The month of March means busted brackets, thrilling upsets, and blockbuster matchups. Am I referring to NCAA March Madness? Think again. French students at Toll Gate prefer Manie Musicale, a bracket-style tournament of new songs by French artists that French learners worldwide can vote on. Created in 2017 by a pair of French teachers, Manie Musicale, which translates to “Musical Mania” has reached over 100,000 students throughout the world.
Mrs. McDowell, Toll Gate’s sole French teacher, has been incorporating Manie Musicale into her curriculum since 2020, but this the first year she has entered students into the official competition. She notes that many students “are really invested in it and love being a part of a worldwide event.” To create additional hype around the tournament, McDowell plans to reveal the winner of the official Manie Musicale in the auditorium on April 10.
Manie Musicale has inspired Francophone artists to collaborate with French learners. FLOFranco, the winner of the 2023 Manie Musicale, recently visited a school in Maine to perform for French students. Others, like Lékho and Missy D, interact with their student fans through social media. At Toll Gate, McDowell has students learn various facts about the artists and their home countries, introducing them to France’s cultural influence throughout the world.
Just as invested in Manie Musicale as Toll Gate French students? Take note of the bulletin board outside of Mrs. McDowell’s room that displays the previous winners of Manie Musicale.
