Four Binghamton High School students were recently recognized among the best French-speaking high schoolers in the region and nation. The National French Contest, Le Grand Concours, evaluates students on their written, oral, and listening comprehension skills in French. Colin McGovern scored in the top two-percent out of nearly 45,000 students in the national competition. The BHS Junior also placed first in New York’s Central Region while classmates Ethan Beauzile, Wren Bigelow, and Celia Hemenway, placed 11th, 12th, and 14th respectively in the Central Region.
“I was surprised with my score because of the content’s difficulty,” McGovern said. “But, it feels rewarding to have ranked so highly. I had no idea how much French I had learned while at Binghamton High School.”
The four students are currently in IB French IV, taught by Dr. Diane Phelps. Throughout the school year, they have used French to engage with authentic documents and people around the world, exploring diverse cultures from places like Monaco, Senegal, and Tunisia, among others. McGovern added that this style of learning, which centers around discussions rather than conventional lectures, has allowed the class to feel more engaged.
Le Grand Concours is sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French. This year marked the 89th annual National French Contest.