French Language Week Competition 2008

The competition is now closed.

Thank you to all schools and pupils who have taken part in the initiative, and congratulations to the winners, runners-up and highly commended pupils.

More than a thousand pupils form 250 schools were entered in the national competition this year, with a total of 312 entries of amazing quality. We are hoping to run a third edition of the competition in the next academic year 08-09.

To access the list of winners, runners-up and highly commended pupils, please click here(WORD, 1.20MB)

To access the list of participating schools and pupils, please click here(WORD, 441 KB)

To download a certificate template for individual pupils, please click here(PDF, 736 KB)

On Wednesday 19 March 2008, the winning pupils and their teachers will be honoured at a prestigious award-ceremony, hosted by the French Ambassador at the French Institute in London, where they were presented with their prizes by French singer Barbara Carlotti and Eurostar’s Finance Director Ian Nunn. The event will be followed by the UK premiere of the film La France and a concert of Barbara Carlotti, who endorsed the competition this year.

Winners will embark on their trip to Paris on 3 and 4 July 2008.

French Language Week Competition is an initiative designed by the British Council and the French Embassy and partnered by the DCSF, the Institut Français and Eurostar, to inspire and encourage children across England to learn and understand more about the French language.

Entrants from Year 3 to Year 13 are challenged to submit a piece of artistic and written work inspired by ten French words, selected by the French Ministry of Culture for French Language Week. This year, the 10 chosen words were apprivoiser, boussole, jubilatoire, palabre, passerelle, rhizome, s’attabler, tact, toi, visage and highlighted the theme of meeting - la rencontre.

What’s the competition about?

This school competition is an exciting opportunity to provide pupils from all primary and secondary schools in England with an original and stimulating approach to learning French.

It aims to help teachers get their pupils talking, writing and working in French, and discovering more about the French language and culture, by encouraging them to produce a creative competition entry based on 10 words chosen for French Language Week.

What is French Language Week?

“La Semaine de la Langue Française” (French Language Week) is an annual international celebration of the French language and French-speaking cultures initiated by the French Ministry of Culture. For this special occasion, 10 words are chosen as an emblem of the richness of the French language, inviting us to give way to our imagination and creativity.

In 2008, French Language Week will take place from the 14th to the 24th of March.

Why should schools take part in this competition?

By taking part in French Language Week competition and involving as many classes as possible, schools can:

•Provide their French learners with an exciting approach to learning French and therefore increase their motivation. By doing so, they can fulfil the expectations of the National Languages Strategy.

•Sensitise non-French learners and potentially encourage them to take-up French

•Encourage KS4 learners to pursue with French at AS level

•Strengthen links and collaboration with colleagues both within and outside the MFL department, for example with the Arts, ICT or Drama teachers. This could lead them to develop cross-curricular approaches in their teaching which they might have not considered yet.

•Instil an international dimension in their school, which is one of the objectives of the International strategy. By taking part in FLW competition, schools are eligible for the foundation level of the International School Award, the official accreditation acknowledging schools’ international activities. To apply, visit the International School Award webpage.

•Raise their school's profile among parents, governors and local authority representatives.