Category Archives: French

An experience of a lifetime in Argentina

On the blog this week, one of our final year French & Spanish students tells us all about their experience of being an English Language Assistant in two Argentinian schools…

As part of my year abroad, I spent five months in Argentina taking in the beautiful setting, learning a new kind of Spanish and meeting some lifelong friends. I was quite keen to push myself and make the most of the opportunity to go abroad so going to South America was definitely on the top of my list. After having applied to some other programs and been unsuccessful, I found an experience which offered the possibility of teaching English in school. The thought of being placed in ANY part of Argentina (the eighth biggest country worldwide with one of the most varied climates) meant that I was excited yet also nervous about what could lie ahead.

During my time in Argentina, I worked with two institutions in the Buenos Aires province which both offered unique experiences! I stayed at my first institution for two months and it was an amazing private school with some equally incredible teachers. The best thing was being able to share my culture with others as well as form a rapport with the children that I taught.

During my first placement, I had the pleasure to live with a wonderful host family who made me feel welcome despite the fact that I am naturally quite shy and introverted and they were always willing to help me with my Spanish, share their culture and take me in as one of their own. My arrival began with being invited to a quince (a fifteenth birthday party) which was overwhelming yet it meant that I soon made friends. The welcoming and kind-hearted nature of the people meant that I was invited on many outings, meals out and drank a lot of mate (a drink which has the same cultural prestige as a cup of tea in England).

The second institution that I worked with was in a small town of 5000 people in the countryside and whilst I did the same activities in regards to sharing my culture and teaching classes, I had a whole host of new experiences. I lived with two fantastic families who welcomed me as one of their own. Something I still miss to this day is the tasty soup and desserts that were made by Hebe! A memory that I will never forget is that I taught students the moves to the cha-cha slide and the Superman song. Whilst there were times that I missed home, these times were few and far between. I am extremely thankful to have met my supervisor as well as to have had the opportunity to go on outings with different families and of course, drink more mate! I still keep in touch with my supervisor and friends I made there and I hope to visit them again someday.

During my free time, I was able to organise my own travel around Argentina. My favourite trip definitely had to be visiting Iguazú Falls in the north of Argentina which definitely was a sight to behold! I frequently visited Buenos Aires and marvelled at what the city had to offer. Whilst there were some anxieties about being in Argentina as a result of cultural differences and general feelings of homesickness which comes with any experience abroad, I always had support around me whilst I was there and knew that I could contact my tutors back in Oxford in the face of any problems.

My advice to anyone considering a degree in Modern Languages is to go for it and make the most of the year abroad! The opportunity to further develop your cultural knowledge through literature alongside the different options available for going abroad is something I will always be grateful for. If you had asked me when I first started my degree whether I would have travelled to Argentina alone, met amazing people and have done the cha-cha slide with students in a small town in Argentina, I would have thought you were crazy. However, that’s something that became a reality and now a fond memory and, I am looking forward to going back one day.

Testimonial: from Open Day attendee to current student!

On the blog this week, first-year student ambassador, Laurence, describes his experience of attending our Modern Languages Open Day in 2022, and how it led him to where he is today.

I feel so grateful to be where I am today, a student of Philosophy and French at St John’s College. My journey into university language study began at the Faculty Open Day in May of 2022, when I was in Year 12. A couple of months prior, I had woken up one day and decided that I could not graduate with a law degree at 21, start training for the world of work, and never broaden my horizons beyond that. French was my favourite subject at school, and I had a passion for literature and culture as well as a budding desire to travel. I switched my application preparation towards languages, and the Open Day was my first port of call.

As an Oxford Bursary recipient from a state comprehensive in Coventry, I remember feeling awe when I arrived with my mum at the Exam Schools, where we listened to a range of different talks. It was refreshing to talk to other young people who had a passion for languages: MFL learning in my school had suffered from a chronic lack of interest. I particularly enjoyed the variety of sessions at the Open Day, from talks on French specifically, linguistics, and Italian, another language I was considering. Talks from tutors were highly informative regarding the literature/language balance as well as studying a language with philosophy, with personal touches about their own research interests that could not be so easily gleaned from the university website. I loved the excitement in the atmosphere around the Open Day, even the sun was out on the High Street!

