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Spelling Bee Lessons
4-19-2016
A sure sign that spring has arrived is when the flowers starting blooming and the bees buzzing. But outdoors is not the only place you’ll finding a hive of activity each spring; it’s also the time for Spelling Bees, those annual rites of passage where students nervously compete to spell words many people didn’t even know existed. Recently, as I sat in the audience applauding correct spellings and grimacing over errors, I realized that Spelling Bee rules can be useful guidelines for all sorts of conversations.
Rule: Speak clearly. In a Spelling Bee, both the word pronouncer and the speller work hard to make sure that they are unmistakably heard. Sometimes there’s an amusing verbal volley where the pronouncer and the speller toss a word back and forth several times in order for the speller to make sure he hears the correct word. The pronouncer never loses patience. She doesn’t become snippy or sarcastic. She simply repeats the word calmly as many times as the speller needs until he feels confident and reassured. In day to day conversations, we tend to become frustrated when the other person isn’t hearing us clearly. Work towards clarity with a spirit of patience.
Rule: Ask for the definition. Spellers are allowed to ask for a word to be defined. The definition provides a level of understanding by establishing common ground. After hearing the definition, a speller’s face will sometimes light up in recognition. Often in conversations, both parties think they are working off of the same assumptions only to later realize that they had different perspectives and understandings of the basic underlying factors. Once the misunderstanding is recognized, lightness enters into the conversation as now the people involved have a shared understanding. Reflect on how you define a situation and don’t be afraid to reveal your position and reasoning to others.
Rule: Ask for the word to be used in a sentence. Similar to asking for a definition, this strategy provides even more context for the word. It removes the word from isolation and puts it into a familiar framework. When explaining something to others, one of the best ways to make a memorable point is to use stories. When listening to a story, our defenses are lowered and our ego disappears. We listen because stories entice us to stay tuned in. We want to know how the story ends. When trying to get someone to understand your point of view, share a story that illustrates how you think and feel.
Rule: Ask for the language of origin. English has thousands of words borrowed and adopted from other languages. By knowing the etymology of a word, a speller can tap into common letter patterns used in that particular language of origin. When we talk with others, we tend to overlook the importance of disclosing the source of our information and sometimes we only have a vague notion ourselves of how the idea got planted in our minds. Know and name where your information originated from.
Rule: Ask for the part of speech. In grammar, labeling the part of speech indicates not what the word “is” but how it is “used”. This distinction between the definition of the word and how it carries out its function is subtle but critical. In spelling, knowing the difference between a comparative and superlative or having a strong understanding of how to add prefixes and suffixes to change a root word gives a competitive edge. In normal conversations, words take on different meanings depending on how they are used. Listen for subtleties. Be sensitive to how a person is using a word, and if in doubt, ask him what he means by using the word in such a way. Be wary of being accusatory. Stay curious and have the intention of establishing mutual understanding as you and your partner seek to understand the nuisances of language not as competitors, but as co-operators.
Spelling Bees enrich our appreciation of the complexity of the English language. For the participants, Spelling Bees are a mix of hopefulness and nervousness. The rules help keep everything fair and provide structure to the contest. By adopting a similar approach of speaking with clarity, clearing up confusion, knowing the origins of our ideas, and being thoughtful of how we use the words we can all be winners in our day to day interactions.
Zainab Dhanani can be reached at z_dhanani@yahoo.ca
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