HEC Montréal Student Wins the Délie ta langue ! Contest
April 3, 2023
Flavie Joane Nikébié. Photo © Rémy Boily
Flavie Joane Nikébié, a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) student at HEC Montréal won the Grand prix Antidote de l’éloquence on March 27, during the finale of the Délie ta langue ! (Loosen your tongue) contest.
She won plaudits for her presentation of the expression “To put the cart before the horse” as it showcased the relevance and perfect understanding of her topic, the wealth of expressions she used and also her unparalleled communication skills, according to Michel Robitaille, president of the jury and chairperson of the board of the Centre de la francophonie des Amériques.
Organized by the Université de Montréal, this competition brings together undergraduate university students each year for a verbal jousting. The contest involves selecting a French expression and delivering a professional oral presentation that analyzes and connects it to a social issue.
This event was created with the aim of promoting the French language and developing the linguistic skills of the next generation:
“Eloquence is an art form that engages speakers in their globality: body and soul, voice and gestures, sincerity, and of course, what is innate to them. Ideally, all graduates, regardless of the discipline, should have a good command over written and spoken French, their most valued ally for clarity of thought and effective action.”
Ten Quebec and Ontario universities participated in this 5th edition, thereby marking the first step towards expanding into the Canadian Francophonie.