Linguathon

Hello friends and family!

Do you remember when we were kids and we used to ask people to sponsor us in the school “spell-a-thon” to raise funds for school projects? Following in the same tradition, I’m wondering if you would consider sponsoring me in my self-proclaimed “Linguathon”? Your donation will depend on how well I do in the upcoming DELF (B2) French language proficiency exam.

The money raised will be donated to the Tamaraneh Society, which is a development project that I support as a volunteer. You will receive an official tax receipt for your donation through our partner, Change For Children.

DELF, as I should explain, is short for diplôme d’études en langue française, a French language proficiency exam that I will be taking this month (level B2). My French is quite rusty so this is a bit of a personal challenge!

Just like a spell-a-thon sponsor is calculated, what we would do is multiply my final DELF score (i.e. 75%) by your pledge amount (i.e. $20), and I would collect from you in late March ($15 in our hypothetical example).

If you’re game, just send me an e-mail to let me know how much you’re willing to pledge. If you have time for coffee, I’ll tell you more about the Tamaraneh Society, the projects we’re supporting in Sierra Leone, and the amazing woman that inspires the society.

DELF: Les résultats sont arrivés

When I first decided to take a French test a couple of months ago, I really didn’t know a thing about which tests were available. After talking to a few people, I settled on the DELF/DALF series, which is administered in my city by the Edmonton Public School Board’s International Credentials for Language Services.

I have to say, as a language proficiency test, I really like the DELF; there was a real “written exercise” (composing a letter), as well as an oral/aural section that is facilitated by two examiners. Having two people present to administer the spoken test means that the registration fee is higher than other language proficiency tests that I’ve taken; however, it’s a cost that I’m happy to bear— I thought the test was rigorous, fair and well-administered (why does it feel like this is turning into a restaurant review?). Suffice it to say that I’m a fan.

Regardless, I passed my level— actually, my score was good enough that I probably should have taken a more difficult level, but this was the perfect way to start. I’ll take the next level in early February and I’ll be using some of the practice guides available online to guide my study.

Tamaraneh Fundraiser in February

The Tamaraneh Society is a local organization that I feel honoured to be able to volunteer with. The coordinator is a remarkable woman named Memunatu Kamara who, after epic journey to Canada as a refugee, has worked tirelessly to support the rebuilding of her home village in Sierra Leone. Tamaraneh means “people helping eachother” in the Temne language, and that is exactly what we have been doing.

Tamaraneh Society has built, staffed and run two schools, dug one water well, provided seeds for three community gardens and almost finished constructing a health centre. The projects are run by the local community and coordinated by our board and our Canadian project coordinator. Six villages – almost 4000 people – benefit from our schools and water and will also use the health centre when it is completed.

We will be holding our annual fundraiser in February at the Westbury Fringe Theatre. If you are interested in buying tickets online, making a donation or finding out more about the Society, please click on the link below to be taken to the website.

À vos marques, 用意, 开始!

A language is not just a body of vocabulary or a set of grammatical rules; a language is a flash of the human spirit, it’s a vehicle through which the soul of each particular culture comes into the material world. Every language is an old growth forest of the mind, a watershed of thought, an ecosystem of spiritual possibilities. Wade Davis @ TED