Many Languages One World Essay Contest 2016
Introduction
Organized by ELS Educational Services, Inc., and the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), Many Languages, One World was created to promote multilingualism and the continued study of the six official languages of the United Nations, and to bring global-minded young scholars from all over the world together to engage in dialogue about global issues and initiatives.
ESSAY TOPIC:
Write an original essay (2,000 words or less) discussing global citizenship and cultural understanding and the role that multilingual ability can play in fostering these. The essay should reflect your personal, academic, cultural and national context. The essay must be written in an official language of the United Nations that is not your first language or the principal language of instruction during your primary or secondary education. The official languages of the United Nations are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. The essay must be your own, unaided work.
How to apply
You must be a full-time university student and must be 18 years of age or older by 31 March 2016. You must be recommended by a faculty member or authorized representative at the university you are currently attending in order to participate. For complete contest rules, eligibility and details, visit ManyLanguagesOneWorld.ELS.edu. Many Languages, One World is a joint effort between ELS Educational Services, Inc., and the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI). To learn more about UNAI, visit https://academicimpact.un.org.
At first, Faculty Member/University Administrator have to give reference of yours and apply on the link "https://www.els.edu/en/ManyLanguagesOneWorld/FacultyForm", then a mail will be send to the referee stated as "Please click on the link below to confirm that this is your email address and that you have recommended this student. Once confirmed, your student will receive an email message with a link to how she/he may complete the Student Entry Form and upload her/his essay"
Once the referee confirms this mail then only a mail will be sent to you and you can upload your essay there.
Eligibility:
- Full-time college or university students, 18 years of age or older by 31 March 2016, can participate in the contest.
- A University Faculty Member or Authorized Representative must recommend you for participation in the contest by completing the form under the tab: Faculty Member/University Administrator Reference Form. The university representative must attest that you are a full time student in good standing and that you are submitting an essay in an official language of the United Nations that is not your first language or principal language of instruction in your primary or secondary education. S/He must also attest that the essay you are submitting is your own, unaided work.
- Functional knowledge of English is required for participation in the preparatory conference.
To Participate:
Write an original essay (2,000 words or less) discussing global citizenship and cultural understanding and the role that multilingual ability can play in fostering these. The essay should reflect your personal, academic, cultural and national context. Essays must be written in an official language of the United Nations that is not your first language or primary language of instruction during your primary or secondary education. The official United Nations languages are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. You will need to demonstrate both written and verbal competency in the language of the essay. You must be a full-time university student, recommended and endorsed by a Faculty Member or University Representative, and must be 18 years of age or older by the contest deadline.
ENTRY PROCESS
- Write your essay according to the contest rules and eligibility guidelines.
- Share your essay with the University Faculty Member or Authorized Representative who recommended you so that s/he can attest to the fact that you have followed the contest rules.
- Have that Faculty Member or University Administrator complete the Faculty Member/University Administrator Reference Form in support of your participation in the contest.
- After the Faculty Reference form is submitted, the Faculty Member will receive an email from Many Languages, One World requesting confirmation of the reference.
- Make sure that your Faculty member looks for this email and clicks on the confirmation link. They may need to check their spam or junk mail folder. If your Faculty member does not confirm their recommendation, you will not be able to submit an entry.
- Once the Reference Form has been received and confirmed by Many Languages, One World, you will receive an email with further information, and a link where you can complete your Student Entry Form and upload your essay to the contest website.
- The Student Entry Form must be completed in its entirety, and in English. If your entry form is incomplete, you will be disqualified. Be sure to include your government-issued identity card number or passport number, and submit your full name as it appears on your official documents or passport. Do not submit your photo.
- At the bottom of the Student Entry form you will find the link to upload your essay to the contest website.
- The essay must be submitted/uploaded in MS WORD format. Please title your essay as follows:LastName_FirstName-LanguageofEssay (ie, Smith_Jane-Arabic). Do not include a cover page with personal information, as the essays will be evaluated anonymously.
- Only essays submitted through this link will be accepted. You can only submit one essay.
- Essays must be received by 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time on Thursday 31 March, 2016 in order to qualify. Do not wait until the deadline date to submit. Give yourself time to ensure that your essay will be received successfully.
Please Note: If the contest directors learn that you have violated any of the rules, or that you have neglected to cite sources, or have used any translation service or software to write your essay, you will be immediately disqualified.
SELECTION PROCESS
Step 1: Two panels of judges will read and evaluate essays on the quality of ideas expressed and their fluency of language. These two scores will be combined, and the top essayists will pass to the interview stage of the competition.
Step 2: The top essayists will be invited to complete a personal interview regarding their essay with a member of our international panel of judges. This interview will be conducted in the language of the essay, online via SKYPE video call. You will be expected to show your government-issued identification or your passport at the beginning of the interview, to verify your identity.
Step 3: Winners will be selected based on the scoring of Step 1 and Step 2. Selection criteria includes the originality and quality of thought and the written and spoken language proficiency in the essay and interview.
NOTIFICATION
Please do not send inquiries regarding your individual status as an entrant. We will not send notification until after the winners have been chosen and confirmed their attendance at the Global Youth Forum.
A total of 60 Winners will be chosen: 10 Winners for each of the six official UN languages. In mid-May, ELS Educational Services, Inc. will begin notifying Finalists for interviews. ELS Educational Services, Inc. will send Winners a letter of invitation to the 2016 Global Youth Forum and ELS Preparatory Conference. At that time, Winners will also receive complete rules of participation for the ELS Preparatory Conference. Winners are required to sign a statement promising to abide by all of these, and acknowledging that they will be sent home immediately, at their expense, if they disobey any of them.* Winners will also receive detailed instructions about visa application, e-ticketing for the round trip (non-refundable) air ticket, arrival procedures and the tentative agenda of Conference, which will take place from 25-31 July 2016.
*No e-ticket will be issued until the Winner’s signed statement has been received by Many Languages, One World.
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