On Wednesday, 12th March 2025, a total of 29 St Andrews Bangkok students, 14 Primary students from Years 5 and 6, and 15 High School students from Years 7 and 8— proudly represented our school in the first-ever multi-school Languages Olympiad in Thailand.
This event was the culmination of a year-long collaboration between Heads of Department from 11 international schools across Bangkok and neighbouring provinces, including Pattaya and Hua Hin. It was a "fun-filled day of language immersion and cultural exchange through friendly competition" with the following key, common goals:
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Celebrating Multilingualism: Promoting the importance of language diversity and its role in fostering cultural understanding.
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Boosting Engagement: Encouraging students to pursue their language-learning journey by showcasing the joy and real-world value of speaking a second language, including its relevance in various professional fields.
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Developing Skills: Enhancing students’ communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities through interactive language challenges.
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Encouraging Collaboration: Building a sense of community among students from different year groups and schools, allowing them to share and celebrate their language-learning experiences.
On Thursday, the 241 selected students finally gathered for the long-awaited day to celebrate the idea that "languages are bridges connecting us all together," as highlighted in the event’s Olympiad Anthem song—that language learning is not just about grammar and vocabulary but about culture, respect, and human connection. Learning another language opens the door to understanding different cultures, forming friendships, and building lasting relationships.
Our St Andrews students were fantastic ambassadors for our school, and we are incredibly proud that several of them were part of the winning teams, bringing home well-deserved medals:
Spanish MFL:
Twisha (Year 6) – Bronze Medal
Sakuya (Year 6) – Gold Medal
French MFL:
Aara (Year 5) – Silver Medal
Dakshita (Year 7) – Gold Medal
All students participating received certificates in recognition of their participation and dedication, and the attending teachers had nothing but praise for their language skills and exemplary behaviour.
The Languages Olympiad will now be an annual event, and as an active member of the Olympiad Committee, St Andrews Bangkok will continue to create and promote opportunities for our language learners to thrive. We look forward to many more inspiring celebrations of multilingualism in the years to come!
