Inspiring beyond borders
Recognising the teachers who make a difference.
Great teaching is about more than preparing students for a competition. It is about inspiring curiosity, building confidence, encouraging progress and helping every student discover their potential.
The Hippo Inspirer Award celebrates teachers who make a meaningful difference in their students’ learning journey. We want to recognise those who go beyond teaching English: teachers who motivate, support, guide and inspire their students, creating positive and lasting educational experiences.
What does it mean to be a Hippo Inspirer?
An inspiring teacher does not necessarily have the largest class or the highest number of students reaching the final rounds. Inspiration can be found in everyday teaching: in a new approach that makes learning more engaging, in the encouragement that helps a student overcome a difficulty, or in the patience and dedication that allow someone to make progress and believe in their own abilities.
Through Hippo Inspirer, we want to give visibility and recognition to these experiences and to the teachers behind them.
What are we looking for?
Applications will be assessed through four main areas:
Motivating and supporting students
How do you motivate your students, build their confidence and help them overcome difficulties?
Teaching practice and creativity
What activities, methods or strategies do you use to make learning English meaningful and engaging?
Educational impact and student progress
What positive changes have you observed in your students? How have you contributed to their learning, motivation and progress?
Reflection and sharing
What have you learned from your teaching experience, and what could other teachers learn from you?
We value concrete examples, thoughtful teaching choices and genuine reflections. Student progress is not measured only through competition results: confidence, motivation, participation, independence and perseverance are equally meaningful signs of growth.
Who can apply?
Hippo Inspirer is open to teachers involved in Hippo – the Contest 2027 edition.
If you have encouraged your students to learn, helped them face challenges or found new ways to make English learning more engaging, we invite you to share your experience.
How to apply?
Applying is simple. Complete the online application form and tell us about your teaching experience, the activities you have developed and the progress you have observed in your students.
You do not need to submit monthly reports or extensive documentation. We are interested in your real experiences, specific examples and reflections on your work.
Need some inspiration?
Take part in Hippo Inspirer 2027
Celebrating inspiring teachers
Three selected teachers will be hosted at our expense at the Hippo World Finals 2027. During the Final Ceremony, we will announce the first, second and third place winners among them.
Hippo Inspirer — Inspiring beyond borders.
HIPPO INSPIRER WINNER 2026
CONGRATULATIONS TO
NORMAHYATUR BINTI MOHD ABAS
