I am always looking for new ways to help my students demonstrate their learning and to take pride in their success. Recently, 16 students from Year 6 took on a new challenge that made them, and me, incredibly proud.
The DELF (Diplôme d’Ẹtudes en Langue Française) is the official French language diploma for French as a foreign language. Successful French learners receive an official certificate to demonstrate their proficiency as a French speaker from the French government. The DELF is the most widely-recognized French exam in the world; administered once a year, the exam tests reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.
At the beginning of the year, 16 students decided to take on the challenge of the DELF and have attended a weekly French club to prepare. Every member of the group showed great dedication and independent learning by coming to school early and doing extra revision at home.
We piled into the school minibus to take the test at the Alliance Française- only a select few places in the U.S are permitted to administer the exams. Over a period of 5 hours, the students took group and individual exams, in which they showed off their fantastic French skillS. Each and every student is to be applauded for their maturity, respect and focus during the day. The examiners and staff at the Alliance all commented on how impressed they were by the students’ excellent behavior and level of French.
Taking an exam, especially in another language, and at only 11 years old, is a nerve wrecking experience, but the students were able to put that aside because they were so passionate about their success and their desire to make themselves proud. The students should soon be finding out their results and awaiting their official certificates from France.
Adam Hopps is a French teacher and aspiring leader at BISC Lincoln Park.