1. Ask Le Grand Concours AATF National Convention
St. Louis, July 18, 2017
Lisa Narug, National Director
Le Grand Concours
Megan Diercks, Assistant to the National Director

2. Why should we participate?
From the perspective of:
Students:
opportunities for prizes and recognition
sense of accomplishment
growth in language skills
college applications, scholarships and prizes
Parents:
how child has improved
sense of pride
Teachers and schools:
how students compare to others in nation and chapter;
promotion of program
Why should we participate?

3. All French students are eligible to participate in le Grand Concours
All French students are eligible to participate in le Grand Concours. There are different divisions to place homeschooled and tutored students, students in block schedules, all students.
Who can participate?

4. What is Le Grand Concours?
Multiple choice test
Seven levels
Elementary School (FLES): test with items
Levels 01-5: test with items
All levels include listening comprehension
FLES includes a speaking portion for top scoring students
Complete specifications available on-line:
What is Le Grand Concours?

5. Where do I place my students?
FLES (Grades 1-6)
Levels 1, 2, or 3 for different grades
Divisions A, B, and Hors Concours
Immersion
Native speakers
Scoring adjustments made for:
# minutes/week
Grade level
When begin study
Where do I place my students?

6. Where do I place my students?
Levels 01-5 (grades 7-12)
Level corresponds to credit or equivalent earned at end of school year. Ask your chapter administrator if you have questions
Where do I place my students?

7. Where do I place my students?
Levels 01-5 (grades 7-12)
Five Divisions to accommodate various backgrounds and school schedules – remember the ABCs
Division A – Absolute beginner
Division B – Some background in French
Division C – Completely Native
Divisions D and E = different schedules (block/trimester)
Where do I place my students?

8. How do I enroll students?
Registration handled on national level
Contact your local chapter contest administrator for information
Sign up students early
How do I enroll students?

9. What preparation do students need?
Everyday classroom activities
Do a sample test to familiarize students with format (use as a sub plan!)
What preparation do students need?

10. How do I encourage student participation?
Start early -- tell parents about the Contest on back-to-school night
Tell students about the Contest in the fall
Give a quiz grade or extra credit for participation, regardless of Contest results
Offer top scorers no homework for the rest of the year regardless of rank.
Funds can come from French club, fund raisers, students, or department
How do I encourage student participation?

11. School or department responsibilities PAPER Contest
Neutral party to receive testing materials
Proctor(s) to administer the Contest
Can be organized as an « in-school » field trip
Parents can be proctors
Person in charge collects materials, re-stores materials until end of Contest, and sends answer sheets for scoring
School or department responsibilities PAPER Contest

12. School or department responsibilities ONLINE Contest
Provide lists of students.
Teachers may proctor their own students.
Verify school equipment and facilities.
School or department responsibilities ONLINE Contest

13. Where and how do students take the Contest? PAPER Contest
60 minutes required – all students in a level must test at the same time. Test may be split over two days: part A one day, part B another day
After school
Weekends
During class time
In school field trip
Classroom with CD player or computer with speakers
Where and how do students take the Contest? PAPER Contest

14. Where and how do students take the Contest? ONLINE Contest
60 minutes required – students in a level do not need to test at the same time. Test may be split over two days: part A one day, part B another day
After school
Weekends
During class time
In school field trip
Where and how do students take the Contest? ONLINE Contest

15. When do we receive results?
PAPER TEST - Raw scores are sent to teachers as they are scored (4 scan batches)
ONLINE TEST – Students know their scores upon completion of Contest.
National and chapter rankings and national percentiles must wait until all students have been scored – mid April
Final results include
Chapter and national rankings
National percentile
Student detail report
When do we receive results?

16. Sample Results Report

17. Prizes and Student Recognition

18. National Prizes
Platinum medal and plaque – first place national (highest score)
Gold Medal - 95th percentile
Silver Medal – 90th and 85th percentiles
Bronze Medal – 80th and 75th percentiles
Mention honorable – 70th to 50th percentiles
Chapter and national ranks are available but will not determine prizes
French Embassy Academic Prize

19. Other recognition Chapter prizes School prizes Chapter Ranks 1-10
Top student in each school
Others as determined by the chapter
School prizes
Best in class
Most improved

20. To recognize student achievement
Chapter Distribution des Prix
School Award Ceremonies
Board of Education Recognition
Local newspaper and press
To recognize student achievement

21. Coming soon….

22. Timeline for success! Fall: Winter: Spring:
Discuss the Grand Concours with students
Highlight the Grand Concours at back-to-school night
Contact your local contest administrator to verify contest cost
Winter:
Renew your AATF membership
Finalize your participating students
Enroll your students (give yourself time for this)
Spring:
Administer Contest
Receive certificates and prizes!

23.
For more information