National Year 7
Spelling Bee
Competition
Teacher’s Pack
2015/2016 Contents
Competition Overview
Aim
Process
Resources
Timetable
Stage 1 – Class
Stage 2 – School Round 1
Stage 3 – School Final
Stage 4 – National Final
The Rules
The competition
Contestant rules
The Judge
Disqualification Rules
Accents/Terminology
Links and Contacts
Forms
Competition Overview
Aim
The aim of the Spelling Bee is for students in year 7 to practise and improve their
vocabulary, spelling and memory skills in another language (French, Spanish, German and
Welsh 2nd Language).
Process
The competition consists of four stages over the three terms:
Autumn Term
Individual Class
(50 words)
Spring Term
School Round 1
(100 words)
School Final
(150 words)
Summer Term
National
Competition
(200 words)
Students will be given 50 words to learn at the first stage of the competition and a further 50
words will be added at each subsequent stage. Vocabulary will be relevant to the curriculum.
Word lists are available to download from the Routes into Languages Cymru website.
http://spellingbeecymru.co.uk/eng/downloaddocs/
The competition should be launched at the beginning of the autumn term and time should
be spent in the first few lessons of the year teaching and practising the alphabet in the foreign
language (paying attention to describing letters with accents etc.)
Different to a monolingual Spelling Bee, students have the option to be given a word in English
or in Welsh. They will first have to translate it into the Target Language and then spell it out
correctly using the alphabet in the Target Language.
When participating, students will be given one minute to correctly spell as many words as
possible.
The student who spells the most words correctly in accordance with the rules will be the
winner.
The names of the winners at each stage should be submitted to the Routes into
Languages Cymru team by the specified closing date. This is so that winners can receive
acknowledgement for their achievement via a certificate and appropriate arrangements can be
made for the subsequent round. Names should be submitted on the prescribed forms which
can be found at the back of this pack.
The National Final will take place at the end of the summer term.
Resources
Visit the Spelling Bee website http://spellingbeecymru.co.uk/. Access to word lists, training
resources and the Spelling Bee software programme can be found here.
Word Lists
Word lists can be found within Teachers Resources and Documents and are available for
downloading.
Training Resources
Training resources for all stages of the competition are available by clicking on the Target
Language flag.
• Alphabet Activity – letters of the alphabet recorded by native speakers so that the student
can listen and perfect the pronunciation.
• Word Practice – lists all the words by stages. By clicking on a word the student can hear
the word or hear the spelling of the word in the target language. Allows tagging of words by
difficulty (click on the small hexagon within the larger hexagon).
• Pairs – memory game to match the sound file to the word. Available for all 4 stages.
• Spell Word – spelling test with help facility. Available for all 4 stages.
Spelling Bee Software Programme
This software programme is used for testing students in the Spelling Bee competition. Words
are selected at random.
• http://spellingbeecymru.co.uk/
• Select Target Language flag.
• Select appropriate competition stage of Spelling Bee – the software will
launch.
• Click the Target Language flag.
• Click Welsh or English flag (as the source language).
• Click forward arrow to start the test.
Example:
Target language: French
Source language: English
Target word
SAY IT, SPELL IT.
Word in source language.
Returns to
previous
selection
screen.
Repeat the
word.
This is the clock.
Spellmaster must call ‘STOP’
when 1 minute time is up.
Click arrow for
next randomly
generated word.
Timetable
STAGE 1: Class Competition
Teachers should:
Visit the Spelling Bee website http://spellingbeecymru.co.uk/ and register your school into
the competition. Access to word lists and resources can also be found here.
Launch the competition to the students at the very beginning of term.
Teach the alphabet in the target language as early as possible in the term, ensuring that
students can name letters with accents, etc.
Allocate the stage’s 50 words to their students so that they can begin memorising them
and practising.
Test students on a weekly basis. It is suggested that this be done as a starter or plenary at
least once a week and that students test each other either in pairs or as a whole class.
Hold a class competition at the end of the first term.
• A Spellmaster should be appointed to operate the Spelling Bee programme and call time.
• A judge (and verifier) keeps score, according to the rules.
• Students should be tested individually and should not use any prompts.
• Students should have one minute to correctly say and spell as many words as possible in the
Target Language. Please refer to competition rules.
• Up to 10 students per class progress to the next stage of the competition.
The names of the winners should be submitted. The form can be found at the back
of this pack.
Closing date: 11 December 2015
STAGE 2: School Round 1
Teachers should allocate the extra 50 words to the stage 1 winners.
Class winners should meet weekly to test each other: this could be done at break time
or lunchtime. Additionally, the class could test their winners each week as a starter or plenary.
The school round 1 should be held by Spring Half-Term. The same rules apply as for
stage 1, the only difference being that students will be tested on 100 words rather than 50.
The names of the 5 winners should be submitted. The form can be found at the back
of this pack.
Closing date: 12th February 2016
STAGE 3: School Final
Teachers should allocate the extra 50 words to the stage 2 school winners.
School round 1 winners should meet weekly to test each other: this could be done at
break time or lunchtime. Additionally, the relevant classes could test the winners each week as
a starter or plenary.
The school final should be held by the end of the Spring Term. The same rules apply
as for stage 1 and 2, the only difference being that the students will be tested on 150 words
rather than 50 or 100 words.
The names of the 2 winners should be submitted. The form can be found at the back
of this pack.
Closing date: 15th April 2016
STAGE 4: National Final
Teachers should allocate the extra 50 words to the stage 3 winners.
School final winners should meet weekly: this could be done at break or lunchtime with
other students. Additionally, the relevant class(es) could test the winner(s) each week as a
starter or plenary.
A National Competition will be held during the Summer Term (date and location TBC).
The same rules apply for stages 1, 2 and 3, the only difference being that students will be
tested on 200 words rather than 50, 100 or 150 words.
The National winners will be announced on the day and there will be a prize-giving
ceremony.
Final round: TBC
The Rules
The Competition
The Spelling Bee software programme is used to facilitate the test
http://spellingbeecymru.co.uk/
Words are selected in random order by the Spelling Bee programme.
The Spellmaster asks each contestant ‘Are you ready?’. After the contestant agrees they are
ready to begin the clock is started.
Contestants have ONE MINUTE to correctly spell as many words as possible in the target
language.
A judge and a verifier listen to each word and keep score during each contestant’s one-minute
time slot. Provided that both agree the correct spelling of that word, one point is awarded.
Contestants are tested individually without prompts.
When the one minute time is up the Spellmaster calls ‘STOP’.
In the event of a tie-break, the number of passes that each contestant made will be counted.
The contestant with the least number of passes will win. If the scores and number of passes
are the same, each contestant will be given another minute to correctly spell as many words
as possible. Once again, the number of passes will be counted. If contestants still have a tied
score, a sudden-death round will be played. Contestants will spell a word in turn, until one
of them spells a word incorrectly. This continues until there is a winner (and a runner-up).
Contestants are given equal number of words to spell. There is no time limit on a
sudden-death round.
Contestant Rules
Contestants face the judge.
Contestants will hear the word, translate it into the target language then spell it using the target
language alphabet, following the formula SAY IT, SPELL IT.
Contestants must translate the word with the correct article, but they only need to spell the
noun.
Accents and punctuation must be voiced during the spelling according to the rules set out
below (see Accents/Terminology).
Contestants can pass at any time, but they must say pass in the Target Language. There is no
immediate penalty for passing a word but the number of passes will count against them in the
event of a tie-breaker.
Contestants must speak clearly with sufficient volume. If the judge cannot hear the Contestant,
the judge will indicate and a re-spell takes place immediately. The clock is NOT stopped for
this action.
