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\u2019s theme was, \u201cCoupe\/s du monde,\u201d a play on the French name for the \u201cWorld Cup\u201d 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 Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Students also produced short French-language films, which were screened during the afternoon session. Wayne Valley High School took first place in the advanced \u201cTableaux Vivants\u201d competition for \u201cLa Place de la R\u00e9volution,\u201d while Cresskill High School earned second place for \u201cCouper les limites.\u201d In the \u201cPo\u00e9sie en images\u201d contest for beginning and intermediate students, Ramsey High School earned first place for \u201cLibert\u00e9\u201d and third place for \u201cJe veux retourner chez moi.\u201d Bernardsville Middle School took second place for \u201cLa Marseillaise\u201d and Ridge High School received an Honorable Mention for \u201cLe Loup et le Chien.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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,\u201d said Dr. Kathleen Loysen, Chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures. She also said \u201cThe 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!\u201d<\/p>\n