TEFL Wonderland | TESOL Gamified Courses

Join the Hippo Olympiad to
  • improve your language skills
  • get exposed to new cultures
  • push yourself to new heights
  • boost your confidence
  • test your limits

What is Hippo Olympiad?

International Competition

Hippo "English Without Borders" Olympiad is an international competition organized by the Global Hippo Association in Italy.

Global Hippo Association

Global Hippo Association is a non-profit organization founded in 2012 with the purpose of promoting the importance of English language knowledge and bringing together children from different countries.

83,000 Students

The 10th Hippo Olympiad was held in 2023, with about 83,342 candidates from 61 countries, with 227 students competing in the final round.

Thousands of Candidates

The 1st English language Olympiad organized by Global Hippo Association was held in 2013, with about 5.000 participants from 6 countries and 43 finalists.

6-19 Years Old

The Olympiad is open for all students (6-19 years old). The Olympiad is run in four stages: preliminary round, national round, regional qualifiers and world finals.

Internationally Recognized Tests

Aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), Internationally recognized and Ofqual regulated English language qualifications are used throughout the Olympiad.

Hippo Olympiad 2023 Champions

Hippo Wonderland

Take Your English Skills to a New Level

Hippo Wonderland Champions

“Do not keep children to their studies by compulsion but by play.” - Plato

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Testimonials

What our students say about Hippo Wonderland Adventures

Why Hippo Wonderland

Gamified
Adventures

Enjoy Preparing for the Hippo Olympiad >

Play & Practice

In Hippo Wonderland, you will play and practice. You will embark on an enjoyable learning adventure, pass checkpoints, earn badges and enjoy hundreds of games and animated videos.

100-120 Hours
All CEFR Levels

Full Access for Six months to Learn and Practice>

Practice for 6 Months

Each course is structured to offer a comprehensive learning experience, encompassing 100 to 120 hours of instruction. Students at all levels, from beginners to advanced, get perfectly prepared for the Hippo Olympiad.

Accessibility
Special Needs

Catering for all Learning Styles & Preferences >

Catering for All Needs

To cater for all learners' needs, preferences and backgrounds, Hippo Wonderland provides audio for all written texts and scripts for all videos. You can also use various accessibility tools to personalize your learning experience.

Trip to Italy

Collect Points and Climb the Leaderboard>

Win a Trip to Italy

In Hippo Wonderland, students play games, score points, and climb up the leaderboard. The top player in each category wins an amazing trip to Italy to attend the Hippo Olympiad finals ceremony.

Hippo Olympiad Rounds

Image of a male student studying online wearing headphones and taking notes on his laptop placed in
From Home
Preliminary Round

15-16 April 2024

This round is conducted virtually. Students can take the test from home.
Mixed-race multiethnic school students pupils schoolchildren coming back to school after holidays
At School
National Qualifiers

13-14 May, 2024

This round is held virtually at your school or at another school in the same city.
Concentrated students answering questions of test
Turkey
Regional Qualifiers

June 2024

This round is held in Turkey.
It is for the top students who could not join the finals directly.
Group of highschool students looking at the globe
Italy
World Finals

September 2024

This round is held in Italy. It is for the students selected in the national or regional qualifiers.

Awards for Hippo Olympiad Winners

Winners will receive one of the following awards.

  • One-week stay at one of Bucksmore Education colleges in UK (fully inclusive of tuition, accommodation, excursions, meals and airport transfers)

  • A full Mizzou K-12 Online Diploma program

  • A Mizzou Academy K-12 online course.

  • All candidates who pass the final round tests (score 55% minimum) will be awarded a Gatehouse Awards internationally recognised certificate in English.

  • All Preliminary and National Final round candidates will receive a certificate of participation.

  • All Hippo finalists and their teachers will be offered free accommodation in Italy to attend the finals.

Which Category Should You Select?

The participants will compete in 12 categories (7 regular and 5 special) based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and will take Gatehouse Awards examinations as well as Hippo Tests.


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Grade 1 & 2
Baby Hippo
Garde 3 & 4
Little Hippo
Garde 5 & 6
Hippo One or S1
Garde 7
Hippo Two or Hippo S2
Garde 8 & 9
Hippo Three or Hippo S3
Garde 10 & 11
Hippo Four or Hippo S4
Garde 12 & 13
Hippo Five or Hippo S5

Regular Category

Regular Competition Categories
  • Students from National Schools (government-funded) or Private Schools (Non English Medium) are allowed to enroll in the Regular Category. The English proficiency level for Regular Category is equivalent to the “English as the Second or Foreign language”.
Baby Hippo
  • Grade: 1 and 2
  • Preliminary Round: CEFR Pre A1 YL
  • National and Final Rounds: CEFR A1 YL
  • Sample Tests
Little Hippo
  • Grade: 3 and 4
  • Preliminary Round: CEFR Pre A1 YL
  • Semi Final and Final Rounds: CEFR A1 YL
  • Sample Tests
Hippo One
  • Grade: 5 and 6
  • Preliminary Round: CEFR A1 YL
  • National and Final Rounds: CEFR A2 YL
  • Sample Tests
Hippo Two
  • Grade: 7
  • Preliminary Round: CEFR A1
  • National and Final Rounds: CEFR A2
  • Sample Tests
Hippo Three
  • Grade: 8 and 9
  • Preliminary Round: CEFR A2
  • National and Final Rounds: CEFR B1
  • Sample Tests
Hippo Four
  • Grade: 10 and 11
  • Preliminary Round: CEFR B1
  • National and Final Rounds: CEFR B2
  • Sample Tests
Hippo Five
  • Grade: 12 and 13
  • Preliminary Round: CEFR B2
  • National and Final Rounds: CEFR C1
  • Sample Tests

Special Category

Special Competition Categories
  • Students from English medium private/international schools or who attended school (for 3 years) in an English speaking country have to join a Special Category.
  • Students who wish to challenge higher levels can also participate in this category.
  • The proficiency level is equivalent to “English as a First language“. 

