For third-year French Studies student Misbah Memon, sharing her journey studying at Brock is a meaningful experience that reminds her of the critical role language plays in fostering community.

Memon  volunteered alongside other Brock French students on Wednesday, April 29 at the 45th Brock-Niagara French Contest, which was organized by Brock’s Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures (MLLC).

The annual event is hosted in collaboration with the Niagara Catholic District School Board and local schools from Ontario’s French school boards. The contest is a long-standing tradition that brings high school students to campus for a day of skills-based learning and community connection.

“Many students visiting Brock for the contest may only have a chance to speak French in their class, but thanks to this event, they get to use their French in many different scenarios and learn about the greater Francophone culture at Brock and in Niagara,” said Memon, who took French immersion in elementary and high school in St. Catharines.

Throughout the day, students engaged in various workshops and activities across campus including trivia, a visit to the Brock University Library and a trip to the Campus Store, where they were tasked with creating improvised skit. Activities were designed to help students build their French reading, writing and communication skills.

Grade 10 student Christopher Capaldi from École secondaire Franco-Niagara said visiting Brock was a memorable experience.

“It was a really fun day of learning and discovery, and everyone at Brock is so friendly. I also learned a lot about French history in Canada, not just in Quebec but also in Manitoba and New Brunswick,” he said.

Continuing his French education is important to Capaldi because his mother speaks French and his grandparents are French Canadian.

“I want to keep the French language going in my family for future generations,” he said.

MLLC Instructor Luciano Soligo, a member of the organizing committee who has attended the event for 30 years, acknowledges that speaking a second language with confidence is hard and often nerve-wracking. Particularly when students don’t have many opportunities to speak French outside the classroom.

“Over the past thirty years, I have seen the impact when they come to Brock — they come out of their shell and jump right in. We help them apply their skills in different scenarios, and they always walk away proud and motivated to continue their French language educational journey,” he said.

Returning for a third year as a student volunteer, Memon said connecting with others passionate about French makes her feel grateful that the University offers robust language education.

“Having a place at Brock where I can continue learning French has helped me connect with others who share the same goal — learning French as a second language. It also means a lot to have professors from different countries whose first language is French,” she said.

Memon says the sense of community and support in MLLC and French Studies will stay with her through her upcoming final year at Brock and beyond.

“French is an international language and speaking it as a second language will allow me to connect to cultures, personally and professionally, opening up a world of opportunities for the future,” she said.