This year’s theme for Duologue and Poetry is “Voices of Wonder: Tales and Verses Through the Years.” In honour of our 20th Anniversary, we’ve selected poems and duologues that have been especially popular in these competitions throughout the years. We hope this selection inspires our students and teachers to open their hearts to the wonder and delight of speaking in English!

Forty-eight students from 1st and 2nd Grade used every weapon in their arsenal—including relentless, irresistible, heart-melting cuteness—to impress the judges and audience in the semifinals and finals on Thursday, September 25, at Colegio del Verbo Divino in Las Condes. These are our youngest participants, and our judges had the unenviable quest of standing as the evil custodians before the Hallowed Doors of Duologian Glory!

Jest aside, what our judges (may have) lacked in mythic grandeur, they 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!

For the first time in this competition, both first places went to the same school. Students from American British School leapt for joy when we announced they were this year’s winners of the Traveling Trophy (see picture above). They were still hugging and jumping in the street half an hour after the event concluded. Congratulations to all of them!

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 del Verbo Divino, CPV International School – Peñalolén, CPV International School – Providencia, The Greenland School, Instituto Hebreo Dr. Chaim Weizmann, Lincoln International Academy – Chicureo, La Maisonnette, Orchard College, Manquecura Ñuñoa, Manquecura Valle Lo Campino, Pumahue Chicauma, Pumahue Chicureo, Pumahue Huechuraba, Pumahue Peñalolén, Saint George’s college, Saint Peter’s School, SEK Chile, SEK Pacífico, The Southern Cross y Villa María Academy.

We would like to thank Colegio del Verbo Divino for their kindness by hosting us this year once again, especially right after the 18! Special thanks to Manuela Cisternas and Karin Jahnsen, our liaisons at the school, and their team. 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!

Our wonderful sponsors on the day, Books and Bits, Bookland Bookshop and Ojitos de Ternura! Thank you all for the amazing prizes you made us able to give away to our finalists.

Our marvelous judges on the day: Loreto Abascal, Tamara Álvarez (U Andes), José Curiqueo (Bookland), Gloria Faundes, Bernardita Latorre, Teresa Muñoz (Cambridge Examiner), Loreto Pinto (Colegio Cumbres), Trinidad Rojas (Books and Bits), Francisca Torres (VMA), Ámbar Vásquez (CVD), Anne Westmacott (U Andes).

Our judges from Round 1 (Online): Mike Ayandokun (Live Language Theatre), Claudia Boniche (Trinity School), Fernanda Herrera (Fundación Oportunidad), Valerie Fauvage (Live Language Theatre), Christine Jeppesen (ESU), Bernardita Latorre, Lynnann Lovejoy (ESU), Pamela Medina, Consuelo Narvaez (CPV Providencia), Catalina Pinto (Colegio Nahuel), Andrea Robles (UTA Iquique), Paola Sanz (ABS), Macarena Sepúlveda (I Hebreo), Rodrigo Sirón (Books and Bits), Flor Toledo (UAI), Eduardo Vásquez, María Elena Vivanco (SLEP Llanquihue), Cassandra Williams.

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