English is the means of communication. In learning English, we will spend much time and energy in remembering the words as we have no advantages compared to native speakers and have to improve our language proficiency by accumulating the vocabulary.

The Spelling Bee is an English competition for young people and has received global recognition. Contestants spell English words on site as a way to test children’s vocabulary, psychological quality and capabilities of dealing with stress. Those misspell one alphabet will be immediately eliminated.

Spelling Bee helps increase students’ vocabulary and train their perseverance.

On March 2 to 3, 2019, the 2018-19 season of the Beijing stop of the Spelling Bee of China (SPBCN) was held as scheduled. Students from Kaiwen were active in participation. They learnt new knowledge in an entertaining environment, and found what the short got in competition. Through entertaining and professional competition, they have their enthusiasm of learning improved and luminance added to their daily life and study. 

Spelling is made a way to explore the world. After fierce competition, five students from the Haidian campus of Kaiwen stood out and qualified for the National final. How do they prepare for the competition? What are their secrets of studying English? Do they have tips and useful advice for us?

Let’s have a look.

Chen Sirui or Andy

“I am excited to win the champion. In studying new words, I usually listen carefully to the pronunciation, study the example sentences and look up the origin of the word.”

Winner: Chen Sirui or Andy

Class: 4B

Prize: golden medalist for medium level of elementary school students in Beijing

What headmaster Diana said:

When he first came to the class, he started from the ESL program. By the end of the semester, he has elevated to the top in each subject. His curiosity is an essential reason. Do not care about where you started, but keep on the good work and you will be better. Wish Andy excellent performance in the National final. Go for it!

What headmaster Annabelle said:

The foreign teachers are preparing students for the next Spelling Bee. The students write down new words on the front side of the dash cards and the meaning on the back side. This helps them apprehend and memorize the words. At the same time, the students will gradually develop the sense of self-motivation and competition.

Zhou Zixi or Sissi

“Stay calm and value the experience.”

Winner: Zhou Zixi or Sissi

Class: 7A

Prize: second place for junior high

What headmaster Jean said:

Sissi is very hard working. She is aggressive. When preparing for the competition during the vocation, she set up the alarm clock and started to study for English words at sharp eight o’clock every morning till eight o’clock in the afternoon. Sissi devoted great energy to this competition and memorized all words appeared in the previous competitions. She is devoted and perseverant. She aimed for the championship, but lost the game in the extra time when words competed with were beyond the word list. Sissi claimed the second place ultimately, but the process of hard working is meaningful.

Ning Zichen or Kevin

“I love reading, and made a tailored plan for remembering the vocabulary for myself.”

Winner: Ning Zichen or Kevin Ning

Class: 3B

Prize: the third prize of the medium level for elementary schools in Beijing

What the headmaster Clara said:

Kevin is passionate about learning English and his passion is contagious to surrounding people. At the moment, all students in the English class use computers and OneNote with which they could write notes, read and finish the homework as doing on the paper.

Computers and OneNote used in class have gradually changed our teaching and students’ way of learning. For example, they shorten the cycle where teachers give feedback on students’ homework, and enable the students to realize that computers are a tool to help learn and that they should well use them.

To my upmost surprise, doing homework on the computer makes many children gradually love writing and reading in English. They begin to take the initiative in reading and become more interested in studying English.

Wang Haiyang or William

“The competition is interesting, and I want to take part next time.”

Winner: Wang Haiyang or William

Class: 1A

Prize: the fourth place of the preliminary level for elementary schools in Beijing.

What the headmaster Sherry said:

William loves to read original English books suitable for his level. He always talks about books he read with classmates. The extensive reading broadens his horizon and also his vocabulary.

At present, our foreign teacher comes up with a unique set of teaching methods for English pronunciation, which are based on letters and their combination. Many children have their spoken and listening skills rapidly improved after studying the methods, which have also recognized by other English teachers of the same grade.

Yi Zixuan or Linda

“I love spelling, and I will be better prepared for the next competition.”

Winner: Yi Zixuan or Linda

Class: 5A

Prize: the sixth place for the advanced level for elementary schools in Beijing

What the headmaster Echo said:

Linda is a gentle kid. She is very good at interpersonal skills and gets along well with other classmates. Being excellent is the result of good habits. They are the habits of thinking creatively, doing things carefully, and being friendly with others. Such habits will gradually become part of our instinct.

In the Kaiwen Academy in Beijing, English is an important tool for classes and communications. It is also one of the important ways to broaden the horizons and cultivate one’s literary accomplishment.

Teachers of all ELA subjects in Kaiwen are native speakers of English. The high level of linguistic foundation and similar cultural recognition make it easier for them to foster shared teaching ideas in daily work.

We highlight the studying of English as well as its acquisition. Apart from the ELA programs, multi-level teaching, interactive teaching and cross-disciplinary teaching are all widely adopted methods.

For example, the elementary school department convenes a gathering every week for a specific theme of study, which is conveyed in different ways of expression in English. Last semester, six-grade teacher Richard instructed students to stage an English drama the Prince and the Pauper. Students of the 10th grade had outdoors English interactive classes. There are more to name.

Wish the qualified students to have better scores and make inroads into the world’s competitions.

Again, thank you all teachers and headmasters who have tutored and helped students competing in the games and those studying English.