Over the weekend, some of the top Ugandan secondary schools convened and enjoyed and made the best of their Sunday, reciting plays, drama, poems, dancing and singing in French!
With every school unleashing their best in the Francophonie all-month long celebrations, it was incredible how different schools showcased talents in embracing the day’s activities.
Most of these students understood the script with every school doing it different and right on point in a French way, it was indeed a great way to celebrate French Language in schools whilst embracing Francophone month which is usually celebrated in March every year.
It was business as usual not until the Mc, the talented Elite High School S.5 Student Allisa, announced that it was then time for the Elite High School students to embrace the stage and wow! We saw properly trained dancers on stage, one is right to call them professional dancers because that’s what they are exactly. No ordinary dancer pulls such dance moves like that unless they do it as a business but hey, look, they did not do it in return for money, they did it for the love of the school, competitions and above all, for the love of French!
Renowned media personality Emuk Benjamen alias Benjie, was there and hooked up with one of the participants Esther Keza, 15 (S.3) who dares believes that Elite beat all the groups black and blue and brings you the interview. Grab a cup of coffee as you enjoy the chat!
In your participation at the Francophonie month celebrations featuring schools’ competitions, what did you like the most?
I liked the chances they gave to each student to express their speaking skills by participating in different activities
Which activity did you enjoy the most? Not necessarily what you participated in?
I enjoyed the dances the more and I think everyone else did because it was well written on their faces as they watched the performances with smiles.
Which participants do you believe out did the rest and why?
The Elite dancers made the day incredible because they were not only good at it but were as well more organized. They impressed everyone at the event.
Do you think you were given enough time to showcase all that you prepared for the guests?
Yeah, that’s right, we were given enough time as Elite High School and I believe all participants were allotted enough time to showcase.
Let’s talk about the preparations given to the competitions, how did they come along?
Ohhh! I wouldn’t really say they were that very cool because they weren’t that good since we wasted a lot of time, only telling stories. And also the teachers weren’t that strict enough to make things work in the right direction. I am very positive that if we had used our time very well, we would have done better than that. Never the less, we did our best all in all!
So, do you think such competitions are in the right direction towards improving learning of French?
Yeah I do strongly believe that such competitions are of great help, For instance if there’s a student who wants to be an ambassador of French, he or she through public speech will be able to keep on with the courage of speaking French.
What more do you want to see in place to enhance such initiatives?
Good question, Well, for the case of the organizers and the school, I think they should start organizing trips to places where French is spoken like embassies, airports, hotels and many more because the students will be encouraged to keep up with the language because they will be exposed, motivated and inspired.
And also, what did you expect in the competitions, on both sides, side of the participants and the organizers?
Prior preparation towards the competitions and more dedication from the teachers and students side needs to be done. And also, I expected gifting of the best students from APFO and partners.
How did you feel participating in those competitions?
Wow! Benjamen, just so you know, I must admit, it was a very nice experience, one I will always live to remember.
Let’s take it to class now, how do you find French in Class?
For starters, maybe they would feel quite uneasy but when you take it on and insist, with all the determination and dedication, you will find it very easy, interesting and admirable.
Do you have enough support from the school in terms of teachers and French learning materials?
Well for the teachers, they are supportive and good enough but I would love it best if the school would add on more learning materials.
The Francophonie Schools Competitions was organized by The Association of Teachers of French in Uganda (APFO) under the theme: Speak Out.
