Why Learn Languages
_edited.png)
Why Learn Languages
Competition
Our signature event, the Why Learn Languages Competition, started in 2011 as a single-language contest in one state called Why Learn Chinese. Through Why Learn Languages, it has now grown into a national competition open to middle and high school students of all languages across the country.​
The competition brings students together through essays and videos that celebrate multilingualism and cultural exchange. Unlike traditional language competitions that focus mainly on “what” and “how,” ours encourages long-term motivation, advocacy, and the power of youth voices. Each year, the theme reflects a different focus and consistently receives an outstanding response.
This Year's Theme is...
"Connecting the World through Language and Culture"
We chose "Connecting the World through Language and Culture" as the theme for our competition to highlight the power of language in fostering global understanding and collaboration. Learning languages opens doors to meaningful connections through exchange programs, study trips, pen-pal friendships, cross-country collaborations, community outreach, and global trade opportunities. Whether students engage in cultural exchanges, international projects, or professional opportunities, languages serve as a bridge that brings people together, fostering mutual respect and a deeper appreciation of the world.
2025 Award Ceremony
​Entry Options:
Essay
This option is 400 to 800 word essay regarding the prompt chosen each year. The limit of 1 entry per contestant. The work should be completely original and presented in either English or your target language. Contestants will be judged by certified teachers and professionals looking for superior ideas, stories, messages, and content.
Cultural Performance
This option is a cultural performance video of yourself or your group. It should be at minimum 1 minute but should NOT exceed 4 minutes, in high-resolution, and recorded horizontally. All performance videos need to be appropriate in content and demonstrate talent in representing your target language and culture. Performances may include but are not limited to, songs, traditional musical instruments, folk dance, martial arts performances, folk art, poetry recitation, etc. Subtitles are not required but are recommended. Contestants will be judged by certified teachers and professionals looking for preparation, creativity, and quality.
Submissions for the 2025 competition is currently closed. Don’t miss our competition next year—stay tuned! If you have any questions, please contact president@whylearnlanguages.org
Important: We ask that you add president@whylearnlanguages.org to your trusted list of senders, contacts, or address book. If you do not see an email from president@whylearnlanguages.org in your Inbox, our email may have mistakenly been sent to your spam folder.​
Submissions
Upload your file to the registration form HERE with a Gmail account.​
If you have any questions or encounter a tech issue, always feel free to contact us.
Prizes:
The following are the national prizes offered:
1st Place: $100 (1 winner)
2nd Place: $80 (3 winners)
3rd Place: $50 (5 winners)
Finalists: $5 (top 10%)
There are separate prizes for both categories.
We also offer an Outstanding Contribution Award to a teacher or an organization who has demonstrated dedication and support to the competition by encouraging the greatest number of participants. The award carries a cash prize of $100. Please make sure to include your teacher’s name on the registration form.