The BBC-GNE Young Writers and Public Speaking Awards are organised by the BBC in partnership with the Netherlands-England Society (GNE).

Learning languages is hard work and deserves to be rewarded. To students at secondary schools or universities of professional education (HBO) who strive to achieve excellence in English, the BBC Awards provide a platform to celebrate creativity and an opportunity for students to express their opinions.

The topics for the BBC-GNE Young Writers and Public Speaking Awards 2008 are:

• 'Second Life': An Escape from Reality
• History - A Lesson for the Future
• The wonder in your world
• Carbon footprints: booming economies also have the right to leave one
• Language is a barrier to integration
• ESU topic: New Horizons, New Frontiers

The two BBC Awards, for writing and public speaking (for young people between 16 and 20 years old) form a common focus for developing effective English language skills. Participation will enhance young people's communication skills in English, helping to make them more confident and will certainly be useful in their future career.