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A-level French and Spanish student Matthew Nixon recently competed against some of the best lateral thinkers from secondary schools across Ireland as they tested their wits against the languages of the world at the national final of the All-Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO) at Dublin City University on the 20th of March.

AILO challenges students to develop their own strategies for solving the world’s toughest puzzles in language, logic and linguistics. The budding linguists competed in individual and team rounds in the hope of securing the national trophy and the chance to represent Ireland at the International Linguistics Olympiad in Slovenia this July. Matthew was awarded a prestigious silver medal. This is his second achievement in languages this year, having already obtained a top A grade in AS Spanish in January.