Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL) presents the winning trophy to champions of the Primary School Foreign Language Bowl 2024, Ciboney School of Excellence. 2nd from left is Acting Chief Education Officer Orlandette R. Crabbe. Photo: GIS

Ciboney School of Excellence emerged victorious at the Primary School Foreign Language Bowl 2024, followed by Robinson O’Neal Memorial Primary School in second place and Cedar International in third place after a tiebreaker for second and third place. Photo: GIS

Marley Kneipp of Ciboney School of Excellence. Photo: GIS

Selena Ramotar-Khan of Robinson O’Neal Memorial Primary School. Photo: GIS

The foreign language competition, which was held at the New Testament Church of God International Worship Centre Activity Hall in Baughers Bay on Monday, May 6, 2024, attracted 14 schools across the territory.

Excelente Ciboney!

Ciboney School of Excellence, represented by Marley Kneipp, Atara Kendall and Sharif Kaddoura, emerged victorious.

Another Virgin Gorda-based school, Robinson O’Neal Memorial Primary School, represented by Shadia Sanchez, Selena Ramotar-Khan and Aaron Daniel, took second.

Cedar International, which comprised Tomas Bovio, George Hollingworth and Eli Ghiorse, finished third place after a tiebreaker for second and third place.

Students competed as a team; however, only one student from each team was required to answer questions in each category. The categories were Spelling, Translation and General Knowledge.

The competition started 12 years ago and is open to Grades 4 to 6 students at the primary level.

Objective of Foreign Language Bowl

According to Education Officer for Languages Janice George-Harris, the Foreign Language Bowl is held every other year. It seeks to promote Spanish as a second language, increase students’ fluency and diction in the Spanish language, have students demonstrate their knowledge of the Spanish culture, and allow students to gain confidence in speaking a second language.

Meanwhile, secondary schools will face off in spelling, translation and general knowledge in Spanish and French at the same venue from 10:00 AM on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.