With the European Day of Languages on 26 September fast approaching, schools are looking for ways to celebrate languages. For anyone teaching or working with 13-21 year olds, the Languages and Film Talent Awards (LAFTAs) offer an ideal, fun opportunity to do this.

The LAFTAs competition invites young people in the UK to make two-minute films showing why languages are important.  Judges include Double Olympic Champion Sebastian Coe and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory star Freddie Highmore, while prizes include fantastic trips to Germany, France and Spain.

Routes into Languages and CILT UK will be organising regional judging in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – offering teenagers the chance to become regional as well as national winners.

Other new features include a special London 2012 category linking languages to the Olympics, supported by the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) – the prize is a class trip to the Olympic Village and a visit to your school by a world class athlete! There is also a World of Languages category encouraging teenagers to use their community languages when making LAFTAs entries.

The deadline for entries is 1 February 2010, so students can carry on developing their films throughout the new term and over Christmas. Shortlisted filmmakers will be invited to a glamourous award ceremony in summer 2010.

All entries will be uploaded to the LAFTAs YouTube page, where you can currently watch some of last year’s winning clips. To find out more and to enter the LAFTAs visit our Languages Work website.

As well as the LAFTAs, CILT offers a wide range of resources for both primary and secondary schools to celebrate the European Day of Languages.