Sophie Graham and Jayla Reams, two Elkins High School seniors, recently participated in the West Virginia World Language Showcase and Competition at Fairmont State University. This is the first time that the students from Elkins High School have participated in this event.
The students registered online under the guidance of Sra. Devine, their Spanish teacher. She played a vital role in helping students enter the competition.
Jayla Reams tied for first in the speech competition among the participants from other schools. She won this victory by delivering an original speech titled “Aprender un Idioma es Aprender a Sentir.” Which translates to “To learn a language is to learn how to feel.” Reams’ performance captivated the judges, showcasing not only her advanced Spanish speaking skills but also her ability to connect emotionally with the audience.
Sophie Graham also represented the school very well by participating in both the speech and trivia events. In a fun competition against other talented students, Graham stood strong and gained valuable insights into what it takes to be successful in language competitions.
“It was a great experience,” Graham said about the event. “It was amazing to see how the other kids use their language skills, and that inspired me to continue improving myself.”
WV World Language Showcase and Competition unites the most talented language learners from around the state and allows them to compete in several areas, such as singing, reading, impromptu speaking, trivia, and dancing. For Sra. Devine the dancing was a highlight. “We really enjoyed watching the dance performances, especially a group from Hedgesville High School that performed “Titi Me Preguntó” by Bad Bunny,” Devine said.
The participation in the competition is one more important milestone for Elkins as far as the development of the Spanish language program goes. Sra. Devine felt proud of her students because they set the tone for future language success at Elkins. “Now that I know more about the competition. I hope that we can bring more students in future years,” Devine said.
