Poetry by Heart

This year again, the students of ASEICA enthusiastically took up the challenge of the Poetry by Heart competition, a British national competition for young people aged 14 to 18. Through memorizing and reciting poems, they demonstrated their talent, sensitivity, and mastery of spoken English.

A competition that celebrates living poetry

Poetry by Heart is a national competition organised in the United Kingdom which invites students to choose a poem, memorise it and then recite it in front of a jury.

The objective goes far beyond simple oral performance: it is about appropriating a text, understanding its profound meaning and conveying one's emotions with sincerity and conviction.

As the teaching team explains, the essential element is that the poem is chosen and not imposed. When a student chooses a text, it is because it resonates with their own story, emotions, or sensibilities. This personal connection gives the interpretation its full power.

Congratulations to our 2025 winners!

This year, several students from ASEICA particularly distinguished themselves by the quality of their performance.

🏆 Bianca Herve – College Winner

🏆 Mathilde Ray Benoit – High School Laureate

🏆 Ambre Durand – High School Laureate

🥈Alexandre Arnott - Honorable mention 

🥉Marie Benhamou - Honorable Mention

Their commitment, their work and their ability to bring the texts to life were noted throughout the competition.

Poems chosen with the heart

Whether it was romantic poetry, humorous verses, love poems or texts evoking the realities of war, each participant brought their work to life with passion and sensitivity.

The students were able to convey the full richness of emotions contained in their texts, making each recitation a true moment of sharing.

The winners have the floor.

Bianca Herve

«I am very grateful to have had the chance to participate in Poetry by Heart. This experience taught me many things, but above all, that to achieve great things, you have to work hard, be passionate... and have fun!»

For Bianca, this adventure was an opportunity to develop her self-confidence while discovering the power of words and oral expression.

Mathilde Ray Benoit

«Participating in Poetry by Heart was a wonderful and exciting experience that I will cherish forever. Thank you to ASEICA for making this possible and thank you to all the teachers who accompanied us on this adventure!»

Her testimony perfectly illustrates the lasting impact that an artistic and cultural experience can have on a student's journey.

Ambre Durand

«"Poetry by Heart was a wonderful experience that opened my eyes to the beauty and power of poetry."»

Through her participation, Ambre discovered a new way to appreciate literature and share the emotions it conveys.

Much more than a competition

Beyond the competition, Poetry by Heart allows students to develop numerous skills:

• Memorization; ;
• Spoken expression in English; ;
• Self-confidence; ;
• Literary interpretation; ;
• Public speaking.

But above all, it encourages young people to create a personal connection with literature and to discover that poetry is a living, accessible and profoundly human form of expression.

Poetry at the heart of learning

At ASEICA, we are convinced that the arts and literature play an essential role in the personal and intellectual development of students.

Projects like Poetry by Heart help cultivate creativity, curiosity and self-confidence while promoting mastery of the English language.

We warmly congratulate all participants for their commitment, courage and the quality of their performances.

This year again, they reminded us that poetry is not only meant to be read: it is meant to be felt, shared and lived.

Congratulations to all participants, and sincere thanks to the many teachers who contributed to the success of this adventure as judges, mentors and coaches.

By Anne Hanafin & Brannon Godwin, Professors of Literature ASEICA.