As is the joy of seeing a child take their first steps to walk, so was the experience of watching an excellent show of abilities by students of French, who showcased their strengths in speaking, acting, and poetry in French language, the dancers were keen to twist their waists to the tune of sweet rhythms that grooved the Friday afternoon, and then fashionistas! These were thrilling masterpieces worth taking our dear two and half hours, and our guests from Alliance Francaise; Mr Eric Touzé, the president of the French teachers’ association Dr Agatha Tumwine, the school administration, teachers and students truly appreciated the effort invested in making this festival a reality.

This festival never disappointed in allowing our young stars to develop their cooking and baking skills, after which the food was out for sale. The neat display of various dishes of French and Francophone communities showed how much time our students invested in doing their research about the same. The cooks and bakers were required to come up with a catchy French name for their dishes and snacks, and then write up a description of ingredients used in French for display to potential customers. The food was sold out in the first 30 minutes and customers were left asking for more. I hope the businessmen who tasted profits in this year’s episode will surely be eager for the second one next year.

Learning a foreign language in this digital era should be considered a necessity that deserves our most attention, especially given the interconnectedness of a world of people. Linguistic skills are an urgent requirement not only to fit but also thrive with for future employability, travel and access to international universities. I am confident that our students will always learn a lot in such school initiatives than conventional classes. The festival was purely student led with teachers’ involvement largely being advisory. I appreciate Taibah international school for what it stands out be. A school with a difference.

BY TEACHER GILBERT