The Examination Schools in the sunshine at the 2022 Open Day
Photo by John Cairns

I decided that a languages degree was for me, and after further discussions with ambassadors (French and Philosophy is a great combination, they said), we headed home. I remember on the train we even met a woman whose daughter had just graduated in French, it seemed like a sign! I would certainly say that the Open Day stoked my interest in languages further and convinced me, through the emphasis on literature and culture as well as the sheer range of degree options available, that it was a better option than Cambridge or any other university.

Laurence with two other prospective students at the 2022 Modern Languages Open Day
Photo by John Cairns

I have now finished two terms as a student here, and the experience has been everything that the Open Day promised, and more. I believe that the tutorial system is especially well adapted for subjects like English and languages because both tutor and student can pore over the text together. I think the Faculty does well at advertising this as what sets Oxford apart from other universities. 

I have enjoyed much of the early modern content, including Montaigne and Racine, which may be the focus of my Authors Paper next year – although with the input of the philosophy side, Diderot and Pascal also sound tempting. I’m also excited to look into potential linguistics or cinema papers later in my degree. The language side of the degree has also been engaging: the expertise of my native speaker teachers has shown me a new way to reach fluency beyond learning cast iron grammar rules, namely a sensitivity to context, culture, and idiom.

I feel like I have personally travelled a long way since the Open Day, now a languages ambassador myself. Grateful for the opportunity to help others to discover languages too, getting to give back through this outreach work is the greatest privilege.

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You can still sign up to attend our Open Day on Saturday 11 May! The programme and booking link can be found here. The deadline to register your place is 8 May – don’t miss out!

Modern Languages Summer School

Applications are now open for Wadham College‘s annual five-day Modern Languages Summer School. The residential will take place at the college, based in the centre of Oxford, from 19th to 23rd August 2024.

Summer schools are designed to give UK pupils studying in Year 12 a taste of what it’s like to be an undergraduate studying at the University of Oxford.  Pupils will take part in an academic programme, live in College, meet student ambassadors studying at Oxford, and receive information, advice and guidance on applying to university. Wadham’s Summer Schools are free and the college will provide financial support to pupils to cover their travel costs.

We’re delighted to be able to run these events in-person allowing participants the best experience of life at the university.  The feedback from last year’s Summer Schools was hugely positive with over a third of participants subsequently securing offers to study at the university.

“After the summer school I am much more confident that I would fit in at Oxford and feel like I am more ready to move away from home”

Summer School participant, 2022

For Modern Languages more specifically, pupils will engage in a seminar series led by Wadham’s language tutors, including language classes in their selected language of study (French, German or Spanish) with opportunities to try other languages as beginners (including German, Portuguese and Russian). Students will complete an assignment on a main topic with feedback from tutors. Pupils will also be able to receive support from current undergraduates and from the College on making successful applications to top universities.   

For more information and to apply, click here: Wadham College Summer Schools. Pupils should be studying French, German or Spanish at A-level or equivalent to apply. Applications close at 5pm on 3rd May.

If you have any queries, please contact access@wadham.ox.ac.uk

Flash Fiction Competitions reminder!

With just two weeks to go until the deadline, there’s still a chance to enter our Flash Fiction Competitions in French and/or Spanish – don’t miss out on your chance to win £100! A reminder of the competition details and how you can enter can be found below…

Credit: Aaron Burden via Unsplash

What is Flash Fiction?

We’re looking for a complete story, written in French or Spanish, using no more than 100 words.

Did you know that the shortest story in Spanish is only seven words long?

Cuando despertó, el dinosaurio todavía estaba allí.
(When he woke up, the dinosaur was still there.)

– Augusto Monterroso Bonilla (1921-2003)

What are the judges looking for?

Our judging panel of academics will be looking for imagination and narrative flair, as well as linguistic ability and accuracy. Your use of French or Spanish will be considered in the context of your age and year group: in other words, we will not expect younger pupils to compete against older pupils linguistically. For inspiration, you can read last year’s winning entries for French here, and for Spanish here.

What do I win?

The judges will award a top prize of £100, as well as prizes of £25 to a maximum of two runners up, in each age category. Certificates will also be awarded to pupils who have been highly commended by our judges. Results as well as the winning, runner up, and highly commended stories will be published on this blog, if entrants give us permission to do so.

How do I enter?

You can submit your story via our online forms at the links below.

FrenchSpanish
Years 7-9Years 7-9
Years 10-11Years 10-11
Years 12-13Years 12-13

Click on the links to be taken to the correct submission form for your age/year group.

You may only submit one story per language but you are welcome to submit one story in French AND one story in Spanish if you learn or study both languages. Your submission should be uploaded as a Word document or PDF.

The deadline for submissions is 12 noon on Wednesday 27th March 2024.

Due to GDPR, teachers cannot enter on their students’ behalf: students must submit their entries themselves.

Please note that the competition has changed slightly this year. We are now only accepting entries from UK secondary school pupils.

If you have any questions, please check our FAQs here. If these still don’t answer your question(s), please email us at schools.liaison@mod-langs.ox.ac.uk.

Bonne chance à tous! ¡Buena suerte a todos!

UNIQ Applications still open

Every year UNIQ helps change the lives of young people, helping them to get into Oxford and other highly-selective universities. Apply now to take part!

What is UNIQ?

UNIQ is the University of Oxford’s access programme for UK state school students. It prioritises places for students with good grades from backgrounds that are under-represented at Oxford and other universities. Every year more students from diverse backgrounds get offered places at Oxford with help from UNIQ.

In terms of Modern Languages, we will be offering courses for French, Spanish and German again this year, all of which include the opportunity to taste two beginners’ languages.

UNIQ offers:

  • online support through the application process
  • a residential at an Oxford college for most participants
  • a trip to an Oxford open day for another 250 participants

UNIQ is completely free: accommodation, meals, academic courses, social activities, and travel are all included.

Every year students use their experiences on UNIQ to help inform their university choices and to make successful applications. UNIQ students who apply to Oxford have a higher rate of success than other applicants.

How to apply

UNIQ prioritises state school students with good grades from backgrounds that are under-represented at Oxford and other highly selective universities. UNIQ welcomes applications from:

  • Year 12 students from England and Wales in the first year of A level studies or equivalent
  • Year 13 students from Northern Ireland in the first year of A level studies or equivalent
  • S5 students from Scotland studying Highers or equivalent

We use criteria such as experience of being in care, eligibility for Free School Meals, and information associated with the area that you live in to prioritise who comes on UNIQ.

Find out more and apply here! Applications close at noon on 23rd January 2024.

My first term studying French at Oxford!

In our final blog post before Christmas, first year French & Philosophy student at St John’s College, Laurence, tells us all about his first term at Oxford – settling in, making friends, and exploring new literature… over to you, Laurence!

Laurence at Matriculation

I have finished my first term studying Philosophy and French at St John’s College, and what a rollercoaster it has been! Freshers’ week, matriculation [1], my first tutorial [2]… and all while making new friends and starting to feel at home in Oxford. I initially wanted to study Law but decided that I first wanted to explore French literature and culture, as it had been my favourite subject during A levels. It is not a decision that I have come to regret! I would recommend French at Oxford to anyone with a passion for languages and literature.

The French course at Oxford is varied and engaging, with something for everyone. The first year syllabus is perfect for helping students get a sense of what they might like to pursue in future years – in the space of eight weeks I studied French essays, tragedies, and poetry. These included Michel de Montaigne’s Des Cannibales (c. 1580) which sheds light on French attitudes to South American tribes, raising fascinating questions of religious politics, Gallic identity, and colonialism’s fallacious distinction between savage and civilised cultures. Montaigne also pioneered the form of the ‘essay’ itself and his later revisions and editions to the initial text demonstrate his attempts to grapple with complex subject matters. We touched on all these points and more in our classes and tutorials, which are supplemented by lectures in the beautiful Taylor Institution Library.

Another benefit of the course is the variety of subjects that can be combined with French: whilst I study philosophy, I have friends studying French and English, Arabic, German, and linguistics, to name a few. I think Philosophy and French is a great combination… in later years I will have the opportunity to read the philosophical works of Descartes, Sartre, Pascal, and Merleau-Ponty in their original French, as well as studying the philosophy of language.

Inside the Radcliffe Camera

On an average day in my week, I might wake up early and go to the Radcliffe Camera for at least an hour of work as it is my favourite study spot. After a couple of lectures or a tutorial and then some lunch, I might have a grammar or conversation class. I particularly enjoy these because I love speaking in French, and there is no better place to practise than with the patient, friendly native speakers that are employed at St John’s to help us improve. We have discussed topics as varied as the Bouquinistes (book sellers on the banks of the Seine in Paris) and the life of Louis XIV, the ‘Sun King’, through presentations, debates, and games.  After dinner, my class might work on a translation together or do some reading in the college library. The collaborative element of language learning is really encouraged in the Oxford environment – tutors want us to test each other on vocab and speak French among ourselves wherever possible. You might even find a native French speaker in your college – I often test my speaking skills with my Canadian friend!

Finally, life at Oxford is not all about work. I enjoyed a languages ‘initiation’ party in college where second year language students encouraged us to dress up as figures from our personal statements. I came as Socrates, and one friend of mine donned his long, black wig as Madame Bovary! In short, life as a language student at Oxford has so much to offer…

Thank you Laurence for that excellent insight!

After a short break over Christmas, we’ll be back with more blog posts in the new year. For now, we wish you a restful and joyous festive period with loved ones. Bonne fêtes à toutes et tous!


[1] An Oxford ceremony that marks a student’s induction as a member of the university.

[2] A teaching format of a tutor and 1-3 students.

FRENCH AND SPANISH FLASH FICTION COMPETITIONS NOW OPEN!

We’re delighted to announce the return of our ever-popular French and Spanish Flash Fiction competitions for UK secondary school pupils. If you are learning French and/or Spanish in Years 7-13, you are invited to send us a *very* short story to be in with a chance of winning up to £100! Read on to find out more…

Credit: Aaron Burden via Unsplash

What is Flash Fiction?

We’re looking for a complete story, written in French or Spanish, using no more than 100 words.

Did you know that the shortest story in Spanish is only seven words long?

Cuando despertó, el dinosaurio todavía estaba allí.
(When he woke up, the dinosaur was still there.)

– Augusto Monterroso Bonilla (1921-2003)

What are the judges looking for?

Our judging panel of academics will be looking for imagination and narrative flair, as well as linguistic ability and accuracy. Your use of French or Spanish will be considered in the context of your age and year group: in other words, we will not expect younger pupils to compete against older pupils linguistically. For inspiration, you can read last year’s winning entries for French here, and for Spanish here.

What do I win?

The judges will award a top prize of £100, as well as prizes of £25 to a maximum of two runners up, in each age category. Certificates will also be awarded to pupils who have been highly commended by our judges. Results as well as the winning, runner up, and highly commended stories will be published on this blog, if entrants give us permission to do so.

How do I enter?

You can submit your story via our online forms at the links below.

FrenchSpanish
Years 7-9 Years 7-9
Years 10-11 Years 10-11
Years 12-13 Years 12-13
Click on the links to be taken to the correct submission form for your age/year group.

You may only submit one story per language but you are welcome to submit one story in French AND one story in Spanish if you learn or study both languages. Your submission should be uploaded as a Word document or PDF.

The deadline for submissions is 12 noon on Wednesday 27th March 2024.

Due to GDPR, teachers cannot enter on their students’ behalf: students must submit their entries themselves.

Please note that the competition has changed slightly this year. We are now only accepting entries from UK secondary school pupils.

If you have any questions, please check our FAQs here. If these still don’t answer your question(s), please email us at schools.liaison@mod-langs.ox.ac.uk.

Bonne chance à tous! ¡Buena suerte a todos!

Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators

The Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators is a creative translation competition for students aged 11-18 studying French, German, Italian, Mandarin and Spanish. The competition also runs from French into Welsh. The Prize is free to enter and open to all schools across the UK. 

The 2023-24 prize launches today (20 September), when creative translation teaching packs will be shared with teachers in time for European Day of Languages on 26 September and International Translation Day on 30 September. These teaching packs are designed to help teachers bring creative translation into the MFL classroom as well as to help students prepare for the competition task.

Don’t worry if you have not yet registered! There is still plenty of time for teachers to do so as the competition itself will run over several weeks from 5 February to 28 March 2024. Area and national winners will be announced in May or June 2023. They will receive certificates and national winners will receive book prizes.

Over 15,000 students participated in the competition in 2023: see the list of winners and commendations in 2023.  For those registered, teaching packs for poetry translation will be circulated today, fiction will follow after October half term, and non-fiction will be released in early January.  Register to receive these resources and for updates about the competition task, click here

There are a number of related activities run by the Queen’s Translation Exchange that teachers and pupils can participate in, details of which can be found here.

If you have any queries regarding the competition, please contact the Translation Exchange team at translation.exchange@queens.ox.ac.uk.

FRENCH FLASH FICTION 2023: THE HIGHLY COMMENDED ENTRIES (Y12-13)

Following the publication of the winning and runner up entries, we are excited to present the highly commended entries for the Year 12-13 category of this year’s French Flash Fiction competition!

A huge well done to all our highly commended entrants! Without further ado, allez, on y va!

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L’horizon

J’entendais l’horizon dans la voix de ma mère, saisissant le bleu d’un lac sous le ciel blanc : elle était l’immensité entre tout cela. La maison effaçait l’éternité brouillée entre la noyade et l’envol.

Une fois, j’ai vu des rivières coulant sur ses joues. Elle avait pour yeux des fontaines tremblantes qui m’ont fait peur. Plus tard, j’ai appris à craindre les ténèbres et l’inconnu.

C’est d’elle que j’avais appris le mot « fort », et tous les mots pour la peine. Ce jour-là, il n’y en avait aucun.

Aujourd’hui, l’horizon est disparu. C’est trop tard pour des paroles.

– Sophie Shen, Year 12

IEl

« Iel » ai-je dit.

Ce n’est pas offensif, mais il me regarde comme saleté sombre , comme des épées dégoûtants  , qui pénètrent son corps propre .

« Vous-Voulez dire…il »

« Non. »

Le silence. J’ai détesté le silence. C’est plus facile d’être silencieux et j’ai souffert des conséquences.

J’ai été ancré par mon propre désir d’être accepté par les gens qui m’accueillent comme un chien. Je voulais encore l’amour; un amour doux qui me mettrait au lit et me tiendrait délicatement.

Il me regarde encore une fois. Ses yeux sont morts; son visage gras et opaque. Qu’est-ce qu’on doit  faire  pour apparaître vivant dans ses yeux?

– Niall Slack, Year 12

Il est allé loin, trop loin…

Il a demandait au seigneur, “Seigneur, donnez-moi la force pour que je puisse aller loin, loin d’ici.” Il a priait, rêvant d’ une vie où il ne serait embrassé que par sa tranquillité d’esprit. Il aspirait à la sérénité, il aspirait à l’agrément. Le rouge était la couleur qu’il voyait tous les jours, et le noir était la couleur qu’il voyait quand tous les sons autour s’éloignaient. Il voulait voir des arcs-en-ciel, mais à la fin, il n’a vu que de la lumière blanche, et il réalisa qu’il était allé loin, mais trop loin…

– Ishana Sonnar, Year 13

Jamais je n’ai ressenti une joie authentique. Mais, dans un monde où on met les émotions en bouteille et les vend, un jour j’ai découvert un marché clandestin vendant des émotions les plus rares. J’ai trouvé, acheté une fiole de pur bonheur. En sortant, j’ai entendu une conversation choquante: les émotions étaient récoltées de donneurs non-consentants, dont certains ne survivaient au processus. Je dois faire quoi- révéler la vérité, risquant tout, ou me taire, vivant avec la culpabilité? J’ai pris ma décision. Brisant la fiole, je suis partie. Et, ce-moment-là, j’ai ressenti un sentiment libérateur que je n’avais jamais connu.

– Maliha Uddin, Year 13

Avec mes doigts tremblants, je pose le garni finale, une tige de persil, délicatement sur le filet.
«La recette vient de ma grand-mère, j’espère qu’elle te ferait plaisir,” je dis, avec un gros sourire sur mon visage. Ma voix manque d’air car je suis exaspérée par le travail dur de cuisiner. Le plat est symétrique, avec deux demi-cercles de purée de pommes de terre entourant la viande et la sauce au vin de cerise qui s’accumule avec de la myoglobine.
En face de moi, le cadavre en décomposition de mon copain suinte du sang—un biceps decoupee du bras gauche.

– Alexandra Kozlova, Year 12

Tendre la main

‘Prête?’

Je ferme les yeux et j’acquiesce. La partition bruisse dans sa poigne tremblante. Soudain, les touches du piano s’animent. Les années fondent de ses mains fragiles, maintenant se tendant, pleines d’assurance. Je les saisis. Mon saxophone inonde l’air avec nostalgie. Nous échangeons des notes, tissant nos pensées en débat enjoué. Comme le tonnerre et la pluie, nos mélodies fusionnent et avec un apogée, l’orage éclate.

L’enregistrement se termine. Le silence tombe. J’ouvre les yeux pour voir le couvercle du piano toujours fermé. Je tends la main, tremblant comme lui autrefois. J’appuie sur play à nouveau.

‘Prête?’ Non, pas encore.

– Odette Mead, Year 12

Le Flâneur

C’est moi, le flâneur. C’est moi, que tu vois chaque jour, autour de la ville.

Qui traverse le pont, qui fais le tour du marché, qui rentre dans l’église juste pour en ressortir. Qui dis bonjour au boulanger, à ceux et celle qui passe.

Mais que vois-je ? Je témoins l’antan : les traces de nos empires, nos républiques, nos luttes et nos avances… l’âme incassable de notre ville.

Un jour, je ferais partis de cette histoire. Rien qu’une mémoire, rien qu’un esprit. Mais, un morceau de cette âme, que je ressens avec une telle amour.

– Hugo Sherzer-Facchini, Year 12

Prouvez votre humanité. 

Prouvez votre humanité. 

Je regarde fixement l’écran de l’ordinateur. Le site me demande de prouver mon humanité, mais comment? Et d’ailleurs, c’est quoi, l’humanité – les guerres ou les principes humanistes? Les deux? Ou bien l’indifférence envers eux?

Frustrée, je passe à un autre onglet qui s’avère être celle du ChatGPT. Je lui ai demandé de terminer mon essai sur la poésie d’Emily Dickinson comme un défi pour son temps. Et c’est exactement ce qu’il a fait, cet outil écrivant plus éloquemment que moi et pourtant pas arrogant; impartial mais pas insensible.

Prouvez votre humanité; non, c’est trop ironique. 

– Daria Knurenko, Year 12

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Félicitations tout le monde!

FRENCH FLASH FICTION 2023: THE HIGHLY COMMENDED ENTRIES (Y10-11)

Following the publication of the winning and runner up entries, we are excited to present the highly commended entries for the Year 10-11 category of this year’s French Flash Fiction competition!

A huge well done to all our highly commended entrants! Without further ado, allez, on y va!

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«Venez ! Venez ! Tous sont les bienvenus !» crie un vendeur.
– «Maman, allons-y !» dit ma chérie.
– «D’accord.» Une foule se retrouve autour de l’hologramme. “Bien, nous savons tous que la vie naturelle est morte–
– «Honte aux Naturels ! Honte à eux !» répond quelqu’un.
– «Ils empêchent la société d’avancer !» hurle une femme.
– «Ils nous abîment !»
– «Merci ! Nous n’allons pas commencer une émeute, mes amis.» L’hologramme est assourdissant. «Je vous propose un appareil qui se débarrassera des Naturels pour de bon ! Un instrument de sagesse, car la gloire se trouve dans la perfection génétique !»
Je couvre les oreilles de ma chérie et nous partons.

– Jiali Hicks, Year 11

Cela aurait dû être moi. Elle était une fleur délicate. Je ne suis qu’une mauvaise herbe. Elle était une douce brise par une chaude journée d’été. Je suis la tempête imminente. Elle a toujours été la lumière des yeux de tout le monde. Je me fonds dans les murs. Je n’existe tout simplement pas. Elle a volé tout le monde et tout ce que j’aimais. Cela aurait dû être moi.

Maintenant, je serre sa main, toujours dans le déni. Elle a froide et sans vie, manquant de chaleur. Tout le monde l’aimait – pas moi. Cela aurait dû être moi.

– Anna Li, Year 10

Poker. Un jeu de stratégie et de bluff. Parfait pour un détective et un gentleman cambrioleur. Tous les deux restent intensément concentrés pendant toute la partie, jusqu’à ce que le détective pose “trois rois et un as”. Un sourire se glisse sur ses levres, Pourtant, le gentleman lui rend le sourire et pose “trois as et un roi!”

Au début, le détective ne sembla pas comprendre. Enfin, en partant, il marmonna “bien joué” . Le gentleman acquiesça sans dire mot avec un sourire aimable, en rentrant discrètement les trois as et le roi dans sa manche.

Poker. Un jeu de triche.

– Jerome Turenne-Rogers, Year 10

Cicatrices d’une négligence auto-imposée. Tatouages de tourment, de torture, de règne tyrannique. Le cramoisi me caressait comme un cocon. Au plus profond de l’abîme de l’océan, j’ai vu une fin, une fin à la lutte, une fin à la haine mais j’ai dû lutter contre la cruauté de Napoléon. Je devais protéger ma lignée, mon coeur battant. En perçant la surface, j’ai eu le souffle coupé et puis… j’ai vu ses mèches d’acajou flotter parmi les ondulations. Aussi vite qu’une panthère frappant sa proie, j’ai replongé et cherché frénétiquement ma bouée de sauvetage.
Mon coeur. Ma cousine.

– Anisa Begum, Year 11

La beauté de la nuit est qu’elle cache les choses qui sont claires dans la lumière. C’est l’heure du crime. Dans mon enthousiasme, je lis le journal d’hier, une bougie mourante à la main. Je ris. Cela brise le silence. Le matin venu, tout sera révélé. Elle entrera dans ma chambre, ouvrira les rideaux, fera quelques remarques insipides sur la météo…et puis, elle me passera le dernier journal. La manchette se lira “Meurtrier Frappe Encore !”. Nous échangerons un coup d’œil. Elle se moquera de ma chemise tachée de sang et je remarquerai le couteau dans son tablier. Entre-temps, j’attends.

– Maryam Khan, Year 10

La bataille était autour de lui, les deux camps se battent dur. Le Roi a observé. “Ma Reine”, il a chuchoté, “Cela ne se passe pas bien”.

Sur le champ, le fou connaissait que les chances n’étaient pas en leur faveur. Mais qu’est-ce qu’il pouvait faire?

Et ensuite il l’a vu.

Tu peux te sacrifier pour ton pays, murmure une voix en lui.

Ils gagneraient.

Le Fou a sauté avant. “Pour mon Roi!” il a crié en sprintant à travers le blanc-et-noir domaine.

Mes doigts effleurent la couronne complexe de la Reine. Doucement, je la déplace.

“Échec et mat.”

– Sara Bjelanovic

Je suis illégal

Ma mère a fui la. Elle m’a dit adieu avec beaucoup de câlins et de bisous. Tout autor de moi, je vois du chagrin, mais ce sera different en Angleterre, ça doit l’être.

On nous a donné un tout petit bateau gonflable. Vraiment chelou.

Le frois nous mord. Apparemment ‘La Manche’ tue.

Maintenant, les gens nagent vers le rivage, certains disparraisent. C’est affreux.

Ma famille et moi avons réussi. Le soulagement est incroyable.

On me dit que j’ai volé le travail quelqu’un, je n’ai rien volé. Même les politiciens me traitent l’ennemi. Je suis un humain, Ils me perçoivent comme illégal.

– Hugo Cooper-Fogarty, Year 11

Seul

Le père a appelé sa belle jeune fille.
“Aimee !” Il ne l’avait pas vue de la journée. Il s’approcha sa petite chambre douillette. En entrant, il découvrit un lit vide, fraîchement-fait. Il s’est assis, confus, se demandant où était Aimee. La porte s’ouvrit. “Ma femme”, s’enthousiasme-t-il, manque sa famille. La mère, l’air préoccupé, s’assit posant une main sur son genou. “Chéri, elle est partie”. Un déclenchement. Retour à la réalité. “Je sais”, dit-il, sa tête dans ses mains. “Mais c’est difficile maintenant que tu l’es aussi”. En levant lentement sa tête, le silence devint assourdissant. La chambre vide devient étouffante.

– Sophie Thomas, Year 10

Par la fenêtre du train, je vois les champs qui vivent,
Ma Madeleine de Proust, m’engouffre et m’invective.
Je me languis toujours de mon pays d’autrefois,
Elle me montre ses fleurettes, ses belles cascades galloises.

Soudain, le train s’arrête, mon coeur s’accélère,
Le vent persistait, dans la nuit crépusculaire.
Elles n’ont pas changé depuis mon dernier voyage,
Les roses blanches et les jonquilles sauvages!

Le train en mouvement, je fais signe à Madeline,
Je penserai au chant des oiseaux à l’aube crystalline.
Mais mon avenir m’a montré d’autre fleurs,
La jonquille vivra toujours près de mon cœur.

– Arya Dorjee, Year 11

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