Essay Contest

E. Kuttner Language Learning Essay Contest

HALT invites all Hawai‘i high schools to join the first E. Kuttner Language Learning Essay Contest. The theme of this year’s contest is “The importance of language learning”. High school language programs statewide are encouraged to locally administer this contest to select an entry for submission to the HALT by January 26. 2007.

This essay contest is being done in honor of Edith Kuttner, past HALT president and a tireless advocate of language teaching, particularly the teaching of less commonly taught languages. After her retirement from a public school in New York as a Spanish teacher, Edith got involved with the Hawaii Association of Language Teachers and worked with local teachers on various projects. At the time of her death in 2003, she was the president of Teleclass International, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving heritage (community) languages in Hawaii.

The Edith Kuttner Memorial Fund raised by colleagues in her honor will be used to build awareness among the youth on the importance of languages in their lives.

Contest Rules

A. Eligibility
This contest is open to all Hawaii high school students, who are not published writers or professional journalists.

B. Theme and Content
1. The essay must be original, not previously published in print or online, and shall be within 500-800 words in English.
2. The theme for this year’s contest is: “The importance of learning languages.”

C. Submission
Important: School-level selection must be completed by January 26, 2007and submitted to the HALT Essay Contest Committee by Feb. 1, 2007.
1. Only one entry per high school will be submitted to the HALT Essay Contest Committee.
2. Start of submission will be determined by school-level contest organizers. No entries will be accepted post-deadline.
3. All entries will be considered property of HALT.
4. Top three entries will be posted online at the HALT website starting from March 25, 2007, and will be available for public viewing until March 3, 2008.
5. Each applicant must submit a valid phone number or email and postal address for correspondence.
6. Each entry submitted must be the work of one person and may not be the collective work of more than one person. By submitting an entry, applicants certify that their essays are original, authored solely by them and do not infringe upon the rights of any third parties.

D. Criteria for Judging
1. Entries will be judged anonymously by a panel of judges selected and approved by the HALT Essay Contest Committee.
2. Entries will be judged according to the following criteria:

  • 2.1 Form: 30% (grammar, organization, craftsmanship)
  • 2.2 Content: 50% (clear and thorough discussion of main and supporting ideas)
  • 2.3 Impression: 20% (readers’ prognosis and reaction)

3. The winning essay will be announced at the HALT Annual Conference Luncheon at the University of Hawaii at Manoa on March 3, 2007, 12:30-2:00 pm. The winner will be awarded a cash prize of $100.00, educational materials and a Certificate of Recognition.

E. Others
1. All essays submitted may be used or published in whole or in part by HALT or by other parties with the written permission of HALT.

Contest Entry Form (Print out this MSWord file)

Judging Criteria (MSWord file)