Judges for Mother Tongue Other Tongue - multilingual poetry competition
This is an opportunity for students who are multi-lingual or who are learning another language, who also have an interest in poetry in other languages, to be judges for this year’s Mother Tongue Other Tongue competition for 8-18 year olds.
Entries in both categories – Mother Tongue (poetry in a home or heritage language) and Other Tongue (an opportunity for children to be creative in a language that they are learning) are currently being submitted.
Entries will be shared between judges after the competition deadline on 20th May. You must be available to read and select entries between Monday 25th May for a week and Friday 5th June, which is when final decisions will be made.
Allocations will be distributed to all judges on Monday 25th May. Each piece is read by at least three judges, focusing mainly on a commentary/rationale in English to accompany the poem submitted.
After initial reading of entries and submission of judging decisions w/c 25th May, the following week w/c 1st June, there will be online meeting(s) to discuss any pieces where there is disagreement. So you must be available and able to give time during these two weeks, though you can engage remotely.
Further information about the project, including the competition rubric and judging criteria can be found here: https://www.mmu.ac.uk/mothertongueothertongue/how-to-enter
Hours expected:
Approx 2 days (10 hours) w/c25th May to read entries and submit your judgement.
Approx 5 hours at intervals during the w/c 1st June for additional judging meetings and to write up your comments on selected pieces.
Judges may also be asked to submit editing suggestions for pieces they have judged and be asked to proof read these once they have gone through the design process. (This element is optional but judges generally want to follow the process through.) This element of the process can also be done online and can take anywhere between 1 hr and 4 hours, depending on the poem submitted.
Judges will also be invited to attend the celebration event on 8th July. This takes the form of a day of creative workshops, where young people whose work has been selected come in to attend workshops. This is optional but it is in person, in the Poetry Library and there are opportunities for judges to work as ambassadors on the day (paid). A celebration for all volunteers (again optional) will also take place, in the Poetry Library, on the early evening of Wed 8th July.
The total hours of engagement for the judging element of the project would be approx 20 hours over three-four weeks. With the option of attending as a paid ambassador on July 8th.
Please apply, with a brief paragraph or two (no more than 200 words please).
- Please give details of your own language story and your interest in poetry.
- Tell us why you would like to be included on the judging panel and give detail about any relevant experience.
- Please also list any languages spoken/written and level of competency.
- Please tell us what course you are currently studying.
Points Available
90 points manual allocation
- Staff Member: Moodle Support
International Surface and Spatial Design Project
Participants will also propose a Colour Material Finish (CMF) concept board and surface-focused interior spatial concept, which collaboratively celebrates Indian and British Textile Heritage within a contemporary Indo-British spatial context.
Inspiration will be informed by cross-cultural notions of place and design contexts, considering the potential to reinvent space through the integration of surface Innovation, colour, materials and pattern.
Working in research groups, students will collaborate across cultures and disciplines, produce innovative spatial concepts, engage with material research, surface design and contemporary design practice, developing breadth in professional portfolios whilst also developing creative, professional and collaborative skillsets.
You will gain international peer feed-back and the project will be concluded by an international critique.
Participants will compile a final digital submission to present to your external audience.
The collaboration will result in a live spatial intervention within a designated British Council exhibition space in India, celebrating cross-cultural design narratives and showcasing collaborative projects and concepts.
There is an opportunity for two students to go India later in the year to curate and set-up the final show, which will be displayed at the British Council Head Quarters in New Delhi, India.
Associated Badges:
- Staff Member: Elle Simms
Inspired by the current Whitworth exhibition by artist Delaine Le Bas, Turner Prize nominee (2024). Her multidisciplinary work addresses nationhood, gender, identity and belonging through embroidery, painting, sculpture, installation and performance. The exhibition places new and recent work, including 'Un-Fair Ground' from Glastonbury Festival 2024, in dialogue with the Whitworth's collection, exploring themes of magic, folklore and witchcraft.
This brief begins by exploring how clothing can operate as an extension of artistic practice—a space for self‑expression, storytelling, and celebration. Inspired by Delaine Le Bas’s work, you are invited to investigate your own experiences of nationhood, belonging, gender, and identity.
Building on this, you will develop imaginative, idea‑led outcomes informed by both the exhibition and Le Bas’s multidisciplinary approach.
Your Input
An upcycling fashion workshop with Delaine Le Bas and Wendy Roby will take place on Friday 24 April, 1–3pm. The session will involve textile experimentation, garment transformation, embroidery, painting, and inspiration drawn from folklore, nature, and personal narratives.
Possible outputs include artworks, performance, film, textiles, sculpture, and wearable pieces that explore themes such as identity, sustainability, storytelling, and cultural references.
Alongside this, students will produce a mini‑portfolio, fanzine, film, or moving‑image piece that documents their concept development and process‑led experimentation. The project will culminate in one fully resolved final outcome that synthesises their research, creative enquiry, and practical exploration.
Associated Badges:
Delivery Plan:
Support provided through weekly in person tutorials and making workshop sessions on Wednesdays.
• In person workshop at the Whitworth Art Gallery: Friday 24 April, 1–3pm
• Three-week making and teaching block (late April–May)
• Concept submissions: early-May.
Please direct all queries to the lead delivery staff.
Liz Silvester- L.silvester@mmu.ac.uk
Sarah Easom- s.easom@mmu.ac.uk
Along with the University of Manchester, we are delivering the Manchester Universities 7s Festival on Friday 24th April at Broughton Park RFC.
We want students to get involved by volunteering in the following roles:
- Pitch managers
- Administration
- Stewards
Associated Badges:
- Staff Member: Matt Carney
This programme supports talented Man Met students – from any discipline or subject – to transition into a career in Teaching. Through the programme you will gain:
- Careers Insights into Teaching, and ways you can advantage yourself in the PGCE application and interview process
- Relevant Skills with a training programme related to planning for and supporting learning, and an understanding of how these are applied by practicing teachers and PGCE tutors.
- Practical Experience with a school placement.
The programme will combine on-campus sessions, self-study and placement work as set out in the schedule. On completing the course, you will receive 250 points – with the opportunity to earn a further 160 with the recommended self-study kits.
Completing this programme will help support your application to PGCE and you will be able to demonstrate a full understanding of the role and skills required to be successful in these professions.
*Please be aware you will need to complete a DBS clearance check to take part in the placement element of this programme, this will be completed after the advertisement is closed & will be paid for by the programme – however you will need to provide documentation for this.
This activity is a Man Met Rise Career Incubator: Whilst conventional graduate schemes start when you finish University and secure a job, through Man Met Rise we make this kind of experience and training available to you before you leave us. We want to give you every advantage in accelerating your career towards your goal. Priority will be given to those that have engaged with the programme and attained their Silver or Bronze Educator Badge.
Associated Badges:
- Staff Member: Catherine Elkin
- Staff Member: John Lean
- Staff Member: Moodle Support
- Staff Member: Instructor11 Uat11
