where’s your super firestarting power

Where’s your Super Firestarting Power?A Spelling Bee Case

Venezuela Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (VenTESOL)

Instituto Universitario de Tecnología Superior de Oriente (IUTSO)

VenTESOL Region 3

Prof. José ZapataVenTESOL Anzoátegui State Rep.IUTSO ProfessorU.E. “José Leonardo Chirino”L.N. “Camino Nuevo”

A Little More About Me• Originally from Maturín, Monagas State. • VenTESOL Anzoátegui State Representative since July 2013. • Teaching since 2007. • Love breaking traditional ways of ELT. • Working with teenagers and adults.

Objectives

• To specify the benefits or importance of Spelling Bee

competitions in TESOL as a lightstarter of learning.

• To present the perspectives and experiences of teachers and

students about Spelling Bee competitions.

• To give tips on how to organize Spelling Bee competitions.

• To share the experiences of Spelling Bee competitions held

in Monagas and Anzoátegui.

Talk to a Partner

How important is spelling compared

with pronunciation, vocabulary,

syntax, etc? Why?

?

Let’s Think!• "A good teacher is like a candle: it consumes

itself to light the way for others." –

Anonymous

Top 10 Teacher Super Powersby Annie Condron

• X-Ray Vision.• Super Educational Gadgets.• Elasti-Teacher.• Bladders of Steel.• The Firestarter.• Power of Super Patience.• Webs of Knowledge.• The Hammer of Teacher.• Super Distraction Deflectors.• The Powerful Protector.

The Firestarter: Marva Collins• "Once children learn how to learn, nothing is going to narrow

their mind. The essence of teaching is to make learning contagious, to have one idea spark another".

• “Good teachers are always looking for answers to problems; poor teachers make excuses for why children aren't learning.”

Spelling Bee: A Way To Firestart your Students’ Learning – “Why?”

• Benefits of Team BeesKnowledge of EnglishCommunication/Teaching/LearningCooperationConsensus Building

• Benefits of Solo BeesKnowledge of EnglishThinking on their feetPublic speakingHandling pressure

Spelling Bee: A Way To Firestart your Students’ Learning – “Why?”

• Benefits of Bees for TeachersDynamic activityChange of pace from lecture and drillsEasy to repeat with little preparationEasy to modifyMakes learning more memorableCompetition provides motivation

From My Own Experience

• Benefits of Bees for Students- A good way to let students know each other better.- A good way to meet students from different groups or

institutions.

“The Spelling Bee competition against the National High School ‘Camino Nuevo’ made me meet people of my age, socialize and share knowledge.” Ana Hernández-High School “José Leonardo Chirino”, Barcelona.  

Students’ Perspectives• “I think Spelling Bee competitions are a good way to learn

English and help me increase my vocabulary. Besides, competitions make me and my classmates work as a team and make me learn from my classmates. Finally, Spelling Bees help to give me confidence and motivation.” Ana Hernández-High School “José Leonardo Chirino”, Barcelona.

Students’ Perspectives• “It was a funny and educational experience with which I could

increase my knowledge about this amazing language; moreover, it still motivates me to keep learning about this language. In my personal experience, it is something I would love to repeat.” Nelsy Guzmán-High School “José Leonardo Chirino”, Barcelona.

From My Own ExperienceTeachers’ Benefits

• Teachers can get to know their students’ strategies of learning vocabulary.

• Teachers can get a friendlier vision from their students.

• Teachers can expand their creativity.

Questions:1- You as a teacher, how motivated do you feel when working with Spelling Bee competitions with your students? Why?2- Do you feel a change in your students when using spelling bee competitions? What do they tell you or express you?3- The teacher as a super hero, what would your super power be when working on activities like Spelling Bee competitions?

Teachers’ Perspectives

Prof. Luis HurtadoL.N. “Camino Nuevo”, Barcelona.

Prof. Mónica LeónVenTESOL Nueva Esparta State Representative

Spelling Bee: A Way To Firestart your Students’ Learning – “How?”

Theoretical BasisRamsey Musallam’s 3 rules to spark learning1. Curiosity comes first.2. Embrace the mess (Trial and Error).3. Practice Reflection .

Spelling Bee: A Way To Firestart your Students’ Learning – “How?”

