Multilingual Poetry Slam (KS3-5): 9.30am-3pm on 27th March 2026 at Newcastle Civic Centre
This event is fully booked
Join Michaël Vidon and his team of Spoken Word Artists to experience a day of multilingual poetry.
Designed for learners at KS3-5 (11-18 years old), pupils will create and perform group poems in multiple languages.
Pupils will learn how to collaborate with peers to write performance poems to be shared in a live Poetry Slam!
Open to North East and Tees Valley secondary schools and sixth forms.
Who is it for?
Open to North East and Tees Valley secondary schools and sixth forms.
Pupils in Key Stage 3 (11-13), Key Stage 4 (14-16) and Key Stage 5 (16-18) who are learning Modern Foreign Languages or English and/or who speak Home Heritage and Community languages.
When will it happen?
This in person event will take place from 9.30am to 3pm on 27th March 2026 at Newcastle Civic Centre.
What is the activity?
A Poetry Slam is a competitive event (think X Factor but without the mean judges) where poets are judged on their skills as writers as well as performers. Now add poetry written in multiple languages that students are studying at school or speak at home!
This experience is a self-contained activity lasting a day. Students from different schools and year groups work on group poems in the morning. They practice their performance skills after lunch and will perform their poems on stage in the afternoon in front of a panel of judges including professional poets, an EU official, and children from the audience.
The Poetry slam is always warm, rowdy and fun. Historically, this format was used to make poetry accessible to all, so all styles (and languages) are welcome!
Pupils will learn how to:
- combine multiple languages: translating, switching, comparing
- collaborate with peers from different schools, age and ability
- express feelings and thoughts in a poem
- speak in public and to improve confidence, fluidity and spontaneity talking in a foreign language.
- use GCSE and A Level topics in a meaningful and creative way.
The session will include:
- performances in multiple languages by professional spoken word artists
- writing and performance workshops with games, poem analysis and writing prompts
- a Poetry Slam with participants and winners going home with prizes
Learners will be enthused to write and speak out in languages they are learning or speak at home. It will also inspire them to progress in their language learning journey.
Pupils will be supported by staff and students from Durham University.
How do I get involved?
This event is fully booked
Register by emailing info@expressyourselfne.com and please provide all of the following information:
- the title of the activity (Multilingual Poetry Slam)
- your school name and address
- teacher contact name and email
- how many pupils you expect to be involved and their ages
Schools will be informed if they have places and there will also be a waiting list.
Schools who get places will be sent venue details in advance, as well as photo and filming permission slips for signature by parents/carers. Pupils attending will be expected to bring a packed lunch to the event.
Further information and links
Michaël is French and teaches French at a secondary school. He is a poet, spoken word artist and Spoken Word Educator and producer of multilingual poetry projects. He specialises in multilingual creativity with workshops mixing a range of languages with English.
- Click here to visit Michaël’s website
- Follow Michaël on social media: instagram | tiktok | Linkedin
Who is organising this?
This activity has been developed by Michaël Vidon. It has been funded and supported by the European Union. The event is hosted by Newcastle City Council and supported by staff and students from Durham University. It is being offered free to schools as part of Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages.
- Contact Michaël Vidon on his site
With support from:
With prizes from:
