French students across the upper and middle school campuses were given a total of 183 awards collectively last week following their participation in the National French Contest, also known as the Grand Concours.

Students won in five different award categories: Mention honorable, given to students in the 50th to 74th percentile; the Médaille de bronze, given to 24 students in the 75th to 84th percentile; the Médaille d’argent, given to 34 students in the 85th to 94th percentile; the Médaille d’or, given to 48 students in the 95th to 99th percentile; and the Médaille de platine, a medal awarded to two students who earned a perfect score on the exam. 

Students who won the Médaille de platine were also given a plaque by the contest to celebrate their accomplishment, while others received a certificate or medal. Mini award celebrations were held during class. 

“The exam is really interesting because you can learn interesting tidbits about French culture,” French student Aarya Vaidya (10) said. “It also gives you a more general idea of what other people are learning in French, not just students who are taking French at Harker.”

The competition, run by the American Association of Teachers of French, was conducted in classes the week of March 16, with students taking tests of varying difficulties based on their level. French teachers Agnès Pommier and Galina Tchourilova proctored the event, which was required for all French students. 

Tchourilova explained how the competition helped students learn more about traditions and events in France.

“I really like this experience as it gives students the opportunity to explore the cultural aspects of the language as well,” Tchourilova said. “You really cannot prepare for this exam overnight, so all the work is cumulative — reading, listening, maybe being exposed to songs or any other form of culture.”

Harker first began testing in 2004 as a way to give students opportunities to learn French outside class, using mailed paper copies and DVDs. In 2019, the Grand Concours updated its format, removing the previous Language in Context section and replacing it with two parts: Listening and Reading Comprehension. The competition switched to a fully digital format on the Lingco website in 2020. The transition was accompanied by a shift in focus from traditional translation to language interpretation and culture to assess language proficiency. 

To prepare for the competition, students could access past exams through Lingco Classroom, the competition’s online website. Some practices were also assigned for homework leading up to the exam in order to help students gain experience with the test format. As both a teacher and proctor, Pommier appreciated how the competition motivated students to learn more. “The Grand Concours is a competition that is dear to my heart, because I think it’s a great way to expose the students to something different,” Pommier said. “I really want this competition to be enriching and something to be proud of, as it encourages students to learn French and to celebrate their accomplishments.”