Sharing French Culture of the World at the 2026 “French Day”

An engaging half-day immersion program of interactive workshops in French brought together students and teachers from twelve schools for French Day 2026 at Montclair State University. This year’s theme was, “Coupe/s du monde,” a play on the French name for the “World Cup” and a reference to the global presence of the French language. Sessions co-led by groups of Montclair professors, students, and alumni ranged from discovering Québec’s maple syrup traditions and examining Paris Fashion Week to declarations of independence beyond national borders, and the global history of FIFA and the 2026 World Cup.

Students also produced short French-language films, which were screened during the afternoon session. Wayne Valley High School took first place in the advanced “Tableaux Vivants” competition for “La Place de la Révolution,” while Cresskill High School earned second place for “Couper les limites.” In the “Poésie en images” contest for beginning and intermediate students, Ramsey High School earned first place for “Liberté” and third place for “Je veux retourner chez moi.” Bernardsville Middle School took second place for “La Marseillaise” and Ridge High School received an Honorable Mention for “Le Loup et le Chien.”

“I was truly impressed by the level of engagement and excitement on the part of all the local high school students and teachers participating in French Day,” said Dr. Kathleen Loysen, Chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures. She also said “The French faculty at Montclair appreciate this opportunity to share our knowledge of and love for the French language and Francophone history and culture. And I think the students themselves were pleasantly surprised to discover that the college classroom can be fun, interactive, and compelling, in addition to being challenging. Everyone rose to the occasion. The buzz was palpable!”

French is spoken on five continents, which underscores its significance as a global language and its value in the global workplace. For more information about future events at Montclair State University, please visit www.montclair.edu