Past Senior Scholarship Prompts

Past Senior Scholarship Prompts

Each year a new prompt is given to competing students. By practicing with prompts of previous years, your students can get acclimated to this competition process.

Prompt from 2017

Dear Candidate:

Congratulations on being nominated to participate in this competition! Please write a one-page essay on the paper provided based on the following prompt:

Lead with Languages: Global Skills for a Competitive Edge

2017 has been designated as the year of “Lead with Languages: Global Skills for a Competitive Edge” by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Your school has decided to start a local media campaign in your community to create greater awareness on the importance of speaking a second language. Write a short editorial to your local paper presenting your arguments to support the importance of communicating in a second language, understanding other cultures, and how it will prepare you for 21st Century Careers in our ever-expanding global world.

You will write in the target language you are studying. Your writing sample will be evaluated by two readers/scorers based on your ability to communicate your message. The writing will be assessed based on the following criteria: organization of ideas, development of the topic, ability to persuade the intended audience, sentence structure, and appropriate use of vocabulary, grammar, and spelling when conveying your message.


Prompt from 2014

Dear Candidate:

Congratulations on being nominated to participate in this competition! Please write a one-page essay on the paper provided based on the following prompt:

We live in an age where being connected is very important. The 21st century has become an age of interconnectivity. The internet and the predominance of social media have brought people together in an immediate and instant way more than ever before. All this of course brings the need of being bilingual if not even multilingual. It is becoming increasingly difficult to make the connections you both want and need without speaking another language.

What are the career and personal benefits of speaking another language or several languages? Why do you think it is important to you in the 21st century to be bilingual if not multilingual? What motivated you to learn another language? In your essay please mention the motivation, benefits, and importance of being multilingual.

You will write in the target language you are studying. Your writing sample will be evaluated by two readers/scorers based on your ability to communicate your message. The writing will be assessed based on the following criteria: organization of ideas, development of the topic, ability to persuade the intended audience, sentence structure, and appropriate use of vocabulary, grammar, and spelling when conveying your message.


Prompt from 2013

Dear Candidate:

Congratulations on being nominated to participate in this competition!
Please write a one-page essay on the paper provided based on the following prompt:

Due to globalization, the United States now faces greater competition from other countries, and is no longer the world’s front runner in attracting international business. In order to compete worldwide, U.S. business leaders are looking for individuals who can communicate with business personnel from around the world and interact in culturally appropriate ways.

Based on this trend, how does your experience with a world language and culture help you stand out from other job applicants? As an employee, how could you help an American business grow in international markets? Explain what you think should be done to improve the education of high school and college students so that they are prepared to meet the challenges of the global marketplace.

You will write in the target language you are studying. Your writing sample will be evaluated by two readers/scorers based on your ability to communicate your message. The writing will be assessed based on the following criteria: organization of ideas, development of the topic, ability to persuade the intended audience, sentence structure; and appropriate use of vocabulary, grammar, and spelling when conveying your message.


Prompt from 2012

Dear Candidate:

Congratulations on being nominated to participate in the FLENJ Scholarship competition! Please write a one-page essay on the paper provided, based on the following prompt:

Your school has decided to organize a Model United Nations Club. The Model United Nations Club engages in an authentic simulation of the United Nations system by learning about the UN system, the skills of debate, compromise, conflict resolution and negotiation. Model United Nations team members learn about the workings of world diplomacy through the lens of current events.

The school would like the team to include students who have studied a world language. One of the requirements for the selection of team members is an essay written in the language you are studying. In your essay, state why you would like to be a member of this club. Please include your strengths and highlight what would make you a valuable member of the team.

You will write in the target language you are studying. Your writing sample will be evaluated by two readers/scorers based on your ability to communicate your message. The writing will be assessed based on the following criteria:

• organization of ideas,
• development of the topic,
• ability to persuade the intended audience,
• sentence structure,
• appropriate use of vocabulary, grammar, and spelling.