This year over 16,000 students across the UK participated in the competition with several pupils from different year groups in Banbridge Academy getting involved. Banbridge Academy student, Lucy Grossmann, was awarded Area Winner for the whole of Northern Ireland for her translation into English of a text from Spanish author Cristina Sánchez-Andrade and we congratulate her on this fantastic achievement.

Anthea Bell OBE (1936–2018) is considered one of the leading literary translators of the 20th and 21st centuries, translating the works of Freud, the Brothers Grimm and René Goscinny, to name but a few. Throughout her life she received several literary awards and The Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators organised by the Queen’s College honours her commitment to encouraging young language-learners.

As a famous Chinese Proverb states “To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world.” Learning another language is an essential skill to have in an ever-changing world and its benefits are limitless. It allows us to become aware of different cultures, develop a greater understanding and appreciation for other people and customs, and provides opportunities to foster skills developed in other aspects of the curriculum. In spite of the decline of languages across Northern Ireland, Banbridge Academy values their importance and is proud to encourage a love for them among pupils.