• Get to know your students. • Ask them about Spelling Bees.• Prepare them for a Spelling Bee. • Start with a classroom Spelling Bee.• Encourage other colleagues in the institution.• Listen to your colleagues and students’ ideas

and opinions. • Make it a big party (Entertaining).

Spelling Bee: A Way To Firestart your Students’ Learning – “How?”

• Look for support, i.e., students, colleagues from the same or other institutions, publishing houses, companies, US Embassy, the British Council, VenTESOL.

• Practice reflection: Why? - Why is it important to participate at a Spelling Bee?- Values

Spelling Bee in Monagas and Anzoátegui

• Monagas:- 1st Spelling Bee “LN Luis Padrino”, 2012.- 2nd Spelling Bee “LN Luis Padrino”, 2013- 1st Spelling Bee “Monagas State”, 2013. (6 high schools).- 2nd Spelling Bee “Monagas State”, 2014. (8 high schools). • Anzoátegui: - 1st Spelling Bee “U.E. José Leonardo Chirino”, 2014.- 1st Spelling Bee “L.N. Camino Nuevo”, 2014,.- 1st Spelling Bee “Anzoátegui State”, 2014. (2 high schools).

Where did the inspiration come from?

• 1st Spelling Bee “ESP”, UPEL Maturín, 2009. Organized by Professor Reina Ruiz (UPEL-IPM).

The Product

1st Spelling Bee “LN Luis Padrino”, 2012.

The Product

2nd Spelling Bee “LN Luis Padrino”, 2013

The Product

1st Spelling Bee “Monagas State”, 2013. (6 high schools)

The Product

2nd Spelling Bee “Monagas State”, 2014. (8 high schools)

The Product

1st Spelling Bee “Anzoátegui State”, 2014. (2 high schools)

Limitations and Receptivity

Limitations• Lack of economical resources. • No support from the governmental institutions,

such as Zonas Educativas (ZE).Receptivity

• The students who did not “win” asked: “What’s the date of the next competition?”

• Some teachers are now organizing Spelling Bee competitions at their high schools.

The Dream: National Spelling Bee

- Organized by VenTESOL and The US Embassy.

- Target: Venezuelan public and private high schools.

- Every VenTESOL State Representative will organize their State

Spelling Bee.

The Dream: National Spelling Bee

Ten Characteristics of a Good TeacherBy Patricia Miller

1. I want a teacher who has a contagious enthusiasm for his teaching.

2. I want a teacher who is creative.3. I want a teacher who can add pace and humor to the

class.4. I want a teacher who challenges me.5. I want a teacher who is encouraging and patient, and

who will not give up on me.

Ten Characteristics of a Good TeacherBy Patricia Miller

6. I want a teacher who will take an interest in me as a person.

7. I want a teacher who knows grammar well and who can explain something on the spot if necessary.

8. I want a teacher who will take a minute or two to answer a question after class.

9. I want a teacher who will treat me as a person on a equal basis with all the members of the class.

10. I want a teacher who will leave his emotional baggage outside the classroom.

Conclusions

• Enhancing English language learning.• Competitive spirit.• A contagious learning process.• A more dynamic way of teaching and learning.• Confidence.• Cognitive skills.• A friendlier connection between students and

teachers.

Quotes to Ponder

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." -William Butler Yeats.

“Spelling bees? Spelling bees do not scare me. I competed in the National Spelling Bee twice, thank you very much. My dad competed in the National Spelling Bee. My aunt competed in the National Spelling Bee. My uncle WON the National Spelling Bee. If I can't spell it, I know someone who can. SO JUST BRING IT ON, YOU BASTARDS!!” ― Kristin Cashore.

Another Experiences!

References• Condron, Annie. Top 10 teacher super powers. Available

at: http://www.teachhub.com/top-10-teacher-super-powers• Miller, Patricia. Ten characteristics of a good teacher.

Forum, page 36, number 1, volume 50 (2012).• Musallam, Ramsey. 3 rules to spark learning. Available at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsYHqfk0X2A• Spelling Bee Morocco. Benefits of Bees. Available at:

http://www.spellingbeemorocco.org/benefits-of-bees.html 

Thanks for your attention!

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