The Invisible Penguin Menace: A 2026 BHS English Language Competition Retrospective
Penguins are adorable little creatures. With their defining characteristics being puffiness and monogamy, it is safe to say that they do not make it into most people’s top-5 rankings of the most threatening animals. So, how could we use an army of 5.000 of these fluffballs to conquer the world?
These and other absurd questions were at the heart of 2026’s BHS English Language competition. Candidates had to display not only linguistic prowess, but also creativity and on-the-fly problem-solving and method acting skills to best their competitors in Vorarlberg’s most prestigious Event for aspiring public speakers. Each contestant was given their own conundrum to solve: Some had to quell a revolution of green pears in their own kitchen; others had to return a stolen space suit to the NASA offices. Those who made it past the first round had to pivot towards a more serious tone: In a public debate, they had to argue for or against the use of AI in the creation of art or debate their peers on the censorship of classic literature for classroom purposes. The final round consisted of a speech against the privatization of Vorarlberg’s water supply – a scenario that is, for now, fortunately firmly rooted in the realm of fiction. As the organizer, coming up with such prompts is a task I will never get tired of.
Our school was once more represented by two outstanding candidates:
Sarah Klocker of 5adb gave it her all in the roleplay sessions and channeled her inner Charlie Chaplin: Her attempts at helping the presenter escape Virtual Reality resulted in physical comedy so convincing that the jury awarded her 5th place.
Dilara Ucar of 5aa left her mark on the event especially in the speech round: By involving the audience and making an entire room chant in unison, she moved both the hearts of the listeners and the needle in her favor. The jury awarded her 4th place, putting her in striking distance of a spot in the National Language Competition.
Ultimately, it must be said that competition at such a high level is always going to be a matter of inches. Both Sarah and Dilara did a fantastic job at representing our school, and while they did not bring home any precious metals, their performances will be fondly remembered for years to come. And if all else fails, we will be back next year to reclaim the title – with an army of 5.000 penguins in tow.
For the English Department
Florian Wiesbauer
