2022/2023 - Choix Goncourt des étudiants d’Irlande [fr]
Are you a student? Can you speak and read in French? Do you like to read contemporary books?
Then the "Choix Goncourt des étudiants d’Irlande" is made for you!
Take part in this new adventure!
Students will participate in the reading and choose the best novel from the latest selection of the Académie Goncourt (4 novels to read).
All students from all fields of study and all levels can register, but must have a sufficient level of French to read the novels. The reading groups are formed and managed by a member (or members) of each university (teacher, French society, etc.).
If you would like to participate in the Irish selection, please send your name, email address, level of study, nationality and the name of your university in Ireland to: academic@ambafrance-ie.org.
You will then be contacted by your university coordinator to join the group and receive your books.
Are you a French language teacher?
You can also join this initiative to coordinate the student group, help with discussion sessions and give pedagogical and linguistic advice. If you would like to participate, please send an email to academic@ambafrance-ie.org.
HISTORY
"The idea of designating a Goncourt, outside the Goncourt and the Hexagon but according to the same rules, was born in Poland 21 years ago. On the initiative of the director of the French Institute in Krakow, Patrice Champion, and with the agreement of the Goncourts, a jury of French-speaking students decided on the first Goncourt Prize selection. Since then, the tradition has taken root in Poland and spread to 20 countries. It is called the "Choix Goncourt".
The competition is organised by the Institut français and the authorities of the French-speaking world, most of the time. It is aimed at "learners" of French, students. In general, the judges decide after reading the second selection of the Goncourt, a list of eight titles. For some countries, only the four finalist books are put to the vote. The judges are obliged to read the novels in French, and to argue during the discussion also in the language of Molière. Christine Siméone, FranceInter, 17 November 2019
The first edition of the Choix Goncourt of students in Ireland is launched in October 2021 by the cultural service of the French Embassy in Ireland, in partnership with International Books (Dublin) and the Alliance française de Dublin and involves all Irish higher education institutions.
The Académie Goncourt is composed of Didier Decoin (president), Pierre Assouline, Tahar Ben Jelloun, Pascal Bruckner, Françoise Chandernagor, Philippe Claudel, Paule Constant, Camille Laurens, Patrick Rambaud and Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt.
This initiative is also supported by l’Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie.
OBJECTIVES
* To encourage students to read contemporary works of French literature.
* To encourage the exercise of critical judgement through reading, debates, deliberations, writing and the drafting of literary chronicles.
* To enable pedagogical innovation through a sustainable contribution to the renewal of pedagogical practices.
* To create a network students from AUF member universities in Western Europe and facilitate intercultural dialogue.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Students of French departments or any other student (all disciplines and all levels) interested in reading contemporary French works (including French students) and Erasmus students.
DISPOSITIVE
* Reading and ranking of novels from the 3rd selection of the Académie Goncourt by student juries created in the universities.
* Methodological support provided by the teachers.
* Deliberation behind closed doors by the student grand jury, chaired by a writer, according to the procedure of the Académie Goncourt, followed by the proclamation of the prize and a public debate in the presence of a member of the Académie Goncourt.
* Writing workshops: writing of short reading notes to promote the works in bookshops.
GENERAL ORGANISATION
Constitution of one or more reading groups per university (depending on the number of students involved)
Selection of a group representative who will report the reading group’s choice and defend it at the jury meeting.
Regular meeting with all the students in the reading groups (about once a month)
SELECTION PROCESS
Students will be asked to read all 4 novels from the latest Goncourt Academy selection between November and March. The reading groups will meet on a regular basis to discuss and debate the works in competition.
At the end of the reading of each work, students will be asked to write a short book report which can be used to promote the works and the Goncourt selection in Ireland.
VOTING PROCEDURE
Each university will choose its favourite work. Then one or two representatives from each university will be asked to represent their reading group and defend the selected work at the Selection Grand Jury (Arpil 2022). The representatives will debate and select Ireland’s choice.
CHOICE RELEASE
The reveal of the Choix Goncourt des étudiants d’Irlande will be held in the presence (if available on the day of the ceremony) of a representative of the Académie Goncourt, the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie, the French Ambassador to Ireland, the students in Dublin.
THE LAST GONCOURT SELECTION 2022
- Giuliano da EMPOLI, Le Mage du Kremlin, Gallimard
- Brigitte GIRAUD, Vivre vite, Flammarion
- Cloé KORMAN, Les Presque Soeurs, Seuil
- Makenzy ORCEL, Une somme humaine, Rivages
CALENDAR 2022-2023
25 October 2022 Announcement of the last Goncourt selection
November Sending of novels to universities
December First meeting
January - February - March Meeting event (Publisher/ Author)
End of April Vote & Release - Goncourt choice
This selection is an initiative of the French Embassy in Ireland in partnership with the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie, the Académie Goncourt, International Books (Dublin) and the Alliance française de Dublin.
For more information, contact : academic@ambafrance-ie.org