Presentation by International House at the Study Visit Group No: 183 (CEDEFOP) , “Educational cooperation with professional institutions to promote language skills 2014″.

2. • English language competition for school children aged 10-18: from 5th
year primary school to the end of secondary education
• Open to all schools – state, partially state funded and private
• Run each year since 2008 in Catalonia and since 2009 in the Balearic
islands
THE FONIX Competition

3. Organisers:
• International House
• The Esplai Foundation
Sponsors:
• University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations
• Cambridge University Press
• Net Languages - virtual language school
• Various public universities from Catalonia and the Balearic Islands
Supported by:
Departments of Education and Culture of the autonomous governments of Catalonia
and the Balearic Islands
Organisers and Sponsors

4. Number of schools that participated in the 2013-14 edition:
In Catalonia: 430 In Baleares: 55
Number of students who took part:
In Catalunya: 43,000 In Baleares: 6,000
Some numbers

6. 1. LOCAL PHASE: November - February
Test held on the premises of participating schools
2. REGIONAL PHASE: March - April
One representative from each class invited to attend regional finals
(In Catalonia 1,800 regional finalists; in Baleares 250)
3. FINAL PHASE: April - May
Highest scoring students from the regional final participate in grand final
(in Catalonia 112 finalists; in Baleares 48)
Competition in three phases

7. Sample test page

9. Some of the sponsors and prize winners from 2013

10. • All finalists receive a set of study materials
• The 6th, 5th, 4th and 3rd placed candidates from each school year receive a
Web-based English course
• The runners up win a weekend in a hostel in Catalonia (with their family)
• The winners from the 10 -13 year old age group win a two-week stay in
an English Summer Camp in Catalonia
• The winners from the 14 -18 year old age group win a two-week English
course in Belfast including flights and accommodation
The prizes

11. Purpose
For the organisers and sponsors:
Excellent public relations exercise – good publicity and helps maintain
positive brand image
For the regional governments:
Another way to motivate students to study English and thereby improve
the overall standard in the regions’ schools

12. CATALONIA: http://www.the-fonix.org/
BALEARIC ISLANDS: http://www.balears.the-fonix.org/
Contact:
Miquel Puig – mpuig@bcn.ihes.com
Jonathan Dykes – jdykes@bcn.ihes.com
Websites: