Sophomore Anny Chen anxiously wipes her sweaty hands off while waiting for the results of the Language Festival held Feb. 2 at Rogers Heritage High School. Chen competed in vocabulary and reading for Spanish III.

“I was really anxious because there was another girl who could’ve gotten second place,” said Chen. “I was hoping she would get her word wrong, so I could get second place.”

Chen received second place in vocabulary but didn’t place in reading. She will be going to state May 4 in Russellville.

“I’m really excited for state because I’ve never gotten to go to state for a foreign language before,” she said.

Senior Chase Colvin got fourth place for vocabulary and second for reading for advanced placement Spanish. He qualified for state in both these categories, but that wasn’t his favorite part.

“Ben Phillips and I took a dancing class and I took a dancing class, and I got on Univision because I didn’t have a partner, and the instructor dragged me up there. I was kind of freaking out,” said Colvin.

Students were offered the opportunity to compete in this competition as an extra credit opportunity. Students competed against other foreign language students from the surrounding area’s schools.

“I had my students participate in this contest because I feel like it’s a good way to use the languages they’re practicing,” said Spanish teacher Robert Snyder. “It shows that what they’re learning is useful.”

As for those students who made it to state, the next few weeks will be filled with practicing.

“I’m going to practice level three and four vocabulary on quizlet,” said Chen. “The people going to state are obviously going to be very good at it.”

Participating in the language festival has been beneficial to students’ understanding of their foreign language.

“It has helped me speak a lot better in Spanish, and it allowed me to become more confident in speaking Spanish,” said Chen, who is also fluent in Chinese and English.