HIPPO Special Category 1
  • Grade: 5 and 6
  • Preliminary Round: CEFR A1
  • National and Final Rounds: CEFR A2
  • Sample Tests
HIPPO Special Category 2
  • Grade: 7
  • Preliminary Round: CEFR A2
  • National and Final Rounds: CEFR B1
  • Sample Tests
HIPPO Special Category 3
  • Grade: 8 and 9
  • Preliminary Round: CEFR B1
  • National and Final Rounds: CEFR B2
  • Sample Tests
HIPPO Special Category 4
  • Grade: 10 and 11
  • Preliminary Round: CEFR B2
  • National and Final Rounds: CEFR C1
  • Sample Tests
HIPPO Special Category 5
  • Grade: 12 and 13
  • Preliminary Round: CEFR C1
  • National and Final Rounds: CEFR C2
  • Sample Tests

Select Your Hippo Plan

Select Your Hippo Plan
Hippo Olympiad Registration
$80 $ 40
Hippo Wonderland Gamified Course
$250 $ 80
Popular
Hippo Olympiad & Hippo Wonderland Gamified Course
$300 $ 100
Hippo Olympiad Participation
Hippo Olympiad Participation Certificates
Prizes for Winners of Regional Qualifiers and Final Round in Italy
Trip to Italy for Hippo Wonderland Leaderboard Top Students
Hippo Wonderland Gamified Course (100-120 hours)
Language Games, Animated Videos, Quizzes and Mock Tests for Hippo Olympiad Preparation
Writing Assignment Grading
Course Completion Certificate

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate in the Hippo Olympiad?

The Olympiad is open to students 6 – 19 years old from the whole world.

How is the Hippo Olympiad organized?

The Olympiad is run in four stages: Preliminary Round, National Finals, Regional Qualifiers and World Finals.

What is meant by Hippo Categories?

The participants will compete in 12 categories (7 regular and 5 special) based on the Common
European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and will take Gatehouse Awards examinations.

Special categories are aimed at students who are considered bilingual according to the Hippo Olympiad regulations (see above) as well as for the international schools and the schools where 70% or more of the subjects are taught in English (except for the countries where English is the only official language, e.g., UK). These students can compete in one of the five special categories.

Baby Hippo and Little Hippo students, even if they are considered bilingual according to the above, will still compete in the regular categories.

N.B. Global Hippo Association keeps the right to check the school’s curriculum, the language of instruction and number of hours of English taught. Students who enroll in one of the regular categories but are supposed to compete in the special categories according to the regulations will be disqualified.

How are the first 2 rounds organized?

The first two rounds of the Hippo Olympiad, namely the preliminary round and the national final round, are typically conducted within the participants' respective countries.

  1. Preliminary Round: This initial round is held remotely for all participants. Students compete in various categories, and the top scorers (10% of all the participants in each country) move on to the next round.

  2. National Final Round: This round is implemented at a national level for qualified students who have successfully passed the preliminary round. The highest-scoring participants from this round are then selected to participate in the final round.

Should all students attend the Regional Qualifiers?

No. Top students in the Final Round will be invited to the Finals. They will not attend the Qualifiers.

How are students selected for the Qualifiers?

The selection process for the Regional Qualifiers in the Hippo Olympiad is designed to provide opportunities for high-ranking students who did not qualify for the World Finals. Here's a summary of the key points regarding the selection and participation in the Regional Qualifiers:

  1. Selection Based on National Round Performance: Students who rank the highest among those not qualified for the World Finals are eligible for the Regional Qualifiers.

  2. Proportional Representation: The number of students admitted to the Regional Qualifiers in each category is proportional to the number of participants in the preliminary round from each country. This ensures a fair representation of students from different countries and categories.

  3. In-Person Attendance Requirement: The Regional Qualifiers are conducted in person. Online examinations are not available for this round, and no exemptions are granted.

  4. Confirmation of Participation: Students who are invited to participate in the Regional Qualifiers must confirm their participation within five working days of receiving the invitation. This prompt response is crucial for the organizers to manage the event effectively.

  5. Invitation to Next in Ranking: If a student does not confirm their participation within the specified timeframe, the invitation is extended to the next student in the ranking list from the same country. This ensures that the opportunity to participate is not lost and is given to the next deserving candidate.

What is Hippo Wonderland?

Hippo Wonderland is an engaging and immersive English language learning program designed for learners at various proficiency levels. It's a gamified course that combines the excitement of an adventure with the learning of English language skills.

How can I prepare for the Hippo Olympiad tests?

Hippo Wonderland courses (elementary, intermediate and advanced levels) offer hundreds of interactive games, animated videos, quizzes and mock tests. You will get perfectly prepared for all the Hippo Olympiad rounds while enjoying every minute of your learning adventure. 

Who will pay for the flight and accommodation in Italy?

The final round of the Olympiad will be held in Assisi, Italy, in September 2024. Three-day half-board accommodation will be provided for all the candidates and their teachers free of charge, while the costs of travel will be borne by the participants.

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