LesAmisConcours2012

1.    The contest is being held earlier in March to avoid conflicts with testing, vacations & other school activities.

2.    We are holding the contest later in the day – from 4-6 :00 PM so that you won’t be required to leave school early on the day of the contest. As always, we will stick to our time limits.

3.    We have shortened the number of questions and the types of questions that we give to the students to prepare ahead of time.   We hope it will be easier for the students to prepare and for you to coach them.   Questions of a personal nature make it easier for the students to express themselves rather than questions that they have to research and memorize.

4.    There will be no topic for round 2. The judges will ask two personal questions that are within the range of what students can express in French.

5.    As per your request, we are adding a third level to the contest for students who previously were ineligible but often participated in the contest anyway. This third level is for students whose fluency puts them in the category of francophone or very fluent – ie students who have a French parent, attended a French or bilingual school, lived in a French speaking country or have taken over 10 years of French. Any or all of the above apply.   Understandably, this will be a small number of students. In order to add this level, we need a minimum of 10 students to participate.   There will only be one prize for this level and there will be no questions to prepare ahead of time. The judges will ask personal questions that are within the capabilities of these students (ie their school, family, activities, friends, interests, travels etc)

This level will be in limbo until we get all the applications in on the deadline of March 2nd. In the meantime, maybe you can use these students to coach your other students, which will also prepare them at the same time.

6.    Occasionally there are outstanding students in French 3 that can compete with students in the more advanced classes. We’ve had a few in the past. Let me know if you are going to include them and they must be within the 10 student limit from each school. And of course, encourage students who qualify for the new level 3 to compete.

1. Quelle région de France ou d’un autre pays francophone voudriez-vous visiter et pourquoi?

2. Quel héros ou quelle héroïne universel(le), mort(e) ou vivant(e), vous a inspiré. Pourquoi et comment?

3. Quelle sorte de film préférez-vous ? Est-ce qu’il y a un film récent qui vous a fortement impressionné et pourquoi ?

4. Parlez-nous de votre famille ou de vos amis. Qu’est-ce que vous aimez faire ensemble ?

5. Quel rôle est-ce que la musique joue dans votre vie ? Quelle sorte de musique préférez-vous et pourquoi ?

6. Si vous deviez choisir votre profession cette année, laquelle choisiriez-vous et pourquoi ? Quel rôle est-ce que le français y jouerait ?

WHO: Students who are taking advanced French classes (French 4 & 5 ). Please note that previous prize winners are not eligible.

New Category for 2012: Students who have attended a French or bilingual school, lived in a French speaking country, have French speaking parents or studied French for 10 years can participate this year if we have a minimum of 10 students. There will be no questions to prepare ahead of time and there will be only one prize awarded in this category. The judges will ask personal questions that are within the capabilities of the students.

WHEN: March 12, 2012 from 4:00-6:00 (new time) p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave., Berkeley, CA. Applications are due on or before Friday, March 2. Applications may be mailed or e-mailed in pdf.

WHAT: The contest is oral and the students will be judged on their spoken French. The students will be asked to give a short introduction in French about themselves and they will also be asked to respond to some of the questions provided. Depending on their background in French and the number of students, we will probably have two levels of competition. (There may be a new third level depending on the number.) The top students from round 1 will go on to the final round to determine the winners on each level.

PRIZES: Cash prizes will be awarded to the top students. The prizes will be presented at an awards ceremony on Friday, April 20. An official from the French Consulate will speak to the students and award the prizes. There will also be a special guest speaker, Roland David Valayre. He is a playwright and theater director.

JUDGES: The judges are members of Les Amis. Don’t be nervous; this isn’t a test. ☺