For the press

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 2009 are:

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.