Ninth graders taking French 2 at Penfield High School performed exceptionally well on a national contest that tested their proficiency in the language.

Twenty-two students earned recognition for their performance on the National French Contest/Grand Concours, an annual competition administered by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF). AATF is a professional organization that aims to promote the teaching and learning of the French language and French-speaking cultures and civilizations.

Ryden Kam posted a perfect score on the exam, earning a platinum medal and plaque. Phoebe Xu earned a gold medal; Gabriel Dake, Zoe Herman, Annika Wicks, Becca Tai, and Natalie Wildenhaus earned silver medals; and Mari Page earned a bronze medal. Fourteen students also earned an honorable mention: Benjamin Wolbert, Cayla Dahlstrom, Zoey Poli, Brooke Hesla, Judah Benhamou, Keelyn McArdle, Aiden McNutt, Elizabeth Graber, Imani Kitwana, Noah Mobilio, Gus Turgeon, Bea Galiley, Maria Dankey, and Zach Ardilio.

The Level 2 exam assesses students’ knowledge of French, testing their listening and reading comprehension. It challenges students on a variety of familiar topics, including school, travel, daily activities, and biographies of famous Francophone people. 

Madame Julie Wilkens, who teaches French 2 at Penfield, said she was thrilled with how her students rose to the challenge in their very first year taking the exam.

“My primary goal in teaching French is communication. We spend a lot of our time in French 2 listening and reading, so this test plays to their strengths, but with the added challenge of listening to native speakers and encountering unfamiliar vocabulary,” she explained. “I’m really proud of their perseverance.”

For high school students who want to try out their French in real life, Madame Wilkens will be leading a trip to Québec City during February break next year! Email her at jwilkens@penfield.edu before Friday, May 29, for additional information and to reserve a spot.