Contests
Are you learning French as a second (or even third) language?
Do you like reading and writing poetry?
Do you like winning cash prizes?
If so, O’Poésie is the contest for you!
O’Poésie is a national French-language poetry contest for students in grades 1 to 12 (CEGEP 1) enrolled in FSL programs across Canada. This is an opportunity for students to explore the beauty and expressiveness of the French language through a creative learning project, to practice literary skills, and develop a sense of belonging in Canada’s Francophone community.
THE PRIZES
The top three winners in each of the eight categories (chosen from submissions across Canada) will receive gift cards and donated books. Gift card prizes range from $25 to $150 each.
- Grades 1 – 3: $25-$50
- Grades 4 – 6: $50-$75
- Grades 7 – 9 | Sec. 1 – 3: $50-$100
- Grades 10 – 12 | Sec. 4 – CEGEP 1: $75-$150
THE RULES
- The poem must be written in French.
- The poem must have a title, be 15 to 20 free lines long, and fit on a single page (except for grades 1-3 who must submit a poem in haiku or acrostic form).
- The poem must include at least two (for grades 1 – 6) or four (for grades 7 – 12) poetic devices (e.g. alliteration, onomatopoeia, metaphor, repetition, personification, etc.).
- The poem must be written and edited solely by the author.
- The poet must be a student studying French as a second language.
- The poem must be submitted below as a PDF file.
THE CATEGORIES
GROUP A: Core French & Intensive / Extended French
- Grades 1 – 3 (Haiku or acrostic poem)
- Grades 4 – 6
- Grades 7 – 9 | Sec. 1 – 3
- Grades 10 – 12 | Sec. 4 – CEGEP 1
GROUP B: French Immersion & Francization
- Grades 1 – 3 (Haiku or acrostic poem)
- Grades 4 – 6
- Grades 7 – 9 | Sec. 1 – 3
- Grades 10 – 12 | Sec. 4 – CEGEP 1
Thank you to all our participants for taking part in O’Poésie this year. Congratulations to all the winners! We look forward to your submissions in 2025!
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS
This kit provides information for teachers, administrators, parents, and anyone else who wants to encourage students to participate in this contest:
Scholarships
We may be far from the heart of French language, out here on the Pacific and all, but supports in the form of resources and scholarships still abound in B.C. and Yukon.
Did you know that students pursuing post-secondary at UBC, UVic, SFU or Éducacentre are eligible for a $3,000 scholarship? Or that the B.C. government offers up to $5,000 to students who study in majority-French programs? Many of our Chapters hand out scholarships to their local grads too!
Read on to find out more about contests and scholarships for French learners in B.C. and Yukon.
ACUFC FSL Bursaries
Pursuing postsecondary studies in French: Pourquoi pas? Did you know that the Bursaries for Postsecondary Studies in French as a Second Language (FSL) Program aims to encourage young Canadians whose first official spoken language is English to study in French?