Our finalists to the Oxford Reading Competition

I have always thought that reading a book and finishing it is a rewarding achievement on the persona level, but to be acknowledged by a prominent jury as one of the top twenty in all Lebanon for reading a certain book is the most rewarding achievement of all. Kamar Kotob and Mohammed Kawatharani, two Grade 9 students (French section), got the chance to experience that with their participation in the Oxford Reading Competition.

They were both selected among the top twenty finalists in this prestigious competition which is held annually on a national scale where schools from all over Lebanon participate, encouraging their students to read classical books and to present their understanding in a form of written entries. The British Council, a chieft organizer of this event, reviews hundreds and hundreds of entries in an attempt to select the top 20 entries from all over Lebanon.

On Saturday, Jan 14, 2012, our two finalists attended a ceremony held at Monroe Hotel where a distribution of prizes occurred. This distribution was to be decided relying on interviews conducted by a British Council jury. The jury assessed the participants with respect to their understanding of the book and the originality of their work. The results came out outstanding; Mohammed won the second place, and Kamar won the third place in their category.

 
Eventually, they both came out with the impression that they want to participate next year in order to re- live the excitement and the anticipation of such a day whose outcome came more that gratifying to both of them.

Hiba Chamandi - English Teacher.