A natural phenomenon, going by the demographics.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: An increasing number of schools across the United States are holding Spanish language spelling bees, according to Fox News Latino, where students compete in the same manner as a traditional spelling bee but spell Spanish words — using the Spanish alphabet — instead.
The New Mexico Association for Bilingual Educators launched New Mexico’s state Spanish spelling bee in 1994. The spelling bee gained so much recognition that the association began expanding to other states as well. About eight states participate in the regional contest and more are expected to be added.
“I believe you will be seeing more of these,” David Briseño, executive director of the New Mexico Association for Bilingual Educators, told Fox News Latino.
“It’s not just for Hispanics,” Briseño added. The first winner of New Mexico’s Spanish-language spelling bee was an undocumented Latina, but students from an eclectic array of backgrounds now take part in the competition.
Foxborough Regional Charter School recently held a mini-national Spanish spelling bee where Fox reported there were only five native speakers out of 130 contestants from the surrounding states and tri-state area, with some contestants travelling from as far away as Colorado.
Beth Coyne, a dean at The Country School in Madison, Connecticut, disclosed to Fox News Latino that she was worried that her students would be at a disadvantage to native Spanish speakers in Foxborough, but was surprised to find how many different backgrounds were represented.
Regardless of whether the students who competed in Massachusetts eventually win at the National Spanish Spelling Bee contest — held in New Mexico from July 16 through 18 — Annie Azarloza, a world languages instructional teacher at Foxborough Regional Charter School, said she views their participation as a success.
“When we embrace a language other than our own, we’re teaching our kids to be tolerant,” she stated.
1 Comment
Genial.