Preliminaries - Rounds 2 and 3/Predicting a Champion

Tomorrow, Preliminaries continue, and it is on ESPN3. 275 will take the stage tomorrow. Still, I would rather be there than watch at home. I do not have any clear favorites this year, because I am cheering for every single speller. The batch is strong this year, and it will be hard to predict a champion. Every year, it is hard to predict a champion, but when there is a certain group that I predict, at least one of them wins.

I did a good job guessing from 2008-2010.

2008 - four-peats and five-peats (Champion: Sameer Mishra - four-peat)
2009 - 2008 Returning Championship Finalists (Champion: Kavya Shivashankar - fourth place in 2008)
2010 - 2009 Returning Championship Finalists (Champion: Anamika Veeramani - fifth place in 2009)

My guesses were messed up in 2007, when Kunal Sah, Samir Patel, Jonathan Horton, Tia Thomas, and Matthew Evans, were eliminated. 2006, I expected Kerry Close to win, because she was a five-peat! In 2005, I had no guesses, because that was my first year to watch the Bee.

My 2011 Champion Predictions:

• 2010 Returning Championship Finalists (Laura Newcombe, Julianna Canabal-Rodriguez, and Joanna Ye)
• Four-peats (Rahul Malayappan, Nicholas Rushlow, and Julianna Canabal-Rodriguez)
• Canadians (Laura Newcombe, Veronica Penny, and Graham Abraham)
• Spellers who were close to championship finals (Sukanya Roy*, Julia Denniss, Arvind Mahankali, and Grace Remmer)

*In 2009, Sukanya was eliminated in Round 6, which was one round away from championship finals, but in 2010, she was eliminated in Round 5.

Tomorrow, I will have my notebook ready to spell with you.

Round 1 Words

Excuse the font from yesterday about the Round 1 test. Today is the day! Here are the words used in Round 1:

http://twitpic.com/551pap



If you cannot see the words from words 1-18, here they are:

1. fourteen
2. drowsy
3. wasteland
4. secrecy
5. generate
6. normalize
7. youthquake
8. unswerving
9. remembrance
10. electromagnetic
11. appointee
12. oracular
13. theatricality
14. quietive
15. jiggety
16. infobahn
17. benediction
18. calenture

I have seen all these words before. Calenture was used at the 2007 National Spelling Bee, Kafkaesque is one of my favorite words, so it is in almost all my lists. For you spellers who watched or competed at the 2006 National Spelling Bee, you may remember the 2006 champion, Kerry Close, who correctly spelled hukilau. Thanks to my reading and paying attention in school that I knew all these words. I heard benediction in church before, theatricality was a term used in my theater class, and as I said before, reading is very helpful. It is going to be difficult to knock spellers out tomorrow! I have a strong feeling that a few spellers from Utah have already made it.

I almost expected blouwildebeesoog, bhutatathata, and Bewusstseinslage on that list. Although Bewusstseinslage will remain my favorite word, it was already used on the 2007 Round 1 Test. A lot of these words appeared in the Consolidated Word List, so that would have been very helpful to study.

Thank goodness that the last word I studied last night was pinealectomy! Bonobo was a word in my list called "Words that Remind Me of Something Else". It reminded me of a ride at Lagoon Theme Park called Bombora.

Hopefully the spellers do well tomorrow. It would be hard if all 275 spellers got 25 points on the test, then both words correct tomorrow. Would there be another round? Let's just wait and see. Tomorrow, I have to get up at 5:45 A.M. just to do last minute studying and watch Rounds 2 and 3. I am going to bed at 10:00 tonight!

Good luck and continue to have fun!

Round 1 Test/Busy Schedule

Spellers, it is time to begin the first day of competition tomorrow! Remember, only 50 spellers will advance to semifinals. If you do not advance, remember that being one of the 275 spellers is already amazing! If you do not win, remember that by the end of the week, that only 87 spellers out of millions hopefuls have seen their dream come true.

All 275 spellers take the written 25-word Round One Test during the Assembly, which begins at 8:00 a.m. Spellers sit in assigned seats at tables in the center front section of the Maryland Ballroom and all other individuals sit in unreserved seats on a first-come, first-served basis. 

