Step by Step Guide for Sending Your Students to the Concours Oral

December-March

1. Note the date of the contest and registration deadlines on your class calendar.

2. Carefully read and understand the requirements for each event.

3. Promote the contest with your students using the editable flyer or images on the Materials page.

4a. Download the registration form and fill in which students will be doing what!

• Make sure your POETRY students have found the designated poem for their level on the Materials page.
• Make sure your SPEECH students have found the question for this year on the Events page.
• Work with your SKIT/READER'S THEATER/MUSIC students to select an appropriate text. See Materials or the slideshow on the About page for ideas about scripts.

4b. Complete the registration & upload your spreadsheet of participants.

5. Collect payment from your students (if they are paying their own fees).

6. Don't forget to complete any necessary paperwork according to your school's policy about trips or extracurricular events!

Early April

1. Consider volunteering at the contest!

2. Receive your registration confirmation email from the contest coordinator. Verify all the information & take note of the event codes.

• The first letter in the code=your school (differs from year to year)
• Second letter=event/category (p=poetry, c=impromptu conversation, r=reader's theatre, s=skit, h=persuasive speech, m=music)
• 3rd letter/number=level
• final number after dash=unique number for that student/group entry

3. Submit payment by check or PayPal (the amount will be specified in the confirmation email). Payment should be postmarked no later than April 15th in order to avoid the late fee.

4. Submit scripts & song lyrics to the contest coordinator. Print/write the event code on each page.

5. Figure out your school's policy for sharing photos of students online. We are always looking for fun pictures of happy students at the Concours!

At the contest:

1. Check in at registration & confirm your event codes. We will have stickers where students can record all their codes for the day and verify which rooms they are going to.

2. Students can check their times and relax in the student lounge.

3a. Make sure students know where the performance rooms are.

3b. Make sure impromptu conversation students know where the preparation room is. They need to report there at their call time (before they go to the performance room).

4. Students listen for their names/codes being called by the volunteers who are guarding each performance room door.

5. Parlez (ou chantez) français! Time for your performance!

6. Volunteers will tabulate scores as quickly as possible and pack your prize envelope with the appropriate number of certificates and prize ribbons. Please have someone from your school available to pick up your prize envelope before you leave for the day.

There are no opening & closing ceremonies. There will be a room designated as a "student lounge", but students/schools are free to come and go as they finish.

After the contest:

1. Scores are reported in the same spreadsheet you received in your registration confirmation. (You will not receive a physical score report.)

2. If you did not receive judges' comment sheets in your envelope (depending on how quickly you had to leave), these will be scanned and sent to you via email on the Monday following the contest.

3. Complete your students' certificates based on the example on the website. Pass out certificates and ribbons at the appropriate time and place.

Other Considerations

How do I get students interested and prepared?

• Assign "your choice of Concours Oral event" as a speaking assignment, and then say, "Wasn't that fun and easy? How about doing the same thing in front of some nice people for a prize and a great experience to add to your college/job applications?"
• Tie to Société Honoraire requirements
• Arrange coaching sessions before/after school

Most important things to remind students of the week of the contest:

• Make sure you read the requirements of your category
• Download any audio files you're using. Don't count on a wifi/cellular connection!
• Bring your 3 copies of your script/lyrics for the judges (unless you submitted your script/lyrics online & on time).
• Bring your props/costumes (skit), instruments (music), poster (speech), sound effects (readers' theater)
• You may want to dress up!

How can I celebrate my students' success?

• Make the trip to & from the contest fun: sing songs, bring snacks/croissants, etc.
• Ask your school to include the Concours Oral in your year-end award ceremonies or press releases.
• Take your students out to lunch. There are numerous options within walking distance.
• Stop by the selfie station for a group photo & share on social media using the hashtags

#parlezcomme1champion #AATFChiNIL