[June 21, 2009]

Central student recognized in French competition

Jun 21, 2009 (La Crosse Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A Central High School sophomore has received state and national recognition for a French test she took during the recently completed school year.

Becca Erickson, 15, placed first in Wisconsin and earned a bronze nationally on a level-three written exam sponsored by the National Association of Teachers of French.

"I really like language," Erickson said. "I get it. I see similarities in languages." Students nationwide took the exam that quizzes them -- in French -- on their language, vocabulary and cultural knowledge. At Central, it's incorporated into French classes to see how the curriculum compares, teacher Beth Bertolotto said.

"It's challenging," Bertolotto said. "She (Erickson) is just an exceptional student. She really has a knack for (foreign language)." Erickson, who also studies Chinese, started learning French as a middle school student at Longfellow but was homebound for much of her seventh- and eighth-grade years. She completed worksheets and worked on vocabulary, but pronunciation and grammar were a challenge.

She honed her speaking skills when she returned to the classroom and quickly excelled.

"By memorizing poems you learn a lot of vocabulary," Erickson said. "I just think it is a good way to see how you are doing." Bertolotto said Erickson makes reciting poetry look easy because of her ability with the language. "Her pronunciation is great," she said.

Erickson and more than 25 students from Central, Logan, Aquinas and Onalaska high schools will spend July 8-28 in Epinal, France, when they complete an exchange with La Crosse's Sister City. Many will stay with French teens they hosted last summer.

"Everything is going to be really great,"-- Erickson said.

Students interested in becoming part of the exchange should contact their French teacher. Information for the 2010 and 2011 exchange will be available soon.

The following La Crosse School District students received recognition at different foreign language competitions during the 2008-09 school year: State French Speaking Contest: Central High School: Morgan Widuch, silver; Isaiah Welsh, silver; Becca Erickson, gold; Annie Jerome, gold; Amy Garvin, gold; Lydia Richardson, gold; Patrick Little, gold; Henry Wehrs, gold; Claudia Elvidge, gold; Lennon Jones, gold; Jasmine Anderson, gold; Zarah Augustine, gold; Molly Grosskruetz, gold; Vic Peterson, gold; Alexa Sampson, gold; Kali Brokaw, gold; Caitlin Deal, gold; Charlotte Gonyo, gold; and Jordenne McKay, gold.

Logan High School: Kahlea Williams, gold; Amber Howell, gold; and Kristen Carlyon, gold.

Longfellow Middle School: Walker Kinziger, A; Shannon Bolen, A; and Hannah Litman, A.

State German contest: Central High School: Ben Weeks, first place, Sarah Petri, first place; Libby Onsrud, second place; Ian Gundersen, second place; Katlyn Boyle, second place; Iris Mayer, second place; and Rudy Kammel, third place.

Lincoln Middle School: Nick Howard, qualified in first place; Vasko Niamov, qualified in second place; Symonne Burkart, qualified in third place; Mikayla Leis, represented at state.

Spanish: Central High School: Caitlin Snodgrass tied for the second highest score in Wisconsin in the level five regular category and earned Silver Medalist Honors at the National Level.

Johanna Severson recorded the third highest score in Wisconsin in the level five regular category and earned Silver Medalist Honors at the National Level.

Cody Berra recorded the fourth highest score in Wisconsin and the level five regular category and earned Silver Medalist Honors at the National Level.

Meg Steuer recorded the 10th highest score in Wisconsin in the level five outside experience category and earned Bronze Medalist Honors at the National Level.

Kelly Huffman recorded the 10th highest score in Wisconsin in the level three regular category and earned Silver Medalist Honors at the National Level.

National French Contest Wisconsin Recognition French 3: Becca Erickson, first place, Central High School; Ashley Hammes, 10th place, Central High School French 4: Dillon Mader, fourth place, Central High School; Abigail Hindson, fifth place, Central High School National Recognition French 3: Becca Erickson, bronze medal, Central High School To see more of the La Crosse Tribune or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.lacrossetribune.com/. Copyright (c) 2009, La Crosse Tribune, Wis.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]

Discussions: