Celebrating Fête de la Francophonie on Campus

Often, when people in the United States first think of French, the country with the strongest association to the language is France. But did you know that French is the fifth most spoken language in the world? It is the official language of 32 states and governments. La Grande Fête de la Francophonie is an annual cultural Festival that takes place all across the country around March 20th each year. French International School of Oregon loves to bring this fantastic event into our own community. 

This year, a big hit was the speakers placed around campus by our very own Lower School Music Teacher, Nura. She compiled a playlist of French music featuring artists from all over the world, including Benin, Belgium, and Morocco. 

But the music didn’t stop there! All Middle School students who take French as an advanced or beginning language performed in an all-Middle School assembly. They shared poems and music ranging all across the globe, from Haiti to West Africa. 

What would culture be without food? Fête de la Francophonie is a wonderful opportunity for our students to explore the various cuisines. Sixth graders put together a wonderful buffet by contributing potluck-style. Popular dishes included chouquettes and a savory cheese pie! Students made signs for their food items that included the name, recipe, and country of origin. They were excited to swap recipes and talk about their cooking process.

Fête de la Francophonie is a fabulous way to see beyond our preconceived notion that French is centered around France. Our community continues to learn about the broad impact of the French language.