FLAG MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL
SPOKEN LANGUAGE CONTEST 2009
General Guidelines

  1. Only teachers who are current members of FLAG may enter students in the contest (regardless of who registers these students). Teachers who wish to join FLAG should send the appropriate annual dues to the FLAG Treasurer by the contest deadline.
  2. Schools may enter two students (2) per language, per level. For example, Georgia Peach School may enter only two students for Spanish Level I, two students for Spanish Level II, two students for Spanish Level III, and two students for Spanish Level IV. These students must comprise the entire student body taking Spanish rather than represent a particular teacher's class. Therefore, if a school offers classes only in Spanish I and II, that school may enter a maximum of 4 students in the contest, two Spanish I and two Spanish II students. NOTE: Students should enroll for the competition in the level they are currently taking!
    • MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS who are in their second year of study will participate with high school students at the first year level.
    • LATIN STUDENTS will compete in an oratory contest, memorizing selections of the same passages used at the JCL state and national conventions. These selections are posted on the NJCL web site.
    • ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (FLES/ESFL) STUDENTS will compete in a different contest.
    • There is NO NATIVE SPEAKER category. Since this is a competition to demonstrate conversational fluency in a second language, participation in one's native language is not appropriate for this contest.
  3. Teachers must register students at the proper level. A student enrolled in a second-year foreign language class may NOT be registered for a first-year level. THE FLAG BOARD WILL SUSPEND AN ENTIRE SCHOOL FOR ONE YEAR IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING ARE FOUND:
    • A student is registered in an improper level
    • Misrepresentation of language
    • A student is not registered under his/her own teacher
  4. Judging Against Standards. All students will compete against a set of standards--i.e., the Georgia QCC--rather than against other students. Students will be rated according to the quality of performance as it represents three levels of competence: Superior, Excellent, or Notable. Contest results are recorded in terms of these categories; numerical grades or "scores" will not be reported to students or teachers. The number of awards is not limited to the top performers in each group. All students who demonstrate one of the three levels of proficiency are eligible to receive the corresponding ribbon award. All students will receive a "Certificate of Merit" in recognition of their efforts.
    • ALL JUDGES' DECISIONS ARE FINAL. JUDGES WILL NOT BE ASKED TO JUSTIFY THEIR SCORES. Teachers or parents are not allowed in the interview rooms.
  5. Contestants' registrations will be sent electronically using the online forms on the website. Complete all necessary information as indicated on the registration forms. Contest organization is greatly facilitated when all participating teachers from a school gather the information and send it together. It is imperative that teachers TYPE student contestant names and school addresses correctly!
  6. Provide an e-mail contact person for your school. Confirmation e-mails will be sent to that person. If you do not receive a confirmation e-mail within three weeks of mailing your registration materials, contact Joe Uriz (Mill Creek HS site) or Polly Stadnik (Darton College site) via e-mail immediately to make sure that your material arrived.
  7. The fee for each entry is $9. Entrance fees should be mailed to:
    • Mill Creek site participants: Joe Frank Uriz, Parsons Elementary School, 1615 Old Peachtree Road, Suwanee, GA 30024
    • Darton College site participants: Polly Stadnik, Westover HS, 2600 Partridge Lane, Albany, GA 31707
    Postmarked by February 6, 2009. Late entries will NOT be accepted. There are NO REFUNDS. Make checks payable to FLAG. Please put all registration fees from the same school on one check, and indicate school name on all checks.
    NEW FOR 2009: ONLINE PAYMENT. Follow the link for further details.
  8. If we have been unable to find judges for Japanese, Chinese, Russian or Arabic by one week prior to the contest, we may have to cancel the student interviews. In this case, student fees will be refunded.
  9. Substitutions will be allowed only if the teacher submits, on the day of the contest, the signed Student Substitution Form (from the web site; PDF!)
  10. Registration will be from 8:00--9:30 a.m. Judges' orientation will be at 8:30. Judges will not be available to their students during this time, so please plan accordingly.
  11. FIRST COME, FIRST JUDGED. Interviews will be scheduled between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon on a first-come, first-served basis.

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