Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School student Katrina Urrego and Notre Dame College School student Brice Maidens simulating a phone conversation during an oral improvisation exercise at the Brock-Niagara French Contest held on campus Wednesday, May 9.
The Brock-Niagara French Contest celebrated its 40th anniversary Wednesday, May 9, with close to 200 students from across the region visiting campus for the competition.
The annual event is organized by the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures in cooperation with local school boards.
High school students from the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) and the Niagara Catholic District School Board (NCDSB) competed in five different language activities designed to challenge their language abilities. Students will compete against their peers in three categories — core French, intensive French and first-language French.
The French Contest is an important opportunity for students to visit Brock and meet current undergrads, said event co-organizer Assistant Professor Astrid Heyer.
“The competition allows us to showcase aspects of our program, as well as the Brock campus,” she said. “We are very proud of the fact that many of our current French students, who were themselves participants as high school students, help out with the event and serve as guides throughout the day.”
The event includes a concert by Amadou Kienou, a French-language musician from Burkino Faso. Kienou plays the djembe and tama and has performed around the world.
Prizes for top winners are made possible through the generosity of Brock University, DSBN, NCDSB and local businesses and community organizations representing Niagara’s Francophone community.
