Ella Priest-Forsyth, of Logan Park High School, and Rachael Jones, of Columba College, took part in the national final after coming first and second respectively in the 2008 Alliance Francaise de Dunedin French speech competition last month.
The pair were vying for two trips to Paris in January 2009, and results of the competition were not yet known.
Otago Girls High School pupil Emily Oliver was second in the year 12 section of the Dunedin district competition and was entered in a national draw for five trips to New Caledonia.
Event organiser David Moir, of Dunedin, said 157 enrolments of Otago year 9 to 13 French pupils were received for this year's Alliance Francaise de Dunedin French speech competition, but illness kept many competitors away.
Competition was of a high standard and judges had "a hard time finding differences between the top pupils", he said.
The annual French-speaking competition is hosted by the University of Otago's Department of Languages and Cultures and is sponsored by Air Calin and the Alliance Francaise de Dunedin.
Alliance Francaise is a worldwide organisation which promotes French language and culture.
Although some pupils received top placings in their year, they were ineligible for awards as they had recently spent time in France or a French-speaking country.
Competition winners were:
Year 13 (non-eligible): Alex Ross (Otago Girls High School) 1, Thomas Hannagan (John McGlashan College) 2, Thomas Dysart (John McGlashan College) 3.
Year 13 (eligible): Ella Priest-Forsyth (Logan Park High School) and Rachael Jones (Columba College) first equal, Natasha Stenhouse (St Hildas Collegiate School) 3.
Year 12: Crystal Diong (Otago Girls High School) 1, Emily Oliver (Otago Girls High School) 2.
Year 11: Aislin Furlong (Columba College) and Joseph Vuli (Kaikorai Valley College) first equal, Claire Mitchell (Otago Girls High School) 3.
Year 10: Lianne Bayliss (Otago Girls High School) 1, Eve Kennedy (Logan Park High School) 2.
Year 9: Macalista Hewitson (St Hildas Collegiate School) 1, Maple Goh (Columba College) 2, Shannon Eustace (Queens High School) 3.
