First Place - Middle School

French culture has been influencing many cities around the world, just like our own city Philadelphia has been influenced.  Outside of France Philadelphia has the largest known collection of public art thanks to French influence.  Through history, architecture, and food, French culture is present everyday in The City of Brotherly Love.

Paris, The City of Light, inspired Philadelphia, The City of Brotherly Love.  The City of Light helped Philadelphia become what it is today.  From architecture to food and dining

First Place - Middle School Poster 

Morgan C., Buist Academy (SC), Grade 7

Paris is present in Philadelphia.  Famous buildings such as City Hall, Memorial Hall, The Free Library of Philadelphia, the Municipal Court Buildings, and the "Hall of Independence" have all been modeled after French architecture in Paris.

When Benjamin Franklin came back from Paris in 1785 he brought a young nobleman back with him.  His name was Marquis de Lafayette.  When Lafayette came to America he brought a ship with Freedom Fighters to help the Revolutionary Alliance.  For Lafayette's effort he was invited back fifty years later popularized the State House as the "Hall of Independence."

One French man's involvement after the revolutionary war brought ice cream to Philadelphia.  His name was Emanuel Seger.  He was believed to have taught the method of making ice cream to Philadelphia.  Confectioners also helped Emanuel Seger popularize ice cream around Philadelphia.

Thus, I hope you can see how the French Culture has influenced Philadelphia in many ways.  By history, architecture, and food, our own community has its own part of French culture in it.

Melissa M., Springton Lake Middle School (PA), Grade 8

Second Place - Middle School

Who needs French? It's just a boring class we're forced to sit through and it's not like we need it in the "real world."  Think again.  Many people fail to realize FRENCH IS EVERYWHERE.  It goes far beyond the borders of the classroom.  It does!  French is everywhere from the things we eat to the books we read. 

Dipal P., Midland Park High School (NJ), Grade 8
 

One of America's favorite past times is eating.  Instead of fast food, the new thing if to eat elegantly--madeleines, baguettes, croissants are all delicious French foods.  From five star restaurant to local coffee shop, it is easy to find authentic French food, which tickles the taste buds of all people.

What would go great with that delicious food?  Entertainment, of course.  The French have that covered as well.  Everyday Americans enjoy and are inspired by French entertainment.  Victor Hugo's classic novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame is taught in schools everywhere and was even the basis for a Disney movie.  Canadian singer Celine Dion has touched the harts of many with her beautiful music and songs like "My Heart Will Go On."  Even American children are inspired by French shows like "Madeline."

So is French still just some boring class you're forced to sit through?  Didn't think so!  Next time you're suffering through conjugations, remember all of the ways French affects your life daily.  And most of all, remember FRENCH IS EVERYWHERE!

Creedence B., Buist Academy (SC), Grade 8

Third Place - Middle School

Cousin Lee participated in a United National activity and journeyed to Reunion, a French-speaking country in Africa, to bestow rations and faith to deprived families.  The group stooped under the low entrance of a damaged adobe home and was overwhelmed by thrilled families. 

Chelsea R., Buist Academy (SC)

After placing canned fruits and nuts onto a nearby table, the organization embraced the children while various youngsters scuttled over to gobble food.  As my cousin glanced into the merry faces with satisfaction, he discerned a young African boy lying limply on a bed.  He discovered the feeble lad was handicapped from the torso down.

Cousin Lee tenderly spooned fruit into his mouth, quenched his thirst, and sang him French songs of confidence and delight.  A mother tearfully whispered to my cousin that it was the first instance the downhearted boy smiled in true content, sensing immense love and pleasure in the French melodies.

Only after I heard this account did I truly appreciate the significance of French.  It is not only a vastly-used language, but a path of love that can convey so much happiness and hope to others' lives.  If the United Nations members could not speak French, the boy's life may have remained a thorn of pain and shattered dreams.  Now we truly see that French, certainly beyond borders, is a path to spirit and communication.  It is a culture within itself  that is to be well preserved and celebrated throughout the generations.

Corinne T., Thornton Junior High School (CA), Grade 7

First Place - High School

In a more centralized Europe and a more centralized world, languages start to transcend borders.  The ease with which people can move from country to country negates the geographic barriers that once separated different languages and cultures.  A perfect example of this

First Place - High School Poster 

Amanda P., West Genessee High School (NY), Grade 10

phenomenon can be found in today's Europe.  The European Union has started the arduous process of uniting this continent, and with the unification of these different countries, the importance of language and understanding cannot be underestimated.  On the airplanes and trains that traverse the continent, a multitude of languages are spoken with French as a constant.  The French language goes beyond the borders of France and other French-speaking countries to unite Europe as a whole.

