About the competitions
Thousands of secondary school students participate each year, thus improving their confidence and spoken Italian. The Poetry and Literary Competitions offered annually by the Society are:
The Poetry Recitation Competition presents secondary school students in Years 9-12 with the opportunity to learn and recite an Italian poem - ranging from excerpts of Dante’s Comedy to those of contemporary Italian poets.
Additional to the Recitation Competition, students in years 7-12 are invited to create their own poetic work to be submitted and judged by a panel of academic and teaching experts. The Original Poetry Competition showcases students' creative abilities and awards the originality, poetic finesse and authenticity of students' work.
Offered exclusively to students in Years 11 and 12, the Discorsi Competition allows students to write an extended work, focusing on an issue or area of interest. Discorsi are first judged anonymously by a panel and finalists are required to present their essay to the panel on the day of the Recitation Competition finals.
All students who successfully participate in the Society's competitions receive a certificate acknowledging their achievements. At our awards ceremony, held during Term 3, students who received a first, second or third prize are presented with a trophy and book prize from the Society.
The Poetry Recitation Competition presents secondary school students in Years 9-12 with the opportunity to learn and recite an Italian poem - ranging from excerpts of Dante’s Comedy to those of contemporary Italian poets.
Additional to the Recitation Competition, students in years 7-12 are invited to create their own poetic work to be submitted and judged by a panel of academic and teaching experts. The Original Poetry Competition showcases students' creative abilities and awards the originality, poetic finesse and authenticity of students' work.
Offered exclusively to students in Years 11 and 12, the Discorsi Competition allows students to write an extended work, focusing on an issue or area of interest. Discorsi are first judged anonymously by a panel and finalists are required to present their essay to the panel on the day of the Recitation Competition finals.
All students who successfully participate in the Society's competitions receive a certificate acknowledging their achievements. At our awards ceremony, held during Term 3, students who received a first, second or third prize are presented with a trophy and book prize from the Society.
Who wants to be a poet? Click here to listen to SBS Radio Italian's podcast about the 2016 Poetry Recitation Competition
Our Competitions
Click here to download the Dante Original Poetry and Discorso in Lingua Italiana Competitions Guidelines and Conditions of Entry