Horsham students pick up prizes for foreign language skills

The Horsham District Twinning Association has hosted their annual languages competition and last week presented young winners with their awards at the last ever event in the council chambers in Park North.

The association runs the competition every year and encourages youngsters to develop their foreign language skills by challenging them to create extensive pieces either as individuals or in groups.

This year the competition was split into two challenges; an essay for older students between year 12 and 13, and the creation of a brochure for slightly younger pupils between year 7 and 9.

Each challenge was allowed to be completed in two different languages with those writing the essay told to complete it in either Spanish or German whilst the brochure could be produced in either French or German.

The first category presented at the ceremony was the essay prize with students having to write an extended piece on the advantages and disadvantages of the growth in world tourism.

In the Spanish section Rufus Jordana from Christ’s Hospital claimed the top prize with fellow Christ’s Hospital students Zac Moxon and Olivia Williamson collecting second and third respectively.

The German category saw two pupils from the College of Richard Collyer pick up prizes with Zoë Smith-James taking home first prize and Sharon Presicci awarded third.

Both girls were extremely happy they had received a prize for their work.

Zoë said: “I am happy as it was very difficult. It was a really difficult topic so you have to get a basic understanding of it.”

Sharon added: “There was a lot of time spent writing but I am very happy.”

Debbie Tetteh from Christ’s Hospital also claimed second prize in the same category.

In the brochure competition pupils were allowed to work in groups and were challenged to create a brochure which informed tourists visiting Horsham about the local area.

Millais School claimed the top three prizes in the French category with Mariyam Fawzik and Savannah Ford winning first prize, Isabelle Donnelly and Megan Tayor claiming second and Sophie Appleyard, Eve Clarke and Katie Banks taking home third.

The all girls secondary school also came away with the top three prizes in the German category.

Megan Bateman, Lillie Benn, Rachel Cheesman and Zoe Smither claimed first prize, Samiya Miah came second with her solo effort and Megan Feast and Olivia Clinton finished third.

Jennifer Gammon, chairman of the schools sub committee at Horsham District Twinning Association, was very happy with this years competition and the standard of entries they had received.

She said: “As usual the standard was very high and they did very well.

“We run the competition because we want students to use their language skills and we also want to involve young people in the Twinning.

“I would encourage students to keep up the languages as whatever job you are going to do it is very important to speak another language.”