Texas French Symposium

Our high school won the State competition! 
They have always been 1st or 2nd, but this year was very special, because they had a French teacher who left a few months ago, because he was too inexperienced to teach them. Since then they basically have been on their own. A native speaking person has stepped in as a substitute, but she doesn't have the teaching requirements. She's awesome though and is very motivated to teach this awesome group of students. It's a little ridiculous though, that the best school of the state hasn't been able to find a teacher in about 2 years. You would think every teacher in the state would jump up and volunteer to teach this highly motivated group of students.
I'm proud of them that they were able to keep their first place while there's so much turmoil. 
Oldest won 5th overall in vocabulary and 5th overall in listening in his level. I think he listens better in French than in Dutch, so I might need to switch languages.

I had 2 judging assignments and it was fun as always. Now I'm hoping youngest got motivated enough to make him sign up for French again when he goes to high school next year. After this school year he will be done with his 2 year foreign language requirement and therefore he was planning to take other classes in high school. But the former French high school teacher who was at symposium talked to him and suggested he needed to take at least one more level of French, because most universities require 3 years of a foreign language.
We'll see what he does and if he changes his mind about the French. It doesn't stop us from volunteering at the symposium, because it's a fun thing to do.