2020 News
Our continued thanks go to all the schools that enable and support pupils to compete in these events. We rely on your support to continue running the debates and providing worthwhile opportunities for pupils of A-level to use their language skills for real purposes.
Photos from all the events are on our Facebook page.
Spanish Winners
Omagh Academy
Ten schools took part in the event held in February 2020 in the Great Hall at Queen's. They were Our Lady and St. Patrick's College Knock (OLSPCK), Foyle College, Antrim Grammar School, St. Malachy's College, Assumption Grammar School, Belfast Royal Academy, Omagh Academy, Campbell College Belfast, Belfast High School and Thornhill College. The debating topics were based on the A-level CCEA Spanish specifications and focused on compulsory education, the generation gap, veganism, social media and personal data and role models. Omagh Academy won the competition for a 2nd year in a row and took back the NICILT Cup. ¡Enhorabuena! OLSPCK were runners up. Well done to them and all the best speakers and participants. The judges were impressed by the engagement with the motions and the communication skills shown by all. Our thanks go to our judges- Aine MacParland, Carmen Santos from the Consejería (which also provided prizes for the competitors) and Gabriel Espinosa from Spanish and Portuguese Studies at QUB.
German Winners
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School
Six schools took part in the competition which was held in the Great Hall in February 2020. They were:- Enniskillen Royal Grammar, Campbell College Belfast, Strathearn School, Rathmore Grammar School, St Columb’s College and Friends' School Lisburn. The debating topics were drawn from the current CCEA A-level German specifications and focused on Brexit, the right to vote and homework. Our thanks go to the judges (Barbara Boyle and Dr. Dirk Schubotz from the School of Social Sciences, Education & Social Work at Queen's) for their collaboration, time and feedback for all the participants.
French Winners
The Royal School Armagh
The French competition took place on 4/3/20 in the Great Hall at Queen's. Sixteen schools registered to participate and ten were chosen in our random live draw in December to take part:- Glenlola Collegiate, St.Patrick's Grammar School & St. Catherine’s College, Campbell College, Limavady Grammar School, Dominican College Fortwilliam, Antrim Grammar School, Our Lady and St. Patrick's College, Knock, The Royal School Armagh, Ballyclare High School and Belfast Royal Academy. The topics for the debates were based on young people, sexism, tourism, drug use and the royal family. Our judges were Dr Douglas McCulloch from the Cercle français de Belfast, Claire Williamson-formerly of Victoria College Belfast, and Ciara Gorman- a PhD student of French from Queen's University Belfast. The winning team came from The Royal School Armagh, who won the Alliance Française shield which was presented by Dr.McCulloch from the Cercle français de Belfast. Antrim Grammar School were runners-up, taking home the NICILT Cup. Our congratulations go to all the best speakers and participants! Our thanks go to the teachers and schools for enabling pupils to take part in the competition and also to the Cercle Français de Belfast and the staff and students in French Studies at Queen's for supporting the event.