UAE spelling bee championship attracts hundred of students

DUBAI // An annual spelling bee championship that captivates school pupils from across the Emirates is back for its third year.

DUBAI // An annual spelling bee championship that captivates school pupils from across the Emirates is back for its third year.

The Danube Spelling Bee Championship 2013-2014 follows the traditional American educational competition and is open to pupils of all schools.

After initially starting in Dubai alone, last year the competition spread to all emirates and this year the competition is split into three zones – Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, and Sharjah and the Northern Emirates.

With a top prize of Dh25,000 and a trip to Washington DC to watch the US championship final, the event is sure to attract hundreds of entries.

Last year, more than 1,100 pupils from British, Indian, Pakistani and American schools took part.

The preliminary rounds take place from this month through to December before semi-finals in January next year, followed by the finals in February.

Spelling bee competitions began in the US in 1925 and it is such a part of American culture that the US winner has, for the past 85 years, been invited to the White House.

The concept has since travelled across the world, with 11 million children participating each year at events in countries such as the UK, India, Australia, Japan, China and New Zealand, among others.

The competition aims to not only improve spelling but increase understanding of words, their meaning, history and use.

The championship is open to pupils from all schools across all emirates from grades 6 to 10.

MetLife Alico insurance company has put up Dh85,000 in cash awards but winners and runners up will also receive gifts such as a Galaxy Note2, iPads, laptops, games consoles and digital cameras.

The semi-finals and finals of the competition will be overseen by KPMG to ensure fairness and transparency.

Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/uae/education/uae-spelling-bee-championship-attracts-hundred-of-students#ixzz2hKOUTMnG 
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