(L-R) Maddie DeVillers, Henry Zeller, and Charlie Zeller all passed the DELF B2 exam.
Written by Anish Vedantham
Three seniors—Maddie DeVillers, Charlie Zeller, and Henry Zeller—passed the DELF B2 exam, a globally recognized certification issued by the French Ministry of National Education.
The exam, which certifies advanced proficiency in the French language, reflects their years of dedication and opens doors to a wide range of academic and professional opportunities.
Journey of dedication and preparation
Maddie, Charlie, and Henry have been immersed in French since kindergarten at Waddell Language Academy, an immersion program. Since coming to Providence Day in sixth grade, they have continued French.
By the end of their junior year, however, they had taken all of Providence Day's French courses. Their teacher, Madame Lucie Bridgland, explained that they “understood, however, that in order not to lose their language skills, it was paramount to continue their studies in French.” Because of their dedication, the school created a new course: French 8: Current Affairs (Post AP).
The class exposed the trio to diverse topics such as media, history, and transport, honing their ability to engage in higher-level discussions and craft formal written pieces—skills essential for succeeding in the DELF B2, which all of them elected to take.
Madame Bridgland emphasized the significance of this achievement.
“Language certifications provide students with tangible proof of their linguistic abilities, which can open doors to academic, professional, and personal opportunities,” she said.
The DELF B2 also signifies the students can function independently in academic and professional French-speaking environments, potentially even meeting the requirements for French citizenship in the future.
Overcoming challenges
The DELF B2 exam is known for its rigor. It tests candidates on listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
The speaking section was the most daunting for Maddie. She had to prepare a presentation on physical activity in the workplace and engage in a 10-minute discussion with exam administrators.
“It was the most nerve-racking for me because you need to have a conversation about a specific topic for a certain amount of time,” she said, “requiring knowledge of specific verbs and advanced vocabulary involving that topic.”
Charlie found the various formats the most challenging, given that they differed from previous assessments.
“It's not like AP,” he said. “It's not like regular language classes. So it's a unique format that really had to be worked and developed to ensure we all got good scores.”
Henry pointed to the in-person debate as the most challenging aspect. Quick thinking and fluency under time constraints were essential, but Madame Bridgeland’s motivation helped ensure his readiness.
“We did a lot of practice tests, and I felt confident about my scores,” Henry said.
Looking ahead: The impact of certification
Achieving the DELF B2 certification positions these students for exceptional opportunities.
Maddie plans to major or minor in French in college, with dreams of traveling and potentially working in France. Charlie views the certification as a standout accomplishment on résumés. Henry sees the DELF B2 as a gateway to studying or working in France and engaging with French-speaking communities globally.
Madame Bridgland said the DELF certification has lifelong value.
“They have a diploma recognized worldwide and valid for the rest of their life. They clearly are global learners ready to embrace diverse cultural and academic experiences!” she said.