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LinguaPalooza

Contest Details

Did you miss the in-person orientation? You can still participate! Watch the Virtual Orientation and complete the surveys by Tuesday, January 23!
Click for more info!
Who can participate?
What will I do for the contest?
How can I win prizes?
What will I learn?

In your target language, …

Can you participate in simple day-to-day conversations using complete sentences? Can you understand the main idea of a variety of text and audio presented in the past, present, or future? Can you engage in predictable transactions to get something you want or need? Can you tell a simple story or state a simple opinion?

If you can do these (and if you can do more), then you can do LinguaPalooza!

LinguaPalooza is designed for language learners who already have some fluency in their target language.* For example, this could look like a returned missionary who learned a language on their mission, someone enrolled in a 200- or 300-level language course, or someone who spoke a language other than English at home growing up, but never studied it formally.

You do not need to be enrolled in a class to participate. In fact, this is a great option for people who want to continue language learning without the commitment of a regular course!

*As currently designed, this is not a program for novice learners or someone just starting out in a new language. We hope to make LinguaPalooza available to these learners in future years.

You will complete four projects that are broken down into daily tasks to better help you learn from your real-world experiences using your target language. On average, participants should spend between 1.5 and 3 hours each week.

  • The contest consists of four week-long projects that are spread out across 3 months (1 week on, 2 weeks off).

    The project weeks are divided by theme: Personal, Friends, Community, and Professional. As you move through the contest, you should expand your comfort zone and push yourself to increasingly challenging tasks.

    Project Calendar

  • Each project week, you will select one project from a list of four. One of these choices will always be a Digital Solo option to accommodate various circumstances (although you can only choose this option up to two times to remain eligible for the grand prize). In the last three weeks, there is also an option labeled "Great with a friend." For these options, we recommend getting friends and other participants involved, though it is not required. See the full list of projects here.

    Project Choice Example

  • Projects are a series of tasks that culminate in a real-world experience in which you will use your target language. Once you have chosen your project, you are on your own to complete each daily task. Each project week includes five tasks: three preparatory tasks (on average 5-30 minutes each), the real-world task (on average 1 hour), and a reflection task (on average 5-30 minutes). We recommend that you split these tasks up and complete them one day at a time. This helps you to process the information in a way that will help you make the learning last.

    Project Week Example

    You will report the completion of these tasks by taking a 1-minute self-assessment. While we again recommend completing these day by day, you may complete them all at once at the end of the week. You will receive reminders towards the end of the week to complete these reports.

    SA Example

  • The final day is a reflection task. This is either written or recorded as a video and may be completed in your native language or your target language. There are benefits to both; in your native language, you are usually able to open up on a deeper level, yet in your target language, you are pushing yourself to think in a new way while using the language. You can pick or do a combination of both (don't worry, we can translate any language taught at BYU). For this task, you must share a URL that the program directors can access. We suggest that you share your reflection with others whether on social media, a networking site, or a personal webpage. You may also choose to share a private Google Doc or Box document with the program directors.

    Reflection Sample

Submit a self-assessment for each daily task. That means 5 self-assessments in total. You must also submit a URL with your Day 5 reflection so that we can review your reflections each week.

In order to be eligible to win the cash prize, you must complete all tasks of all four weeks. All of your reflections will then be anonymized and judged by a panel of language professors who specialize in language acquisition. The participant who best exemplifies growth throughout the program and a commitment to lifelong language learning will be selected to win.

  • “I really enjoy learning about the cultures of foreigners, and I think it's a great thing that the technology we have allows us to connect from one part of the world to another” - BF, Winter 2023

  • "I could tailor the assignments to my schedule and keep myself accountable" - JN, Winter 2023

    “When I started this project, I was doubtful about the preparation activities. I didn’t see the point in planning, and I just wanted to start writing. However, after completing all of the activities, I understood how it helped me to practice L2 and also to have a more gratifying experience… When I started writing the letter, my preparation made it so I could focus on thinking about what I wanted to say… I see how practicing the language helps me to enjoy that time for meditating and reflecting” - AW, Winter 2023

  • “I'm just really grateful for the LinguaPalooza experience just because it really has made me stretch myself in a way that I wouldn’t have done before” - GDS, Winter 2023

    "It was wonderful to find opportunities to use and practice my language skills" - AM, Winter 2023

  • "LinguaPalooza was a wonderful opportunity for me to grow in my target language and develop effective communication skills" - JN, Winter 2023