Foreign Language Competitions for High School Students
EC Finder currently lists 21 foreign language competitions for high school students. Of these, 9 are free to participate in and 14 offer virtual participation. Examples include Arabic Speaking Competition (Qatar Foundation International), California Language Student of the Year Award (CLTA & CIEE), and CAMWS High School Latin Translation Exam.
- 21
- listed
- 9
- free
- 14
- virtual
- 21
- with a listed deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are foreign language competitions for high school students?
- Foreign Language Competitions for High School Students are curated extracurricular listings for high school students interested in foreign language. Each listing includes eligibility, cost, and deadline details where known, so you can compare options and find the right fit for your college application profile.
- Are any of these competitions free?
- Yes — 9 of the 21 competitions listed here are free to participate in.
- Can I participate virtually?
- Yes — 14 of the 21 competitions listed here offer virtual or online participation.
- Are foreign language competitions good for a college application?
- Yes — foreign language competitions are a common way for high schoolers to show sustained interest and initiative in foreign language on college applications.
Related Categories
21 activities found·Browse by category
Arabic Speaking Competition (Qatar Foundation International)
Two-round international competition where secondary students studying Arabic submit a recorded oral presentation and, if selected, present live to judges.
California Language Student of the Year Award (CLTA & CIEE)
Statewide award honoring top California world‑language students with large study‑abroad scholarships.
CAMWS High School Latin Translation Exam
A national one-hour Latin translation exam administered through schools each fall, offered at intermediate (Latin II-III) and advanced (Latin IV+) levels by the Classical Association of the Middle West and South.
Chinese Bridge Speech Contest (China Institute of America)
Regional qualifying round of the international "Chinese Bridge" competition for non-heritage U.S. high school learners of Mandarin, featuring a keynote speech, culture quiz, and talent showcase, with top winners advancing to a summer camp in China.
CLTAC Mandarin Chinese Speech Contest (Northern California)
Regional Mandarin speech competition run by the Chinese Language Teachers Association of California; long‑running and respected in NorCal.
Gallaudet University National Literary Competition
Annual national competition open to deaf and hard-of-hearing students in grades 6-12, judging writing and storytelling/poetry performance in both ASL and English.
Kyung Uhn Scholarship Speech Contest
National English-language speech contest hosted by The Korea Society for U.S. high schoolers on Korean culture and its global impact.
National Chinese Language Speech Contest (CLTA‑US)
Nationwide Mandarin speech contest assessing pronunciation, fluency, and content through prepared speeches in Chinese; regional winners advance to national level.
National Examinations in World Languages (NEWL)
College Board-endorsed online proficiency exams in Arabic, Korean, Portuguese, and Russian developed by American Councils, letting high schoolers demonstrate reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills for potential college placement credit.
National French Contest – Le Grand Concours (AATF)
Annual exam measuring achievement in French, administered nationally; students earn platinum/gold/silver/bronze medals and national rankings.
National German Exam (American Association of Teachers of German)
Standardized German exam with national percentiles, medals, and travel awards for top scorers.
National Italian Exam (American Association of Teachers of Italian)
Assessment and contest in Italian language and culture; students can earn medals, national rankings, and be considered for scholarships.
National Japan Bowl (Japan-America Society of Washington DC)
Quiz‑bowl style competition on Japanese language, culture, history, and society for high‑school teams; top teams invited to national finals.
National Japanese Exam (AATJ)
Online, standards-based proficiency exam in reading, listening, grammar, and culture for middle school, high school, and college learners of Japanese, administered by the American Association of Teachers of Japanese.
National Junior Classical League (NJCL)
The largest classics organization for students in the world, running local chapters plus a national convention with academic testing, the Certamen quiz-bowl, and creative arts competitions centered on Latin, Greek, and classical culture.
National Latin Exam (NLE)
International Latin exam with questions on grammar, vocabulary, culture, history, and classical literature; medals and certificates awarded based on national norms.
National Portuguese Exam (AATSP)
Annual proficiency exam for grades 10-12 students of Portuguese in the U.S., administered by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, with medals awarded to top scorers.
National Russian Essay Contest (NREC)
Annual timed essay competition run by the American Council of Teachers of Russian for U.S. middle and high school students of Russian, judged nationally with multiple award levels.
National Spanish Exam (NSE)
Nationwide standardized exam recognizing achievement in Spanish; high scorers earn medals, national rankings, and can access scholarships and travel programs.
Olympiada of Spoken Russian
Oldest ACTR program for U.S. secondary schools, where students of Russian compete in conversation, poetry recitation, and Russian civilization at regional/state competitions.
Russian Scholar Laureate Award (RSLA)
National ACTR award recognizing one outstanding 10th or 11th grade Russian-language student per eligible school each year.
ECFinder provides links to outside extracurricular opportunities for informational purposes only. Students and families should research each program before applying. ECFinder does not operate or control the listed organizations and is not responsible for their actions or policies.