USI Language Bowl recorded record turnout

The University of Southern Indiana World Languages and Cultures Department hosted the 25th annual Language Bowl Thursday, March 14 and had a record turnout for the event. One hundred and seventy students and 24 teachers represented 13 local high schools including Boonville, Castle, Forest Park, Harrison, Heritage Hills, Mater Dei, Memorial, North Daviess, North Posey, Perry Central, Reitz, Signature School and Vincennes Lincoln. 

“The attendance at the Language Bowl has grown steadily over the last few years. We are delighted to have welcomed a record number of high school students and teachers this year, attesting to the healthy interest in language learning in the region’s high schools.” says Dr. David Hitchcock, Chair of USI’s World Languages and Cultures Department. 

“While on the surface, the Language Bowl is a day of fun and friendly competition—it is so much more than that. It’s a day where our high school students begin to fully grasp how their language skills and cross-cultural competencies set them up for success in myriad future career paths,” says Dr. Alexandra Natoli, Assistant Professor of French. 

Thirty teams representing French, German, Japanese and Spanish languages competed in a grammar and culture competition followed by a film competition. The winners from the grammar and culture competition are listed below: 

German: 

1. Heritage Hills Team One 
2. Heritage Hills Team Two 
3. North Posey Team Two 

French: 

1. Castle 
2. North Daviess 
3. Boonville 

Spanish: 

1. Heritage Hills Team One 
2. Memorial Team One
3. Perry Central Team One

Japanese: 

1. Castle Team One 
2. Castle Team Two 

There were six Spanish video entries and one German video entry for the film competition. The winners are listed below:  

Spanish Film Contest:   

1. North Daviess 
2. Perry Central 
3. Memorial Team one   

German Film Contest:     

1. North Posey 

This event was made possible through generous donations to the USI Foundation.  

To learn more about our World Languages and Cultures Department and how to get involved with next year’s Language Bowl, contact Hitchcock at dhitchcoc@usi.edu.