By Siya Boya?
A RHODES 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 student has won a trip to France after writing an essay about the 2010 Fifa World Cup in French.
Sinayo Sirenya , a second year student majoring in political international studies and French, said she had heard about the competition run by the French Embassy from her French lecturer.
“When I entered the competition I had faith in myself and I believed I had the potential to win. They gave us 10 words we could incorporate in the essay and I used all of them. I spoke truthfully and honestly and I knew that I had written a good essay.”
Though the 21-year-old had been out of the country before, she said she was excited about going to France.
“I have been to Senegal, Italy and England but I am still excited about going to France. I feel proud and I think that it is a great achievement.
“I believe that if you put your mind to something you can achieve it. I am glad that I have a chance to represent my country,” she said.
Sirenya, who was born in the United Kingdom while her father was in exile, is the third born and the only girl among her four siblings.
Her father, Maxwell Sirenya, said his daughter’s trip to France was an indication that “through determination anything is possible”.
“I wish such opportunities could be available for other students as well. Being South African myself, I know that South Africans are good with languages – so hopefully in the future more students could be exposed to languages like French and Portuguese because they are some of the main languages in Africa,” he said.
The theme was “South Africa is hosting the 2010 Fifa World Cup. What does this mean to you and how does it impact on your everyday life”. Entrants were required to write an essay of 250 to 500 words.
Sirenya and another student, from the 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 of the Witwatersrand, will be jetting off to France in August.
Picture by: Alan Eason.
Source: Daily Dispatch