GREENVILLE, TX.—On Friday, April 17, French students from Greenville High School competed in the 41st annual Texas Foreign Languages Symposium (TFLS) held on the Texas A&M at Commerce campus.  The group earned 2^nd place overall in a field of five Texas schools, both public and private.

Elizabeth Porter, GHS French teacher, said “students have worked several weeks on their events, and their hard work paid off. They earned a total of 530 points which resulted in a ratio of 20.4 points per student enrolled in French classes.”

All Greenville High School students competed above beginner level as the district is in the process of phasing out the French language program and replacing it with American Sign Language. American Sign Language is a TEA recognized foreign language that will satisfy foreign language study requirements for two graduation programs.

“Students enjoyed the challenge of stretching their efforts to excel in the practice of the French language,” said Porter.

At the Intermediate level, the sophomores won 2^nd with their adapted skit, “La Belle et La Bête” (Beauty and the Beast).  Yahaira Quintero played the role of Belle; Ian Dickeson, Papa; Melissa Camacho and Erika De La O, les soeurs (sisters); Makeva Jenkins, Bête; Kimberly Quintanilla, Prince; and Julissa Gonzalez, the Narratrice, who told the fairy tale. 

Melissa Camacho earned 4^th in Prepared Speech, 6^th in Spelling, and 1^st in Food Entrée. Ian Dickeson earned 1^st in Food Hors d’oeuvres and 2^nd in Crafts. Julissa Gonzalez earned 1^st in Prose, 3^rd in Poetry, 3^rd in Verbal Fluency, and 4^th in Spelling. Kimberly Quintanilla earned 2^nd in Prepared Speech and 4^th  in Sight-reading. Yahaira Quintero earned 2^nd in Poetry and 4^th in Prose. Kennedi Wilson earned 5^th in Sight-reading and Zi’Keyia Murphy won 2^nd in Food Dessert.  In addition, the dance team, made up of Zi’Keyia Murphy, Makeva Jenkins, Kennedi Wilson and Erika De La O, won 1^st for their “CanCan”.

At the Advanced level, the seniors and juniors earned the 1^st place trophy with their scenes from Molière’s “L’Avare” (The Miser). The comedy tells the story of wealthy widower, Harpagon, who treasures his money more than his children. But with the help of a servant, the children manage to avoid Harpagon’s marriage plans for them and himself. Giovani Pimentel played the role of Harpagon, the miser; Daisy Benitez, Élise, his daughter; Alma Guerrero; Cléante, his son; and Lorena Otero, la Flêche, his clever servant; and Mykaila Hargrove, the Narratrice. 

Daisy Benitez earned 1^st in Poetry and 2^nd in Vocal Music where she accompanied herself on ukulele while singing “J’ai deux amours” (I Have Two Loves), made famous by Josephine Baker. Alma Guerrero earned 2^nd in Prose and 5^th in Poetry. Mykaila Hargrove earned 4^th in Sight-reading. Lorena Otero earned 3^rd in Sight-reading. Giovani Pimentel placed 3^rd in Prepared Speech and 4^th in Spelling.

In recent decades, the event has been sponsored by the Northeast Texas Organization of Language Educators (Net-Olé).  It was launched on the East Texas State University (ETSU) campus in 1974.  The founding members were Greenville High School French and Spanish teachers, Elizabeth Porter and Sally Barlow, and Dr. Harold Simpson, ETSU Department of Foreign Languages Head.  Later, Net-Olé was founded under the guidance of Avery McClurg, ETSU French professor, with Mrs. Barlow and Mrs. Porter serving as the first officers.  Through the decades, TFLS has offered area French, German, and Spanish students in more than 20 different school districts the opportunity to test their speaking and writing skills in a variety of academic and cultural events.  TFLS has filled a, much needed, academic gap as the University Interscholastic League (UIL) has never included foreign languages competition.