A BUDDING Monmouth linguist is celebrating after winning a top prize in a prestigious national German competition.

Alex Grinnell-Wright, a pupil at Monmouth School for Girls, won first prize in the annual Oxford German Olympiad Year 7 to 9 category.

The theme of the competition was Friendship and Alex had to write an e-mail, in German, to a teenager in Monmouth’s twin town, Waldbronn.

Alex, a Year 9 pupil from Mitchel Troy, will be attending the prize-giving ceremony on Tuesday 19th June in the Bodleian Library, Oxford University.

Fellow Year 9 pupils at Monmouth School for Girls, Freya Thomas, Usk’s Carys Williams, and Jodie Tang were all highly commended by the judges.

The Monmouth students had to introduce themselves, their school, and explain why they wanted to be friends with their Waldbronn counterparts.

Every year, the Oxford German Network calls all young learners of German to take part in its national German competition, the Oxford German Olympiad.

Head of Modern Foreign Languages at Monmouth School for Girls, Mrs Helen Smail, said: “We are thrilled that Alex has won first prize in this year’s Oxford University German Olympiad.

“There were more than 800 entries this year which makes the achievements of Alex and the other Monmouth students’ all the more special.

“I am delighted that Alex’s hard work has been rewarded and congratulate fellow Year 9 pupils Jodie, Freya and Carys, whose work was highly commended.”