SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The judge reads the French paragraph once, then twice as French-immersion students write what they hear at the international French dictation competition. Each misspelled word, misplaced punctuation or accent means point deductions.

William McDonald School student Amanda Grace Butler is the only student from the NWT heading to an international French dictation competition in Montreal this May. - Katherine Hudson/NNSL photo

After competitions in her classroom at William McDonald School and then a regional competition at Allain St. Cyr School earlier this month, Grade 6 student Amanda Grace Butler is heading to the Paul Gerin-Lajoie international writing competition in Montreal as the only student representing the NWT and the North.

"They read it once and then they re-read it slowly with the punctuation and everything. They talked really clearly so it was easy to write it. I like writing and I like French class too," said Butler.

Butler competed with 139 NWT participants. Another Grade 6 student from Whitehorse will attend in the francophone category.

"There are going to be a whole bunch of people from places in Africa and stuff so there's going to be a whole lot of kids. It's a big deal."

Francophone and French immersion students from throughout Canada, the United States, Haiti, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Benin, Mali and Niger will head to Montreal on May 22 for the 20th anniversary of the dictation competition.

The competition holds about 30 regional finals throughout Canada. From these, about 100 Canadian students will take part in the international event in Montreal.

According to the foundation's website, regional finals are also held in the United States, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Benin, Mali and Niger.

Two winners are selected in each of these countries and will come to Montreal to compete. The schools who enter the program pay $3 per student, with money going to the Paul Gerin-Lajoie Foundation to support basic education in French-speaking Africa and Haiti.

Butler's instructor, Melanie Parisella, said the listening and writing process, which is practised in the classroom, is beneficial for all students, competition or not.

"The writing competition is good for all the students because it's not just based on vocabulary. It teaches grammar as well. It's an opportunity for all the students to improve their French while helping somebody," she said.

This year, the dictation topic focuses on the biodiversity of the ecosystem.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.