The main goal of the Foreign Language Festival, according to Dr. Luz Escobar, is to give high school students the opportunity to use foreign languages in a creative and public way and socializing with other students and teachers who are equally excited about language learning.”
The 32nd annual Foreign Language Festival was held on Friday, April 4 in D Vickers hall. Students from all over the state attended the competitions held in extemporaneous speaking, prose, poetry, music and artistic performances in French and Spanish.
Participating schools included Natchitoches, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Orleans and Jefferson parishes and welcomed Mount Carmel, St. Paul, Northlake Christian, International High school, John Ehret, De La Salle and St. Scholastica Academy.
Angelita Tello and Yolanda Andrade, both students at the International High School in New Orleans, won first place for native speakers in the extemporaneous category.
“I’m really excited about this,” said Andrade. Tello was “proud and happy.”
The award show, held in the Student Union Theater after the competitions, awarded prizes to the first three places in each category. All students in the competition received certificates of participation, and two special prizes were given to the best senior student in French and the best in Spanish.