However, looking only at Europe fails to do justice to the international nature of the French language.  It is able to transcend not only borders, but continents as well.  Understanding between two world powers in North America, the Unites States and Canada, is helped using French.  Another interesting opportunity to use French at the international level occurs in Northern and Western Africa.  These developing nations have tremendous economic potential with their abundance of natural resources.  A fluency in French could help a global company mine for oil off the coast of a French-speaking country like Senegal.  The ability of French to move beyond borders has important economic and political benefits.

When looking for other examples of French moving at an international level, soccer is representative of larger social trends.  The present of French in North Africa allows the African players to move to the larger French leagues, as there is no language barrier.  The French speaking country Senegal advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup largely because of experience gained by their players in French leagues.  This trend in soccer represents larger trends of migration of African immigrants to France. The French language can help immigrants assimilate and bring new cultural values to France as well as in other countries.  It transcends its original borders in France to become a prime method of communication in Europe and the rest of the world.

Alex C., Midland Park High School (NJ), Grade 11

Last spring I visited France.  While in the south of France, I spent a day in Monaco.  There I encountered many other tourists, including some Italian boys.  They started to talk to two of my friends and I; however, there was the small problem of us

Alejandra M., Freedom High School (NC), Grade 11

not knowing Italian and them not knowing English.  We quickly found our way around this problem: speaking French.  Neither group of us were fluent in French, but we were able to converse with each other.  And it worked; we were conversing with each other despite our language barriers.  A common foreign language had brought us together and helped to break down a wall in communication; it was French that had helped us to this. It was great to be able to understand someone despite cultural differences and find a very unique way to communicate with each other.  Even though we were not beyond the physical borders of France, French had been the key in breaking down a border which might have otherwise formed between our two groups of foreigners.  This is the way France has broken its borders and touched me personally.  It did not have to be spoken fluently world wide, just a little was needed to accomplish a lot. 

As with the world's youth, it is necessary to us to attempt to explore other culture and languages.  If we learn about the world's cultures and languages, we can start to break down the walls and borders that have been built between the world's people.  Undertaking this endeavor, we can teach our children to love and not to hate, and to explore the wonderful diversity which our world presents.  We can teach ourselves and our children to see beyond borders.

Lisa C., Beaumont School (OH), Grade 12   

French Beyond Borders

"France cannot be France without greatness," was a simple encapsulement of the nation's majesty by Charles de Gaulle.  People in all reaches of the world have assimilated

Katy P., Martin Luther King High School (CA), Grade 12

French ways into their own customs, in deference to their admiration of French culture.  Martinique, an overseas department of France, exemplified the trend through the heavily French-influenced tiers of its national identity.

Martinique is often depicted as a slice of France in the tropics.  Strolling down the streets of Fort-de-France, one finds pâtisseries and boulangeries bordering every corner.  While eating croissants, people enjoy sitting in outdoor cafés and watching others pass by--a habit quite reminiscent of Paris.  The distinct, romantic Parisian atmosphere is even emulated by the flight flirtatiousness in the glances of women and the confident strides of the men. 

Yet at the same time, the busy air of crowded streets is replicated in the local open-air markets.  Vendors line the streets with their vegetables and spices, while housewives gather around the stalls.  Paris' trademark shopping fervor is matched in Fort-de-France where air-conditioned shops sell the latest Paris fashions.  The Rue Victor Hugo is especially renowned for French perfumes, silk scarves, crystals, and other luxuries.  The famous French pride in the French languages is mirrored in the upsurges of friendly receptiveness to those who speak the language.  The most salient physical evidence of French influence is in architecture, particularly the Church of Balata.  The colonial-era church was designed as a replica of the Sacred Heart Basilica in Paris. It overlooks the city, offering a viewpoint like the Basilica's.  Martinique more than represents the veneer of French culture though.  By combining French and African influences, it has developed its own unique dance music called biguine, which was influenced by French music.  Thus, France shaped even the most fundamental to external aspects of Martiniquan lifestyles.

French influence transcending all elements of Martiniquan culture has contributed to the nation's individuality.  From language to architecture, the pervasive French spirit is evident.  The extensive veneration for French culture is unmistakable by its  voluntary integration into cultures worldwide, even in countries as small as Martinique.

Judy C., Great Neck North High School (NY), Grade 11

French Beyond Borders

To many, foreign languages are simply a communication barrier between people of different nationalities.  While this is true on some levels, the ability to learn and speak a foreign language often proves very rewarding.  This is especially true for the French language.  French is one of the most widely-used languages in the world.  This popularity creates a need for people to study the language.  French is not only one of the most beautiful languages, but also one of the most important.

One misconception about French is that it is spoken strictly in Europe.  In reality, French is used in Africa, Canada, Switzerland, France (of course), some Latin American countries, and several other nations around the world.  Not only is French frequently used world-wide, but it is the official language of many international organizations.  The European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) are organizations where the French language (along with English) reigns supreme.  Anyone who wishes to keep on top of the political happenings around the world had better have some good background on the French language.  Similar to politics, many consider French to be the supreme language of the law.  For example, French is the official language for the European Court of Justice.

