Event: Routes into Languages Cymru National Spelling Bee Competition 2015 – National Final
Where: Queen’s Building (South), Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 3AA
When: Thursday, 2 July 2015. 12.30pm – 5.15pm
Contact: Ellie Jones, Routes into Languages Cymru
ellie.jones@routesintolanguagescymru.co.uk
029 2026 5410
Buzz in the Capital as Speedy Spellers Descend
On Thursday, 2 July, Cardiff University will play host to the fifth annual national final of a literacy competition. Pupils from all over Wales will come together to compete in French, German, Spanish and Welsh 2nd Language competitions, all hoping to be crowned Queen (or King!) Bee of the Routes into Languages Cymru National Spelling Bee Competition 2015.
These 55 pupils from 22 schools have already competed in previous rounds which took place throughout the year. Having succeeded in class and school competitions, this event will welcome the very best Year 7
multi-lingual spellers in Wales. Since its launch in September, the competition has been held in schools around the country, with each of the three stages introducing an additional 50 words to learn. These pupils will therefore be tested from a bank of 200 words.
Ellie Jones, Project Manager of Routes into Languages Cymru, said “This event is the highlight of our year at Routes Cymru. We know how hard the pupils have been working to get to this point and we are expecting a very exciting day as we welcome la crème de la crème, or even le miel du miel, of multi-lingual spellers to Cardiff.”
The competition is being supported by the European Commission and representatives from both the London and Cardiff Offices will be attending to offer their support and congratulations.
ENDS
Press enquiries to: Ellie Jones, Routes Cymru Project Manager, email: ellie.jones@routesintolanguagescymru.co.uk, tel: 029 2026 5410
Routes into Languages Cymru website: www.routesintolanguagescymru.co.uk
Notes for editors:
The National Final of the Routes into Languages Cymru National Spelling Bee Competition 2015 will take place at Cardiff University on Thursday, 2 July 2015. The competition will begin at 12.30pm and will finish at 5.15pm.
The competition is organised by Routes into Languages Cymru. The national final event is receiving support from The European Commission, CILT Cymru, Cardiff University, Bangor University and Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr.
The following schools have pupils participating in the national final of this competition:
- Caerleon Comprehensive School
- Bishop Gore Comprehensive School
- Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg
- Ysgol Glanymor
- Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr
- The Cathedral School
- Ysgol Gyfun Bro Edern
- Howell’s School
- Cyfarthfa High School
- Corpus Christi RC High School
- Ysgol Gyfun Llangynwyd
- Ysgol Dyffryn Aman
- Ysgol Bro Dinefwr
- Bryngwyn School
- Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni
- Coedcae Comprehensive School
- Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi
- Ysgol Penglais
- St Joseph’s Catholic and Anglican High School
- Ysgol Eirias
- Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan
For a taste of this competition, the 2011 national final can be viewed by following this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwfj5B7kngA&feature=plcp
The concept of a multi-lingual Spelling Bee was devised by Jane Driver, a languages teacher in Cambridgeshire. Year 7 pupils are also competing in a National Competition in England which is running in parallel to the competition in Wales.
The Routes into Languages programme was developed by three organisations working in partnership: the University Council of Modern Languages (UCML), the HE Academy Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies (LLAS) and CILT, the National Centre for Languages. The Routes into Languages programme is coordinated by a team at the University of Southampton, directed by Professor Michael Kelly. http://www.routesintolanguages.ac.uk/
Routes into Languages Cymru is funded by Cardiff University, Bangor University, Aberystwyth University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, British Council Wales and WJEC.
Routes into Languages Cymru is managed by WJEC.