French Week is a national week that was founded by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF). During this week, schools across the country host a series of events to promote French culture throughout the school. The 2021 French Week technically runs from November 3rd through the 9th, but Oakdale High School hosted their French Week from the 1st through the 5th.

Zeno Rubach, a sophomore at OHS and President of the French club, explains the purpose of French Week is to “express French throughout the school, and get students more involved and intrigued with the French language.”

At the front of the cafeteria was a table where students could come up and play a game that revolved around France and French culture. Rubach sat at their table in the cafeteria every day, during fourth block. Each day a different activity was hosted.

On Monday, Rubach hosted a French Bocce, and Tuesday students could make macarons with play-doh. For Wednesday, students could play a french Family Feud, Thursday was a French Kahoot, and Friday was a photobooth.

Understanding French culture is not a waste of time but rather an opening for a great job opportunity. Ms.Nissa Quill, French Teacher and advisor for the French club, clarified, “The Military defense department explained to me the need for American citizens, French, Arabic, and Chinese speakers. They’d rather hire US citizens that speak these languages than the native speakers because we then learn their language and can separate our allies from our enemies.”

The French Club had a successful French Week, with the Kahoot being the most successful game. Starting November 8th, the French club will be hanging posters around the school about French musicians and singers. These posters will have QR codes on them, and students can scan that code in order to add songs by those musicians to their playlist.