Winners tell the story
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Sashini at the Castle of Versailles
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Venubhasini in front of the Eiffel Tower
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Venubhashini Ekanayake and Sashini Silva are the two winners of the
French contest “Dis-moi 10 mots” (tell me 10 words) which took place
last March in Colombo. The two first prizes were a trip to Paris in
August to discover the Eiffel tower, Notre-Dame, the famous avenue of
Champs-Elysées, Castle of Versailles, Montmartre, the museums... This
trip was part of the “Rencontres internationales de jeunes”
(International youth camp), an event which gather young people from all
around the world together to live a unique experience in France.
Sashini said “Il felt so lucky of my first trip outside Sri Lanka. I
can’t imagine it was in Europe, furthermore in France. I was already
dreaming. The first day when I started my studies in French, I wanted to
see the “real France”. This year, my dream became a reality.”
“Each day brought me new experiences.(...). Paris by night, it was
incredible! Everybody had fun keeping aside all the problems of
day-to-day life.
A ride in bateau-mouche along the Seine river was an old dream. With
the surprising view, I was in seventh heaven!” Venubhashini said.
For the two young girls, it was a great opportunity to practice the
French language they learnt at the Alliance française and at the
universities of Peradeniya and Kelaniya.
In Sri Lanka today, French is the first foreign language taught in
schools after English, both in national and international schools,
chosen by more than three thousand students.
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Sashini and friends pose in front of the Moulin Rouge |
The Sri Lankan Universities of Kelaniya, Peradeniya, Sri
Jayawardenapura, Jaffna, Rajarata, Sabaragamuwa and Ruhuna offer to
their students the opportunity to learn French and discover French
Literature and Civilization.
Undergraduates interested in obtaining a Special Degree in French can
do so at the University of Kelaniya in a 4 year course.
French can also be learnt in the 4 Alliance française of Sri Lanka:
Kandy, Matara/Galle, Jaffna and the Alliance française de Kotte situated
in Colombo 5, the only Alliance française in Colombo which deliver
official certificates recognized by France.
Rendez-vous next year for a new contest!
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