World Languages and Cultures Competition

2026 World Language and Cultures Competition is Tuesday, October 13th, 2026, from 8am to 1pm (Registration at 8am; Award Ceremony 12:30pm). The registration will open in late summer. 

This annual half-day event, held each October (the day after Columbus Day), invites high schools from across the region to participate in competitions in Spanish, French, a Poster Presentation, and a featured topic in Japanese culture. In addition, students can attend engaging workshops in Arabic culture and English.  

Participants will also enjoy Discovery Quest, an interactive experience that allows them to explore world cultures through hands-on activities and earn prizes. The event concludes with an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding achievements.  

A professional development pedagogy workshop (ACT48 credit) is available for all teachers. In addition to world language students, English Language Arts students are encouraged to participate in English workshops, poster presentations, and cultural sessions! 

Each year, approximately 600 students and teachers attend the event, with many participants expressing interest in continuing their education at Slippery Rock University!

Language Tests

• Spanish Level 1, 2, 3, 4, and Heritage Speakers
• French Level 1, 2, and 3

Level 1: For students who have completed 1 year of official education in the language.  

Level 2: For students who have completed 2 years of official education in the language. 

Level 3: For students who have completed 3 years of official education in the language. 

Level 4: For students who have completed 4 years of official education in the language.

Poster Presentation

The SRU LLCW Department Poster Contest is open to students in English Language Arts and a foreign language and culture class. Students should share any research they have conducted in a visual format, such as a trifold or poster. Judges will review all posters/visuals and use a rubric to determine 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. Be sure to include the title of your research as well as embed important researched information in the poster/trifold.

Japanese Culture Workshop

• Japanese Calligraphy Contest (2024)
• Japanese Pop-culture Contest: Kawaii mascots (2025)
• Japanese Yokai Contest (2026) 

English Workshops  

• “Screen Caps: Writing the Weird (Genres: poetry & flash fiction)” (2023-2024): 
• “Folding@Home - Binding Your Writing without Sewing” (2023-2025)
• “Conjuring Your Composition Critter” (2025)
• “Crash Course Poetry: You Can Do It!” (2025) 

Arabic Workshop  

• Arabic Geometric Workshop (2025-2026)  

Event Schedule (tentative)

8:00-8:50

• Registration

9:00-10:00

• Group 1 Contest/ Group 2 Discovery Quest, ect.
• Group 1 Teachers - Workshop

10:10-11:10

• Group 2 Contest/ Group 1 Discovery Quest, etc.
• Group 2 Teachers - Workshop

11:30-12:30

• Lunch

12:30-1:00

• Award & Closing Ceremony

Teacher Information

Teachers, we have activities for you as well. We know teachers enjoy learning as much as teaching and workshops are offered for teacher attendance.

Additional Information

For more information regarding the World Languages and Cultures Competition, contact languagecompetetition@sru.edu.