The pronouncer, Dr. Jacques Bailly, recites the first word, followed by any alternate pronunciations, the part of speech, origin, definition and its use in a sentence. He repeats the word and information, pauses for 30 seconds, then proceeds on to the next word. After the 25 words have been given, Dr. Bailly will recite each word once in order from 1 to 25 with no word information.

Each word is worth one point and all 25 spellings will count toward each speller's Preliminaries score.

Source: http://spellingbee.com/about-bee-week


Guess what spellers from 2002-2007, the written test is back (That is if it is multiple-choice) This is going to be exciting and less painful. If I were going, it would probably be a little more painful for me. I am not used to taking multiple-choice tests, because I do not take many of them at school. A lot of them I've taken would be knowing the answer and using what you know. It would not hurt to try the written test. 


Some of my teachers gave me spelling lists to study for the spelling bee. After the Bee, I will post my spelling bee career autobiography.


Spellers, remember the mnemonic BLT (not Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato): Breathe, Listen, Think. This is my strategy for taking listening tests. Do not get nervous, or you will have a hard time focusing. Only pay attention to the pronouncer and your work. Do not talk to other spellers while taking the test. Go to the restroom before the test. You will not be able to complete the test if you leave before you are finished. Only leave if it is an EMERGENCY, such as if you are dying, passing out, or if the building is collapsing, which I doubt will happen.


Do I have to have a busy schedule this summer! 


1. Spelling Bee Club Planning
2. Taking Geometry this summer
3. Coaching my sister, cousins, and friends for he spelling bee
4. Swimming
5. Flute Lessons (memorizing a twenty-five minute concerto)
6. Writing my spelling bee stories
7. My spelling bee blog
8.  Cousins coming
9. California (Legoland!)
10. Reading
11. French
12. International Children's Choir Summer Camp with the Drakensberg Boys' Choir at the University of Utah - June 4 (Drakensberg Boys' Choir will also be singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Music and the Spoken Word - June 5)
13. Piano
14. Camp
15. Lagoon Theme Park (the best theme park in the State of Utah)
16. Olympic Park
17. Las Vegas (I go there every year)
18. Babysitting my sister
19. Trying to write music






I still need helpers for the spelling bee club! spellingchamp135@gmail.com 

B-a-r-b-e-c-u-e!

From what I've heard and seen from spelling bee media, the barbecue was fun! When the Salt Lake Valley Spelling Bee comes again next year, I will ask #251 Vismaya how the Bee was. Since a lot is new this year, everything is new to all of the spellers. If I was there, I would have posted hundreds of photos. Just in case you did not know, I love to take pictures, too!

Find your favorite speller!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgOt_bMc078

I even found someone from Utah in that video! Go U-t-a-h! Since 2009, there have been four spellers from Utah. I have only known the spellers from the Salt Lake Valley (2009-2011). I never went to any other local Bee, but I almost went to the Davis County Spelling Bee. Woods Cross is not far from Sugarhouse. I do not live in Sugarhouse, but I was at a choir rehearsal there.

Good luck on the written test tomorrow. I hope at least one Utahn will make it to semifinals this year. Since 2002, I have seen no Utahn make the cut. Some have been very close, but did not make it. I also hope all the four-peats make it to semifinals, or else, that will really hurt.

Do not get nervous. Breathe, listen, think. BLT.

One More Day!/Photos and Videos/More Words/A Letter to the Spellers

There is one more day until it is time for that written test, which is notorious for knocking spellers out. That begins competition days! I would rather be there than watch it here on my computer and television, because I am a person who does not watch too much, unless the National Spelling Bee is on. If you want to know the times and channels, go to the spelling bee website: http://spellingbee.com/.

Photos and videos
http://www.spellingbee.com/gallery/2011
http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrippsbee/
https://www.facebook.com/scrippsnationalspellingbee?sk=wall&filter=2
http://www.youtube.com/user/ScrippsBee

More Words
Bewusstseinslage
tirralirra
xarque
casein
cashmerette
catafalque
fauchard
zacate
grognard
coquillage
rocaille
dharma
Kneippism
szekler
Kierkegaardian
rochet
polilla
morcellement

Dear Spellers,

          Continue having fun this week. I badly want to be there with you! The updates on Facebook, Twitter, and everywhere else make me feel like I am there with you! The spelling bee is not a hobby to me, but it is something where I have thrown out a lot of my dedication to. To the next champion: Know that all your effort was worth it all.