Although this is a competition of speed, clarity is of the utmost importance. If the judge is not
able to understand a letter or word, a point will not be awarded.
The judge’s decision is final on whether they heard a letter or spelling.
If Contestants are not sure that they have heard the word correctly, they are responsible for
requesting that the word be repeated. The clock is NOT stopped for this action.
Contestants cannot alter the order of the letters once they have completed their spelling of
the word but they can stop mid-word and start again from the beginning.
If a Contestant runs out of time during the spelling of a word, they should be allowed to finish
the word that they started.
If a Contestant runs out of time before starting to spell the word, no point is awarded.
If the Contestant is prevented from spelling a word and the time is up (for example if another
Contestant is disruptive), the judge may in his or her discretion allow a re-spell.
No conferring is allowed.
Contestants must remain quiet when not spelling. Contestants causing disruption will be
warned and if the disruption continues they may be disqualified.
The Judge
The Judge’s decision is final; their authority is the word list.
Although this is a competition of speed, clarity is of the utmost importance. If the judge is not
able to understand a letter or word, a point will not be awarded.
Disqualification Rules
If the judge is satisfied there has been an incident of cheating the Contestant will be
disqualified.
Mobile phones remaining switched on after a warning is given will result in the contestant being
disqualified.
If guests do not remain quiet during the competition after having been warned then their
contestant may be disqualified.
If the judge is suspicious that members of the audience are influencing the accuracy of the
spelling by whatever means, the judge will give a warning, and if the incidence persists the judge
may disqualify a contestant or contestants.
Late arrival for a regional or national competition by Contestants and their accompanying
teacher may result in disqualification.
Accents/Terminology
All accents and terminologies must be said as set out below; otherwise a point will not be
awarded.
FRENCH
âêîôû
accent circonflexe
ç
cédille
é
accent aigu
è
accent grave
ëïöü
tréma
Space
blanc
Pass
je passe
Apostrophe
apostrophe
Hyphen
trait d’union
SPANISH
áéíóú
tilde
ü
dieresis
Space
espacio
Pass
paso
Hyphen
guión
GERMAN
äöü
Umlaut
ß
S-Zett / scharfes S
Space
Leerzeichen / Abstand
Pass
ich passe
Apostrophe
Apostroph
Hyphen
Bindestrich
WELSH
âêîôûŷ
acen grom (informal: to bach)
á
acen
Space
bwlch
Pass
nesaf
Apostrophe
collnod
Hyphen
cysylltnod
OTHER POINTS TO NOTE
Contestants must translate the word with the correct article, but they only need to spell
the noun.
a pen
un stylo
stylo
the night
la nuit
nuit
a day
ein Tag
tag
The article must correspond with the article printed in the word list.
a pen
un stylo
stylo
a pen
le stylo
stylo
The gender needs to be correct. Even if the word has been spelt correctly, a mark will not be
awarded if the gender is incorrect.
a pen
un stylo
stylo
a pen
une stylo
stylo
Contestants must pay particular attention to the translation of similar sounding words
e.g. ‘a week’ and ‘weak’. Listening out for the article is key.
Question marks do not have to be voiced during the spelling.
Link and Contacts
Routes into Languages Cymru
Alison Hughes 029 2026 5466
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.routesintolanguagescymru.co.uk
Post: Routes into Languages Cymru, 245
Western Avenue, Cardiff CF5 2YX
Devised by Jane Driver
Spelling Bee Competition
STAGE 1: Class Competition
School Name & Address
Co-ordinator
Name
Email
Class Winners
Class
Surname
Forename(s)
Target Language
Spelling Bee Competition
STAGE 2: School Round 1
School Name & Address
Co-ordinator
Name
Email
School Round 1 Winners
Class
Surname
Prompts
(English/Welsh)
Target Language
Spelling Bee Competition
STAGE 3: School Final
School Name & Address
Co-ordinator
Name
Email
School Winners
Class
Surname
Forename(s)
Target Language