Embassy Warsaw supports English Language Competitions

On April 11, 2008, Elementary School Number 42 held their awards final for "The Second Competion of Songs and Thematic Poems in Foreign Language - the Green Rhymes and Songs Festival." As part of the English Teaching program, Embassy Warsaw supported the contest for elementary school children ages K - 6th grades with patronage and donated books and prizes. Deputy Cultural Attaché Hilary Renner spoke at the opening of the finale and encouraged everyone to enjoy studying English and to encouraged the students to participate in these type of competitions because they make language learning fun.  Last year, through the support of English Language Fellow Margaret Cholodecki, the organizer, Ewa Wodkowska was able to obtain several outside sponsors.  This year, Ms. Wodkowska working alone was able to significantly expand the number and had over 20 private businesses and foundations supporting the competition including the European Union and the Goethe Institute. ELF Cholodecki introduced the concept of English language competitions last year at her teacher workshops and now teachers are holding competitions within their schools, in the districts, and in the entire city of Warsaw which is helping to promote the interactive use of performance, songs, and poems as active English language learning techniques and methods.