Maple Ridge students have won top awards at a nationwide French speaking competition.
Ten thousand students from across B.C. competed, 264 made the provincial finals, and two students from Maple Ridge took home a top award in this year’s pan-provincial French public speaking competition, Concours d’art Oratoire.
Marianne Kwon, a Grade 10 French immersion student at Maple Ridge secondary, took third place for “Le Village Plastique.”
J.R. Zhang, a Grade 11/12 core French student at Meadowridge School, took second for “Le systeme scolaire est deforme.
“Through participation in Concours, students develop confidence and improve their French, but as well their skills in time management, listening and critical thinking. Ultimately, they become more effective as communicators, capable of inspiring others,” said Diane Tijman, president of Canadian Parents for French B.C. and Yukon.
“We are so proud of all our Concours participants. Bravo à vous tous et toutes pour votre belle participation.” she added.
The 2017 provincial finalists from Maple Ridge:
• Amelia Clutchey, Grade 7 early immersion, “Les Stratégies de commersialisation,” Eric Langton;
• Jodie Soo, Grade 8 immersion, “Ma réponse aux personnes qui disaient que je suis laide,” Maple Ridge secondary;
• Maèva Tremblay, Grade 9 Francophone, “Est-ce vraiment une religion?” Thomas Haney secondary;
• Marlowe Evans, Grade 11 immersion, “Stress!” Thomas Haney;
• Sadie Sugden-Harvey, Grade 12 early immersion, “Ce n’est pas ce que j’avais pensé,” Thomas Haney;
• Denise Zhu, Grade 9 core French, “Les Rêves et Leurs Mystères,” Meadowridge;
• Juliana Antepeyan, Grade 10 immersion, “Pourquoi tuons-nous les abeilles,” Meadowridge;
• Ruoxi (Rosy) Gu, Grade 10 core French, “Cybercrime,” Meadowridge.
This year marked the 34th anniversary of the Canadian Parents for French B.C. and Yukon sponsored Concours d’art oratoire. The provincial finals were hosted on May 6 at the SFU Surrey campus. An estimated 85,000 students in Grades 6-12 participate annually across Canada.
Student participants choose, develop and present a five-minute speech in French. They participate in their local classroom, top students move on to the school district competition, then on to the provincial competition, and finally the top Grade 12 speakers move on to the national competition.