining how they know the language, for example

• “I speak this at home.”
• “My grandparents are from Poland.”
• “I’m learning this language at school.”

🗣️ Most Languages Featured (breadth of diversity)

🔍 Most Insightful Cultural Analysis (depth of understanding)

🎨 Most Creative Presentation (production quality and engagement)

🏫 Most Entries per School (school engagement)

Seven finalists will be invited to our Glasnevin campus to an Awards Ceremony. We will show the finalists' videos and enjoy some international food together. 

• A flamenco workshop at the Instituto Cervantes 💃

• A visit to the DCU Virtual Reality room 🎮

• An afternoon of coffee and croissants at the Alliance Française followed by a trip to the Irish Film Institute 🥐🎬

All participants will receive a participation certificate. 

• Length: 60–90 seconds
• 4-5 students per group
• Format: TikTok, Reel, or MP4/MOV
• Each language must include a flag (real or digital)

• Final shot: everyone together shouting 

  🎉 “This is ALTS at DCU!”

Who: You can enter our competition if you are a student in your Transition Year. 

When: The contest will run from Tuesday 10th March 10th to Friday 27th March  2026.

How:  Fill in your entry form with your details. 

Prizes will be awarded by the end of April 2026. 

If you have any queries please contact us at:  languagecompetition@dcu.ie