Letter from the Ambassador

From the Ambassador

Lange Voorhout 10
2514 ED The Hague

Tel: 4270 202
Fax: 4270 347
E-mail: lyn.parker@fco.gov.uk

BBC YOUNG WRITERS AND PUBLIC SPEAKING AWARDS

It gives me great pleasure once again to contribute a personal message about the BBC Young Writers and Speakers Awards 2008.

These awards are organised by the BBC in partnership with the Netherlands-England Society (GNE). They have been running for 20 years and represent a wonderful opportunity for students at secondary schools throughout the Netherlands to showcase their language skills and creativity.

Communicating your views clearly in your own language can be challenging in itself. Doing so in a foreign language is much more demanding. The standard of English speaking and teaching in the Netherlands is unusually high. I am sure that this is one of the reasons why the Dutch are so strongly represented in international business, culture and communication. No doubt it is also why the standard of this competition is so high.

The ability to communicate effectively in English is a tremendous personal asset in our globalised world. Dutch young people are particularly well placed to excel at these skills, and we hope that the Awards will make a solid and lively contribution to encouraging and developing them.

I wish all those involved in the BBC Young Writers and Speaking Awards an enjoyable and successful competition.

Lyn Parker