We opened up the doors to greet the early morning crowd. Away they stampeded down auditorium way, where duets in the key of Nature waited to be sung. On stage they stood in friendly pairs, this early morning crowd, freeing by turns their inner beasts: koalas woken by snoring horses, roaring lions startling squeaking mice and dogs sniffing for hay. Picnicking elephants, scaredy-cats, forgetful ducks, hanging sloths and perching cheetahs, walruses tiffing with raccoons at bedtime, and cows with more stomachs than anyone could stomach. Funny, words. Yet, through the cacophony, we find we are all alike.

As the previous paragraph conveys, this year’s theme for Duologue and Poetry is “Nature”, which accounts for the veritable zoo we had in the room! We hope this year’s theme inspires our students and teachers to open their hearts to the delight of speaking in English and to see how its beauty can heighten that of the world we live in.

Forty-eight students from 1st and 2nd Grade had to recite a short dialogue, showing all their language and performing skills, using every feather in their plumage to impress the judges and audience in the semifinals and finals on Friday, September 25, at Colegio del Verbo Divino in Las Condes. These are our youngest participants, and our judges had the unenviable task of deciding fairly in the face of exorbitant cuteness. Whatever tricks our tender beasts played on our judges, the latter made up for with thoroughness, quick eyes, and attentive ears. It is no exaggeration to say that the English-Speaking Union Chile has the best judges in the business!

Thank you and congratulations as well to all the schools (24 of them!), students and teachers who participated this year in all rounds of the competition: American British School, Andrée English School, British Royal School, Colegio Cumbres, Colegio del Verbo Divino, CPV International School – Peñalolén, CPV International School – Providencia, The Greenland School, Instituto Hebreo Dr. Chaim Weizmann, Lincoln International Academy – Chicureo, Lincoln International Academy – Lo Barnechea, Orchard College, Manquecura Ñuñoa, Manquecura Valle Lo Campino, Pumahue Chicauma, Pumahue Chicureo, Pumahue Curauma, Pumahue Huechuraba, Sagrados Corazones de Manquehue, Saint Peter’s School, San Nicolás Diácono, SEK Pacífico, The Southern Cross and Villa María Academy.

We would like to thank Colegio del Verbo Divino for their kindness in hosting us this year once again (4th in a row!), especially right after the 18 🇨🇱. Special thanks to Manuela Cisternas and Daniela Torres, our liaisons at the school, and their team, especially Carolin Beltrán, Carlos Donoso and Felipe Vidal. And of course all student helpers from Colegio del Verbo Divino and Villa María Academy, who did such a great job as MCs and showing people around!

Thank you to our wonderful sponsor on the day, Bookland Bookshop, for the amazing prizes you helped us give away to our finalists.

Our marvelous judges on the day (some were also R1 judges): Karina Contreras(ABS); Susan Roraff;Olivia Evans (Books and Bits); Cecilia García;Rodrigo Martínez (CPV Providencia); Verónica Moreira; Rachel Murton; Izaack Mwangi (British Royal School); Trinidad Rojas (International House); and Andrea Sotomayor.

Our judges from Round 1 (Online): Loreto Abascal; Andrés Araya (Orchard College); Alison Berríos (Colegio La Salle); Claudia Boniche (Trinity School); José Curiqueo (Bookland); Francisca Díaz (Colegio Domingo Santa María); Fernanda Herrera; Gloria Faundes; Claire Kamerling (San Nicolás Diácono); Consuelo Narvaez (CPV Providencia); Andrea Robles (UTA Iquique) Fernanda Rodríguez (Global Perspectives); Paola Sanz (ABS); Macarena Sepúlveda (I Hebreo); Rodrigo Sirón (Books and Bits); and Eduardo Vásquez.

Without further ado, here are this year’s top 4 places: