Award ceremony for the winners-schoolchildren of the French Olympiad
On May 1, 2021, at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, an award ceremony was held for the winners-schoolchildren of the French Olympiad, organized by the “Institut français” (French Language Training Center) of the Republic of France in Turkmenistan. The Olympiad was held via digital video communication from 12 to 21 April 2021 for schoolchildren of the capital learning French. The ceremony was attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Turkmenistan, Mrs. Isabelle Guisnel, the Embassy’s Cultural Attaché, the director of the “Institut français”, Mr. Romain Gouvernet, and representatives of the “Institut français”, representatives of the Ministry of Education and of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Gulshat Yusupova, schoolchildren and teachers of French of secondary schools in Ashgabat.
The event was opened with a welcoming speech by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan, counselor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Nurberdi Amanmyradov. He congratulated the winners of the Olympiad and wished them further success. The Ambassador also noted the importance of holding similar Olympiads in the future in the regions of Turkmenistan. Then the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Turkmenistan, Mrs. Isabelle Guisnel, held a speech and noted that about 300 schoolchildren from nine secondary schools in Ashgabat took part in the event. The theme of this competition “A breath of air!” was proposed by the French Ministry of Culture for the 26th World Week of French and Francophonie. The French Ambassador enumerated the conditions for participating in the Olympiad: a dictation on environmental topics, a test on inspiration and creativity, and an interview on the topic of travelling and excursions organized by the “Institut français” online.
The winners, who finished in I, II and III places, were announced in three categories (schoolchildren grades 4 and 5; grades 7 and 8; grades 9). They were awarded with iPads and laptops donated by the companies VINCI Construction and Bouygues Turkmen. In addition, prizes were presented by other partners such as the Canadian Embassy in Ankara, the Swiss watch company Tissot, “la Boutique de Paris”, the French bakery “La Tartine” and the beauty salon “Dessange”. The winner’s certificates were jointly signed by representatives of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan and the French Embassy. The French language Olympiad was held in Turkmenistan for the first time. Each schoolchild participating was presented with a T-shirt bearing the words “Langue française en Asie centrale” by the French Embassy. All finalists also received gifts: a bag and a cup. The Ambassador of France congratulated the Turkmen schoolchildren and expressed her gratitude to the French language teachers of the secondary schools in Ashgabat for their assistance in preparing the participants.
The Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Gulshat Yusupova, congratulated the winners. In her speech she pointed out that today Turkmen youth are learning several foreign languages, in particular French. With the unrelenting support of the esteemed President of Turkmenistan Turkmen schoolchildren today have ample opportunity to refine their skills and knowledge and are able to demonstrate such excellent results.
Upon completion of the ceremony, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Turkmenistan, Mrs. Isabelle Guisnel, and the delegation were given a guided tour of the Museum of the History of Turkmen Diplomacy at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. Finally, the guests were familiarized with the structure and the activities of the institute.
Ogulbeg GAZAKOVA,
instructor of French language
of the
Department of World Languages
of the
Institute of International Relations of
the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.