Wendy Mbog, a Concordia software engineering student, won first place at the 2026 edition of Délie ta langue!, the annual French-language public speaking competition. The accomplishment earned her a $5,000 prize, awarded by Quebec's Ministère de la langue française.
At left: Wendy Mbog performing at the 2026 Délie ta langue ! finale. | At right: Noah Labranche, Wendy Mbog and Julien Perrie-Chartrand.
Mbog's presentation centered on the French expression, "Les chiens aboient, la caravane passe," ("the dogs bark, but the caravan moves on"), which she used as a lens to address the pressures placed on women. Her speech explored the contradictory expectations women often face, encouraging them to step away from external judgments and define their own paths.
Claiming space through language
For Mbog, French is not just for academics or competitions. As her first language, it is tied to her Cameroonian origins and has shaped her experiences at home, in school and in how she engages with the world. She says she is drawn to the language's richness and precision, and she admires those who can use it to express complex ideas with clarity and simplicity.
For Mbog, participating in Délie ta langue became a way to take ownership of her relationship with the language.
"I had been wanting to take part in a public speaking competition for a long time, to step out of my comfort zone and experience the power of spoken words," she says.
From left to right: Sophie Mailloux, Noah Labranche, Pascale Sicotte, Wendy Mbog, Julien Perrie-Chartrand, Chanel Bourdon and Denis Liakin.
Preparation and support
Mbog's journey to the stage was supported by a network across Concordia. Espace Franco and Réussir en français coordinated her participation, with support from the Département d'études françaises, which provides mentorship to students from all disciplines.
"You could really say the whole university was behind her," says Sophie Mailloux, Espace Franco manager and Concordia's representative on this year's Délie ta langue! organizing committee. "It was a proud moment to see francophone students who chose Concordia finding success and confidence in French."
Pascale Sicotte, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science, has attended the competition every year since Concordia began participating in 2022.
"It's inspiring to see our students excel and share their passion for French," she says. "Year after year, the candidates raise the bar. Standing on that stage takes courage, and their dedication and skill are evident in every moment of their performance."
Mbog was also mentored by Julien Perrier-Chartrand, professor in the Département d'études françaises, and Noah Labranche, BFA 20 (Theatre), an actor and public speaking coach. She says they helped her refine her delivery and stage presence, complementing her own extensive preparation.
Where words meet action
Reflecting on her approach, Mbog connects her experience on stage with her engineering studies.
"My mother often says that scientists are first and foremost good writers: It is necessary to understand the subtleties of a problem before being able to solve it,'" she says. "I think this also applies to the way I built my speech."
For Mourad Debabbi, dean of the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, Mbog's success reflects a broader form of student development.
"It's remarkable to see our engineering students embrace opportunities that cultivate leadership, communication and critical thinking skills that are essential to their success as professionals and members of our community," Debabbi says.
"Initiatives like this one allow students to grow in ways the classroom alone cannot."
