PVSS students pass proficiency exam
A group of 23 students from Pleasant Valley Secondary are the first group of students in SD83 to take and successfully pass the Diplome d’Etudes en Langue Francaise exam. The exam was administered in April and ALL of those who participated passed the exam and received their A1 designation. One student also received their B1.
Teacher Janet Gillis explains the Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF) is an internationally recognized test of French proficiency. It is based on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), which defines language proficiency along six global levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. At each exam level, proficiency is measured across four competencies: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. This exam tests students’ ability to use French in real-life situations. Successful candidates will receive a DELF diploma from France’s Ministry of National Education. The diploma is recognized around the world and is valid for life.
- This year’s students were made up of the entire French 12 class (as well as 11 grade 11’s). The successful grade 11’s will attempt the A2 level next year as that is the designated exit level for most core French 12 students.
- The highest mark on the exam was achieved by Ryann Kerr in grade 11 with a final score of 95%
- Kassandra Sicotte-Lemelin completed the B1 (which happens to be the level required to become a permanent resident in France or Switzerland).
“A big thank you to the district French co-ordinator Laura Jegues for supporting this endeavour at PVSS as well as our admin team. The students have been working towards this achievement since joining the French program in grade 9,” added Gillis.
The French students at PVSS have another exciting thing to look forward to as 26 students are headed to Montreal and Quebec City in the fall.
“This will be our first official French field trip now that COVID is finally over. There are 13 grade 11’s and 13 grade 12’s heading out September 17-24th for a fabulous week of activities in the birthplace of French Canada. The students will be immersed in the French language and culture, participating in activities such as breakfast at the Quebec National Assembly, the AURA concert at the Notre Dame cathedral, as well as feasting and dancing at the sugar shack and many more fun things,” she reports.
Gillis also shared some photos from the French 12 cultural unit. “We created, cooked and feasted on French breakfasts from around the world. We enjoyed des gaufres Belges, des crepes francaises, du pain perdu de la France et du Quebec just to name a few. In small groups the students researched their breakfast, prepared and presented it to the class and then we all enjoyed the food. A thank you to French Federal Funding for making these cultural activities a possibility.”
