Spelling+Bee


 * Open to students in German 1 and 2 only
 * No heritage speakers
 * Up to 5 students per school.


 * Rules: **

The words to be used have been selected from the current editions of Deutsch aktuell 1 and 2 and Komm mit! 1 and 2, and are listed in the pdf file below. The words have been divided into three levels of difficulty. Any words in the vocabulary lists of these textbooks may be used.

Word Lists


 * Format: **
 * 1) Spelling Bee is played over three rounds, corresponding to the three levels of difficulty. The first (and easiest) round will be written. All participants will write down words read out by the judges. Judges will alternate, so students hear different speakers.
 * 2) All students having fewer than five mistakes will be allowed to continue to the second round. The judge will draw a word from a "round 2 hat" and pronounce it in German two times. The contestant will repeat the word, and spell it using GERMAN spelling and pronunciation (this is a change from the past), and say the word again. The difference between a spoken "e" and " ä" may be signified visually with the fingers. Students should say "ess-zett" to signify " ß." Once a word has been spelled and repeated, no corrections may be made. Any mistakes, including pronunciation mistakes, eliminate the candidate. Once a word has been missed, it will be passed to the next candidate. If it is missed three times in a row, the word will be relegated to the "round 3 hat." Students need not signify upper or lower case spelling for nouns and other words.
 * 3) Once all students have had a chance to do a "round 2 word," the remaining students will proceed to round 3. During this last round a word will be passed on until spelled correctly. (Only after no one gets it right will a new word be drawn). When the number of students is reduced to two, the elimination procedure changes. At that point, when Student A misses a word, Student B will be given an opportunity to spell the same word. If Student B spells that word correctly, plus the next word from the hat, then Student B will be declared the champion. If Student A misses a word and Student B, after correcting the error, misses the new word, then the missed new word shall be referred to Student A. If Student A then succeeds in correcting the error and gets the next verb right, then Student A will be declared the champion. If both students miss the same verb, both shall continue in the competition, and the one who first missed the word shall be given a new one. This procedure continues until one of the students is able to correct the other student and spell the next word correctly. That student will be declared the champion.