In August, 25 Palmerston North Boys’ High School students sat the DELF Scolaire examinations. These are internationally recognised qualifications awarded by the French Ministry of Education to certify proficiency in the French language. These examinations assess students’ listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills against global standards, and are highly regarded by universities and employers around the world.
Among these students was Year 12 student Jonathan Peel, who achieved outstanding success in his DELF Scolaire B1 examination, earning the highest result in the region. This exceptional performance qualified him for the Concours Oral National, a national French-speaking competition for top DELF candidates from across New Zealand.
Jonathan went on to win the national title in the Year 12 category, an incredible achievement that places him among the very best French language students in the country. He becomes only the third PNBHS student ever to win this competition — following previous victories in 2004 and 2015. While other students from our school have qualified and competed over the years, no others have managed to claim the top prize again, until now.
As the national winner, Jonathan has been awarded an all-expenses-paid three-week French language immersion experience in New Caledonia.
