I Liceum Ogólnokształcące has celebrated “Languages Day” since 2003. The event stands a good chance of becoming a lasting school tradition, especially since it was designed to educate and entertain at the same time. Each year, individual classes from the high school and I Prywatne Gimnazjum present stands representing countries from around the world, selected earlier by lottery. “This enables students to expand their knowledge about different countries,” says Magdalena Malińska, a teacher and one of the coordinators of the school celebration. – “It is a great way to integrate the classes.”
That day, the corridors of I LO resembled an amazing surrealist film. Russian mafiosi running around with rifles, Turkish dances, an Egyptian mummy, men in togas next to cheerleaders and hippies – these were just some of the attractions prepared by the students. There were also great stars of cinema (Sofia Loren praising Italian cuisine), science (Albert Einstein calmly puffing on a pipe) and music (including Angus Young from legendary AC/DC). And who knows whether this was the only place in Poland where the marmot known from advertising spots made a disarmingly frank confession: “I’m looking for a job... – the silver wrappers were stolen.” Nevertheless, more serious elements were not forgotten. The Czech stand, for example, recalled the burning of Jan Hus at the stake.
A jury made up of teachers from I LO assessed the inventiveness of the secondary-school and high-school students. The judges considered, among other things, the costumes, set design, richness of detail and overall impression. Class II b won with its stand representing the United States. The second-year students received PLN 150. Second place went to I b for its Japanese stand (PLN 100). Third place was won by I d (Turkey). The winners of the third prize received PLN 50.
“Languages Day” could not have taken place without competitions related to languages themselves. Michał Walek of class III b won the competition on English-speaking countries. In the competition on German-speaking countries, class III a proved to be the best. Meanwhile, Diana Filipowicz, Michał Walek and Mariusz Daniel, students from the third-year classes, demonstrated the greatest knowledge of France and French-speaking countries. The financial and material prizes were funded by the Parents’ Committee.
A film competition, consisting of three stages, was also held that day. First, the participants answered questions. Then, based on frames from various films, they had to provide the films’ titles and directors. In the final stage, the jury assessed a film made by the students of the classes competing in the contest. The greatest experts on the seventh art turned out to be the students of class I of I Prywatne Gimnazjum. Bolesławiecki Ośrodek Kultury funded the prizes in the film competition.
A song competition – also multilingual – was a fantastic finale to the day. Those gathered in the I LO assembly hall had the opportunity to hear seven performers. There were songs in English and French (including “Les Champs-Elysées” by Joe Dassin), and even a German hit, performed energetically by students of I Prywatne Gimnazjum.
The audience had a great time. Those in the hall sang along with the contestants on some of the songs. The judges’ harsh comments further heated up the atmosphere.
After deliberating, the jury (Magdalena Malińska, Bogna Łasica and Leszek Idzikowski) awarded third prize to Maciej Giszter for his bold performance of “Petite Marie” from the repertoire of Fancis Cabrel. Second place went to the most rock-oriented group of the day by far – Paulina i Strefa Zrzutu. The group presented an excellent version of “Smoke On The Water” by Deep Purple.
Kamila Osuch, a student of class II f, won the song competition. Kamila sang Christina Aguilera’s song “I Will Be”.
(GA report)