UTRGV host bilingual spelling bee
Participants in the Torneo de Ortografía y Batalla de los Libros pose for a group photo while holding their division signs during the competition hosted by The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Logan Huizar/Pluse
UTRGV’s Center for Bilingual Learning and Innovation (CBLI) is hosting the “Torneo de Ortografía”, a competition where students have the chance to show their biliteracy skills in Spanish.
According to the Director of CBLI, Christian Zúñiga, the overall purpose of the spelling bee is to help students build their confidence in Spanish.
“This was a chance for students to, you know, really delve into Spanish [spelling],” Zúñiga said.
She added students have to learn the rules of Spanish orthography, which is different from English orthography because they have to learn how to accentuate words.
According to the director, schools focus on English, pushing Spanish to the side.
“Because in [RGV] schools there’s very little opportunity for children to really display their abilities in Spanish,” she said. “So [the spelling bee] really opens up for students who maybe aren’t able to participate in some school competitions because they’re more English-based.”
This spelling bee is for the students who have literacy skills and capabilities to participate in a Spanish literacy competition surrounding spelling and reading comprehension.
To help promote reading comprehension, CBLI added a new competition called “Batalla de Los Libros” (battle of the books) where dual language districts are invited to read two Spanish books with the children.
Who can participate?
“The competition is open to our public schools in the Region One Education Service Center,” Zúñiga said.
According to her, Region One is the education agency that oversees the RGV.
The Center for Bilingual Learning and Innovation partners with Region One to send out invitations to the spelling bee.
“If you’re a public school, that includes charter schools as well, in the area, then you’re invited,” Zúñiga said.
The college-level competition opened up three years ago.
Copa Rotante
There are five categories:
- Primaria for 2nd and 3rd grade.
- Intermedia for 4th and 5th.
- Secundaria for grades 6th through 8.
- Preparatoria for high school.
- Universitaria for college students.
All participants get a medal for competing, and the top four winners in each category get a trophy.
Zúñiga said the winners from elementary through high school get to take the Copa Rotante (rotating cup) to their campus.
She added how the winning school will keep the cup for a year and then give it back to the center, so when whoever wins the next competition, they get to keep it as well.
Torneo de Ortografía
This year, the spelling bee is happening Saturday morning on the Edinburg campus, outside the Education Complex.
“The competition starts at 8:30,” Zúñiga said. “Around 11:15ish we’ll start doing the trophies and then it ends at 12.”
For any students interested in participating in future events, keep an eye out for announcements concerning registration during the fall semester.
