SF Students Place in Oral Proficiency Contest

The following release was submitted by Phil Ellingsworth Jr., representing the Spring-Ford Area School District:

ROYERSFORD — Three Spring-Ford and students took top honors recently at the Montgomery County Oral Proficiency Contest held at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School.

Sponsored by the Montgomery County Teachers of Foreign Languages, the Feb. 28 competition — which is open to Montgomery County middle and high school world language students — provides them with a forum where they can accurately measure their foreign language speaking skills against students from other schools in the county. During the competition, foreign language instructors conduct individual evaluations of the students to determine who has the most proficiency in their second language.

Of the nine students who entered the competition from Spring-Ford’s middle and high schools, three students captured the first and second place spots in their respective languages:

• student Eash Aggarwal finished first in the Spanish 1 competition
• student Alex Tomarelli placed first in the German 1 competition
• 11th-grade student Alicia Hornberger finished second in the German 3 competition

Aggarwal, Tomarelli and Hornberger were presented with a medal for their accomplishments.

In order to participate in the contest, students express their interest in taking part in the competition to their foreign language teachers. Teachers then select one student from each language level to compete in the contest.

World Languages teacher Jill Caceres explained that students begin preparing for the competition throughout the school year by reviewing notes and information they are given in their foreign languages classes. From that information and a sample list of questions, students can practice speaking with their language teachers, so that they have an idea of what the speaking contest will be like.

“These types of competitions are invaluable because they help students develop essential skills, build character and strengthen self-esteem,” Eighth-Grade Center World Languages Teacher Jasmine Ewing said.