III. gimnazija Zagreb

U subotu 24. travnja 2021. održan je prvi izlučni krug natjecanja u poznavanju engleskog jezika u kojem su sudjelovala 63 učenika naše škole u dvije kategorije natjecanja: Hippo 4 i Hippo 5. Natjecanje je ovaj puta provedeno online zato što je u tom tjednu redovna nastava bila na daljinu.

Pročitajte kako je natjecanje doživjela učenica 2.d razreda, Ana Babić.

A look back at Hippo 2021...

            2020 and 2021 have certainly been challenging years. Everyone was affected in some kind of way. We have had to adapt, change and learn all the while navigating through stressful and taxing circumstances. Considering all of that, I am incredibly thankful for being able to participate in this year’s Hippo competition, even in a non-conventional way. This year, more than ever, it was not about winning or being the best but more about being able to connect and bring some normalcy back into our lives.

          Of course, every single competition is stressful and exciting but this year’s Hippo was even more unpredictable then usual which brought its own challenges. Even though I have participated in a couple of online competitions, you never really get used to those peculiar conditions. For Hippo online you have to be prepared for so much more than just the tests on their own. The knowledge that you could ruin all your chances with just one click messes with your head more than anyone can imagine. There are so many things that can go wrong and for most of them the responsibility is you. Thankfully, the Hippo organization did an amazing job with the technical side of things so there were no major problems and everything went smoothly. The ability to compete and participate in a worldwide competitions despite the ongoing pandemic is truly amazing and unique. I also thought that this year’s tests were really fun. The themes and texts were interesting and challenging. And I really do feel like it helped me assess my knowledge of English and get more comfortable and confident with it.

          In conclusion, this year’s Hippo competition was peculiar and something new. Nevertheless, it had still been able to bring us all of its benefits and important lessons.