Presentation by International House at the Study Visit Group No: 183 (CEDEFOP) , “Educational cooperation with professional institutions to promote language skills 2014″.

• English language competition for school children aged 10-18: from 5th year primary school to the end of secondary education

• Open to all schools – state, partially state funded and private

• Run each year since 2008 in Catalonia and since 2009 in the Balearic islands

THE FONIX Competition

Organisers:

•International House

•The Esplai Foundation

Sponsors: • University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations

• Cambridge University Press

• Net Languages - virtual language school

• Various public universities from Catalonia and the Balearic Islands

Supported by:

Departments of Education and Culture of the autonomous governments of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands

Organisers and Sponsors

Number of schools that participated in the 2013-14 edition:

In Catalonia: 430 In Baleares: 55

Number of students who took part:

In Catalunya: 43,000 In Baleares: 6,000

Some numbers

1. LOCAL PHASE: November - February

Test held on the premises of participating schools

2. REGIONAL PHASE: March - April

One representative from each class invited to attend regional finals (In Catalonia 1,800 regional finalists; in Baleares 250)

3. FINAL PHASE: April - May

Highest scoring students from the regional final participate in grand final (in Catalonia 112 finalists; in Baleares 48)

Competition in three phases

Sample test page

Some of the sponsors and prize winners from 2013

• All finalists receive a set of study materials

• The 6th, 5th, 4th and 3rd placed candidates from each school year receive a Web-based English course

• The runners up win a weekend in a hostel in Catalonia (with their family)

•The winners from the 10 -13 year old age group win a two-week stay in an English Summer Camp in Catalonia

•The winners from the 14 -18 year old age group win a two-week English course in Belfast including flights and accommodation

The prizes

Purpose

For the organisers and sponsors:

Excellent public relations exercise – good publicity and helps maintain positive brand image

For the regional governments:

Another way to motivate students to study English and thereby improve the overall standard in the regions’ schools

CATALONIA: http://www.the-fonix.org/

BALEARIC ISLANDS: http://www.balears.the-fonix.org/

Contact:

Miquel Puig – [email protected]

Jonathan Dykes – [email protected]

Websites: