Written by Lauren Bucher
Last Saturday high school students from across the state filled McInteer room 150, chattering excitedly as they played Monopoly and Catch Phrase in both French and Spanish. These games were just some of many activities that students participated in during the annual Arkansas Foreign Language Teachers Association State Foreign Language Festival on April 17.
The language festival allowed high school students to practice their language skills and compete against other students from across the state. Around 400 visitors came to Harding for the competition with 317 students from 34 schools.
The University of Central Arkansas typically hosts the annual language festival, which was the plan this year. However, due to medical issues with the organizer at UCA, the competition was moved to Harding at the last minute. Harding plans to host the competition in the future, tentatively next March.
Around 60 Harding language students mingled with the high school participants giving campus tours, playing games and generally staffing the festival in exchange for Conversational and Cultural Opportunities Log (COPL) points. Throughout the day, high school students had the opportunity to ask college students about Harding’s foreign language program.
“The competition introduced Arkansas students and teachers to Harding’s language program, and for many visitors, it was the first time they had ever stepped foot on the campus,” said Ava Conley, the chair of Harding’s department of foreign languages.
“This was an extremely valuable experience for the students. They particularly enjoyed talking with Spanish speaking students during the Latin Fest,” she said.
At the competition, students demonstrated their language skills in an array of events. In an extemporaneous foreign language reading, students received a short piece of literature and read it aloud, judged by their pronunciation, voice inflection and poise. Another event was poetry recitation; students picked a famous foreign poem and were critiqued by their accuracy and rhythm. Additionally, a vocabulary bee assessed students’ knowledge of foreign words appropriate for their level.
“The language festival helps my students prepare for the national French Contest,” said Little Rock Christian Academy teacher Heather Tarply. “It motivates them to learn more vocabulary and helps add to their linguistic tool box.”
Later, students answered questions, this time in English, about the society of the language they were studying in a culture bowl. Moreover, students who wanted to perform publically opted to participate in a talent show, and some students prepared skits for the drama category.
“The competition would have never happened without the involvement of Harding students,” Conley said. “The success was due to the interaction between our students and high school students. Everybody was impressed that our students were helping, that they were so willing to interact with them.”
The primary languages at the competition were French and Spanish. Eight German students, however, performed a drama.
Only high school language students classified as exceptional were eligible to participate. The state competition was long prepared for. Students could only participate in events that they previously completed successfully during the district competition in February.
High school students mentioned a variety of factors that motivated them to learn a second language.
“I want to travel a lot,” student Nikki Logan said. “And look at the number of Spanish speakers there are now too [in the United States].”
Student Jordan Rudeleis said he hopes his knowledge of Spanish will help him when looking for a job.
“I came because I enjoy Spanish and I just want to be a bilingual speaker,” student Rudelis said. “I think it will give me an advantage in the job market.”
Courtney Hampton added that she studies Spanish because of her love for the language.
“I am just interested in languages,” student Courtney Hampton said. “It’s fun and I have a good teacher.”
Latin Fest coincided with the competition, allowing Harding’s Latin-American students to represent their respective countries on the front lawn, playing Spanish music and selling traditional food. Between events, high school students and their families bought food, played Frisbee and relaxed outside. Latin Fest raised $1,300 for the Smiles for Christ project in Honduras.
