The competition was fierce as CIS hosted this year’s English Speaking Union (ESU) finals, a contest open to students from public and international schools across the country. And while you might think the native Anglophone speakers at the international schools have an advantage in such competitions, it was actually the Danish gymnasiums that dominated, with CIS providing the sole representative from the international contingent. The subjects were diverse, from ‘Identity brought on by Culture – A Theory regarding the Actions of Man’ to ‘A Boring Trip to the Museum’, and the tension palpable as the students gathered with ESU chair Claire Clausen and ESU patron Countess Alexandra to listen to the final results

But in the end there could only be one winner, and this year that honour befell Nina Damklær Thorsen (third left) from Øregaard Gymnasium, who spoke on the subject of‘Freedom of Speech’

She succeeded in impressing an intimidating judges panel, which this year consisted of (left-right) Ian Burns, the artistic director of That Theatre Company, Søs Haugaard from the University of Copenhagen and Karl Stoltz, the deputy head of mission at the US Embassy

Among the VIP guests rubbing shoulders with the countess were Irish ambassador Cliona Manahan

and CIS director Walter Plotkin (right)