Every year, the spelling bee changes for me. In 2004: It was new to me, 2005: A dream began, 2006: It would take more than a dream, 2007: I wanted to win it all after seeing spellers falter, 2008: It was not time to be discouraged, 2009: It was time to step up, 2010: Always think toward your goal, 2011: It means a lot to me. I want the Bee to mean a lot to you. Be role models for the aspiring spellers.
The spelling bee is not just a contest or game, but where you can have fun! It is the most friendly contest I know of on this planet! Prizes and fame do not matter as much as friendship. You see it on stage at every level of the National Spelling Bee!

Do your best, and enjoy the rest of the week! Do not take any part for granted, but treasure every moment in your heart. You never know if you will return again, especially if you are bound for your last year.

My Motto

"Spell with your dream!

Spell with your heart!

Spell with your love!"

Please remember that as you are competing! It is very helpful to me, and has been for the last four years!

                                                    Sincerely,

                                                         Frances

There will be no Word of Day this week, because there are going to be a lot of words to share with you! 

                                                      

                                 

Consolidated Word List

For the third time in my spelling bee career, I have finished the Consolidated Word List. The first time, it took me five months, the second time, it took me two months, and this time, it took me three weeks. If you want to study it go to http://spellingbee.com/consolidated-word-list. You have to make corrections, so follow this: http://spellsuccess2u.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-to-approach-consolidated-word-list.html

The Consolidated Word List (CWL) took up two full 3-inch binders. I admit that I have 25 binders of words, etymology, spelling bee results, and other spelling bee information. I have ten books for spelling, I do not know how many notecards (including my Wall of Words), lists on my computer, and so much more!

Remember that there is a possibility that words from this list are not in Webster's Third. I pushed myself to finish this list. Everyday, I had to find time after homework to study. At least I had finals weeks ago, so I had a lot of time to study. Now my goal is to finish reading Webster's Third by the end of the summer. I have been reading it for two years now, and I am not finished.

TWO MORE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!/Go Spell!

Spellers have been arriving in D.C.! I am so excited for all of them. I wish I was a speller this year, and I should have been if not for the ambiguous answers and mispronunciation at the school bee. I even protested, and so did some others. The pronouncer never gave me a correct pronunciation! We used the Local Spelling Bee rules, but I was not reinstated. I am still so mad! Every word used at the school and regional bee, were all words I knew, or could figure out from roots and etymology. Still, I have never been discouraged in the Bee!

I am pretty sure that Utah will do well this year! #251: Vismaya Kharkar is no stranger to the Bee. In 2009, she placed ninth at the regional bee, then placed sixth the next year. Anne-Marie Sprenger is very good with languages. She seems to know a lot of them, and she won her regional bee without studying a lot! Read the story:
http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/article_c99ce2ca-62b3-5eef-8969-7e993f8a0b75.html

I hope I get a response to my letter soon! I want the Bee to continue on!

Dear Spellers,

         Enjoy this week, and treasure every moment. The spelling bee is more about words, the prizes, and fame. It is also about the camaraderie between friends, and showing what you have learned. Do your best this week, and whatever happens, be proud of yourself. Most people do not get to experience this. I want to be with you, enjoying my time, and spelling. Good luck this week!

                                  Sincerely,
                                         Frances

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ScrippsBee
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/scrippsbee
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scrippsnationalspellingbee?sk=wall&filter=2
I am too excited, that sometimes I feel as if I am at the Bee, even if I'm not. Whenever I compete or think about the Bee, I vividly see myself on that stage, meeting the spellers, talking to the Bee Officials, and relaxing and spelling in my hotel room. I'd rather be there than staying at home all summer. I have been constantly begging my parents to take me! It hurts to be living over 2100 miles away from D.C. Hopefully next year, my sister or any of my friends make it to nationals. This year will be magical for me without a doubt.

I still need people for the spelling bee club, especially if you are from Utah. spellingchamp135@gmail.com