Students from Kepler in Pforzheim's sister city partnership
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On the 18th of November, 2023, two students from the 1st grade of the basic course French at Kepler-Gymnasium Pforzheim, Germany, took part in the annual Concours annuel de dictée in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France. This event, held in the city's partner town, is a cultural and educational celebration aimed at promoting the French language, literacy, and communal engagement.
The Competition
The competition, established to encourage good writing skills and celebrate the French language, has been an annual event for over three decades. Contestants gather to listen to a text read aloud, typically a passage of about 200 to 400 words, carefully selected to be challenging yet accessible. The text often includes interesting vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and syntactic variety to test spelling, grammar, and understanding.
Once the dictation is complete, scripts are collected and evaluated by a panel of judges or language experts. Points are awarded based on orthographic accuracy, grammatical correctness, and punctuation. Winners are often awarded prizes, certificates, or recognition during a ceremony.
Partnership and Participation
Saint-Maur-des-Fossés has established partnerships with several international and French cities as part of its twinning program. These partnerships extend to the dictation competition, promoting intercultural exchange and strengthening ties. The two students from Pforzheim joined French-speaking students from St. Maur and other partner cities in this year's competition.
Cultural Exchange
The students from Pforzheim were accommodated by a French host family during their stay. Following the dictation competition, an official reception and a joint dinner were organized by the city of St. Maur on Saturday. The following day, a small sightseeing tour in neighbouring Paris was held, offering the students a glimpse into the rich history and culture of France.
Although the two girls did not win the competition, they gained a valuable experience from the event. The annual dictation competition in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés serves as a testament to the enduring spirit of cultural exchange and the shared use of French as a language of culture.
In the pursuit of educational and self-development opportunities, the two students from Kepler-Gymnasium Pforzheim, Germany, embarked on a learning journey participating in the annual Concours annuel de dictée in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France. This event, celebrating French language and literacy, also aimed to test their spelling, grammar, and understanding through a challenging yet accessible dictation.
