During the spelling bee, each student was given a word to spell in Spanish. If they got that word correct, they would move on to the next round of words. If they got the word incorrect, they were eliminated. This process continued until there was one person left standing. The top three students formed the Spanish Spelling team plus one alternate.
The Willow Bend Spanish Spelling Bee went on for 11 rounds before the final two spellers remained. In the twelfth round, both contestants misspelled their words, which added in the thirteenth round. The winning word was “terminación” spelled by Solei Vivanco.
The Terra Vista Spanish Spelling Bee worked its way through 14 rounds with the final two competitors going head to head for six rounds. The winner was Jesus Paredes, who took home the gold medal last year for Willow Bend. His winning word was “agricultura.”
In November, the winning contestants from Thursday’s spelling bee will compete in the Regional Spanish Spelling Bee competition at Texas Tech University. This year will be the eleventh year that Frenship students will compete at that regional level.
Senon Cruz, Frenship’s District Coordinator of Bilingual and ESL, said the Spanish Spelling Bee is a special opportunity for Frenship Dual Language students.
“For them to be able to participate in something like this that is part of their identity, and to also have the opportunity to compete at the regional and even potentially the national level is so unique,” Cruz said. “Many of these kids compete in the English spelling bee as well, so the fact that they can do both is so special.”
Cruz said that the Spanish Spelling Bee is a different caliber than a traditional English spelling bee.
“It is a little more challenging because of the accents and the way the word is pronounced,” Cruz said. “For example, the word ‘Aztec’ has to have a capital A. Students are expected to say in Spanish ‘capital letter A’ and then finish spelling the word. They have to be able to implement those punctuation and grammatical things because without them it isn’t Spanish.”
Cristina Barragan is a Dual Language teacher at Terra Vista Middle School. She said students practice and prepare throughout the fall semester to get ready for the Regional Spanish Spelling Bee.
“Our lunch groups start, the kids prepare during lunch where they quiz each other and practice,” Barragan said. “Many students practice at home, and some have older siblings that have gone through the process, too. It just becomes a nice little Spanish Spelling Bee family.”
Congratulations to the following Spanish Spelling Bee teams who will compete in November at Texas Tech University at the Regional Spanish Spelling Bee competition.
Willow Bend Spanish Spelling Team:
1st – Soleil Vivanco
2nd – Juan Reyes
3rd – Hiram Armendariz
Alternate – Emilio Bravo
Terra Vista Spanish Spelling Team:
1st – Jesus Paredes
2nd – Allizzon Torres
3rd – Sara Patino
Alternate – Giselle Armendariz