After Stressing "Points Off for Spelling Mistakes," French Education Minister Embarrassed by Dictation Blunder
French Education Minister Makes Spelling Mistake on TV
"Everyone Makes Mistakes When Writing... Reviewing Is Essential"
The French Minister of Education has sparked controversy after making a spelling mistake on a TV program, despite having announced plans to strengthen the marking of spelling in the baccalauréat, France’s university entrance exam.
According to the daily newspaper Le Parisien on June 4 (local time), Edouard Jephre, the French Minister of Education, recently appeared on the current affairs program broadcast by France 5, the public television channel, where he participated in an impromptu spelling test.
During the program, Minister Jephre was asked by a panelist to do a dictation on a chalkboard. He first wrote the word "accueil" (welcome). When the presenter pointed out that there was an error, he immediately erased the word and wrote it again. Next, he attempted the word "dilemme" (dilemma), a word that often confuses French speakers, but mistakenly included an "n" that does not belong in the actual spelling, resulting in a wrong answer. He admitted, "I thought both spellings were possible; that was my mistake."
On the other hand, he managed to redeem himself by correctly spelling "rhododendron," a word also considered difficult in French. However, he hesitated again when spelling "coccyx" (tailbone). In the end, the panelists gave Minister Jephre somewhat ambiguous evaluations, such as "15 out of 20 points" and "The start was disappointing, but you can do better."
This spelling test drew particular attention because Minister Jephre has recently emphasized stricter marking standards for spelling and grammar in the baccalauréat. He has stated his intention to apply a so-called "zero-tolerance policy" toward spelling mistakes as part of his push to strengthen students’ fundamental academic skills.
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Minister Jephre has also recommended that test-takers always review their answers before submitting them. Having made a mistake himself during the spelling test, he remarked, "The key lesson from this test is the importance of reviewing. Everyone makes mistakes when writing. I hope baccalauréat candidates take about 10 minutes to reread their answers before submission."
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