The concept of culture is also closely tied with the French language.  In order to understand a lot about modern history, especially Modern European history, one should have a grasp of, at least, some French terms.  For example, the French revolution is a very important piece of history.  With the Treaty of Westphalia, the division between Church and State was created.  Terms about the revolution such as Bourgeois and the Sans Coulottes are very pertinent.  Also the French culture has produced some of the greatest works of art and literature ever known.  For example, the impressionists such as Monet, Renoir, and Degas were among the first to paint En Plein Air.  Also, Victor Hugo fascinated the world with his Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.  These works of art have served as great contributions to our society's collective culture.

Also, France is a world leader in science, technology, and economics.  France is also among the five superpowers of the world.  French companies play a big role in the US economy.  Over 650,000 Americans are employed by French companies.  According to a 2000 census, 1.9 million Americans speak French at home.  France's trade system is very similar to that of the American's.  Importantly, France has been a tremendous leader in research and science.  The French are years ahead of the US in research for diseases such as cancer and AIDS.  Because of this, the US researchers have to look to data from the French researchers to aid their studies.  Here, the use for the language becomes  immense.

In conclusion, French is one of the most frequently used and important languages in our world.  By having a good background in this beautiful language, one can be attuned to the many cultural, historical, scientific, and social aspects of our diverse society.

Kelsey M., University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

French Beyond Borders

France, to most people, is thought of as a small European country that is a great vacation and tourist location.  The fact that the French culture and French influences are everywhere is widely overlooked.  The French language, industry and technology are inescapable as France becomes internationally acknowledged.

The French language has commonly been mistaken to only reside in France.  In truth, it is the second most frequently taught language in the world.  French is not only the official language of twenty-eight countries, but it is also the only other language besides English to be spoken on five continents.

The French language is also predominant in the work force.  From a recent listing by the U.S. State Department on international jobs, the French language ranked at the top of the list with one hundred and eighty-five jobs either requiring or preferring French as a second language.  A vast majority of the exports coming from the U.S. are sent out to countries with French as a national language.  Even our neighbor, Canada, has French as a national language.

France has also begun to branch out nationally with its products and technology.  France is the fourth largest producer of automobiles worldwide and is the third largest exporter.  Most commercial satellites are sent out into space by French Ariane rockets.  The fastest commercial airplane, the Concorde, was built by French and British engineers.  France has one of the most advanced systems of telecommunications and is the world's largest manufacturer of television sets.  No one can go into a  store without seeing a French product or item with French written on it.

The French culture and French influences extend beyond the French borders to affect the population worldwide.  French influences are inescapable as communication and technologies became globalized, bringing people closer together.  French is no longer just a part of a country.  It's universal.

Charity B., University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Freshman

Third Place - College Division

I long for the innocence and ease of childhood to return.  At six I could speak French and English without a second thought.  I played with native Ivoirian children, French immigrant children, and American missionary children with a sense of normalcy.  It was only when I moved to rural America, and as I grew older that the differences in my experience were called out and labeled as unusual.  Now I am struggling to regain a basic understanding of the French that used to be so easy for me.  I am also searching to reconcile my conflicting images of the affects of language.

My early exposure to diversity while if La Cote D'Ivoire has given me a love for people and their cultures, a passion for helping others, and most of all, a curiosity about the world around me.  I cherish each memory: whether it be having crepes in the playhouse of my French playmate, or learning to carry a basket on my head from my Ivoirian nanny.  I am grateful for the French language that allowed me to experience Cote d'Ivoire's many different tribal and immigrant cultures without learning its sixty languages.  But part of me can't help but mourn the aspects of these numerous cultures that have been lost to the language and the Western culture that was brought along with it.

For thirty years Cote d'Ivoire had seemingly transitioned smoothly from colony colonization to globalization; becoming one of the most stable and successful African nations.  That illusion came crashing down in the early nineties when the President (the only one the nation had ever had), Houphouet Boigny, died.  Ever since his death and the decay of the economy, tribal/immigrant clashes have resurfaced and chaos has begun.

The unfortunate reality of this is that although the French language has kept La Cote D'Ivoire together and allowed the nation to smoothly join the world economy, it works only as a loose bandage to hold together an unnatural conglomeration of cultural groups.  The worst of it is that the conglomeration was formed solely for the purpose of financial gain for the French.  The wonderful French culture that is so charming in France is not so when pushed upon a people with a strong cultural identity of their own.

France and its language have a rich history and beauty about them, but as the French language moves beyond its national borders it becomes a tool and should be removed from its cultural base.  The success of multicultural and multilingual existence is a smooth integration of both.  It is not complete until one does not remember which conversations were in English and which were in French, or when plantains (made by an American) and crepes (made by an Ivoirian) sit along side apple pie (made by a French person).

Katherine K., Philadelphia University, Junior