A race to learn a language in a month from scratch has started in earnest.

Oxford University students and staff each drew out of a hat a European language which is not commonly taught in schools such as Bulgarian, Catalan, Finnish, Polish, Ukrainian and Lithuanian.

Using books, tapes, videos and Internet resources at the University's Language Centre in Woodstock Road, it will be up to them to outdo their rivals in mastering their chosen language.

Thirty people are taking part in the Oxford Language Race.

At the end of the month participants will be asked to take part in a ten-minute conversation with a fluent speaker of the language, and to recite a poem in the language from memory.

This unusual challenge has been organised by the University's Language Centre as part of the European Year of Languages 2001, and to raise money for Reading Quest, a local charity which helps young people who are struggling with their reading.

Dr Robert Vanderplank, director of the language centre, said: "We wanted to do something that would celebrate the diversity and tradition of language learning at Oxford and draw attention to our wonderful resources for independent language.

"We've had a really enthusiastic response from Oxford colleges which are nominating and sponsoring participants."

The winner will be presented with a pair of return air tickets to any of British Midland's European destinations.