18 Middle Schoolers Earn French Certification
Seventh graders William Cobb, Meghan DeLaughter, Taylor McMillan, T.J. Smith, Andrew Tiblets and Henry Wallace earned DELF A1 certification. Eighth graders Tallula Celentano, Liam Dailey, Henry Hoisager, Tyler Jackson, Mason Matthews, Helena McClanahan, Lili Moreno, Philippa Nghi, Sophie Ratino, Lilah Smith, Katherine Walker and Ana Yi earned DELF A2 certification.
“All these students have worked tremendously hard to earn these valuable qualifications, which are tangible proof of the learning and progress they have made,” said Rob Napier, Middle School French Teacher. “They were able to demonstrate their proficiency to a high level in each of the four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. I am delighted they have taken these significant steps on their French-learning journey and look forward to seeing how far they can go. Bravo!”
The DELF (Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française) is a French-language proficiency certification granted by the French Ministry of Education, recognized worldwide and valid for life. For children age 11 and older, taking the DELF examination can bring many benefits, including improved language skills, academic opportunities, and career prospects. The primary benefit of taking the DELF examination is that it helps students enhance their French language skills. The examination assesses a student’s proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking, which are essential for mastering the language. By taking the test, students identify their strengths and weaknesses in each area, allowing them to focus on improving their weak points and enhancing their overall French language skills.
Students at the A1 level are able to understand and use familiar everyday expressions and basic phrases aimed at satisfying concrete needs; introduce themselves and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details (such as where they live, people they know and things they have); and interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
Students at the A2 level are able to understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (such as basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography and employment); communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters; and describe in simple terms, aspects of their background, immediate environment, and matters in areas of immediate need.
“I am extraordinarily proud of the diligence and conscientiousness of these students who have worked so hard to achieve these valuable DELF language distinctions, and I look forward to watching them grow as they continue their linguistic journey, said Alison Robinson, Upper School Spanish Teacher and Chair of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages. “I am also immensely grateful to my colleagues for their unwavering support and dedication to their students along this journey.”
During the 2023-24 academic year, French Teachers Andréanne Annis (Upper School), Névine Watkins (Lower School) and Napier (Middle School) completed training to become Diplôme d’Etudes en Langue Française (DELF) examiners. This training enabled the School to become an official DELF testing center. FWCD is the first JK-12 school in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to earn this distinction.
