Spelling competitions are a time-tested, proven method of language learning. To make learning English more interesting and comprehensive for Indian children, Vadodara-based linguistic start-up Master Spellers has tied up with Oxford University Press to organise the Master Spellers contest for school students in the country.
A new-age online competition built along the lines of the popular Spelling Bee competitions, it provides a more holistic approach to learning English, but in a self-motivated, competitive framework. It takes the concept of language learning a step further by focusing on grammar and vocabulary skills as well. Designed by English educators and powered by content from the Oxford University Press, the competition is envisioned to foster a fraternity of young spellers and language learners. The contest is divided into several stages and will include preliminaries, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final competitions across seven groups from grades 1 to 12. The competitions will be held online across various levels. However, the finale will be conducted offline. The winners will get prizes, trophies and certificates. Online registrations for this year's competition are already underway.
The various power-packed and challenging levels through which students will progress in the Master Spellers competition are specifically designed to strengthen their spelling, vocabulary, comprehension and articulation. Each level is packed with exciting, challenging and child-friendly rounds like Synonyms, Scrambled words, Anagrams, Phonetics, Choose the Odd One Out, Test Your Vocabulary, Choose the Correct Preposition, Word Often Confused and so on, making learning engaging and fun for the participants.
"Competitions are effective in improving student interaction, increasing cognitive and social engagement levels, promoting good language learning habits and building vocabulary through repeated practice. Master Spellers is a platform to create a positive impact on students' engagement with learning English outside the classroom. We, at Oxford University Press, are committed to developing quality resources to improve our children's linguistic competence and provide a more enriching learning experience,” Oxford University Press India managing director Sumanta Datta said in a statement.
Since its inception, the participant strength of Master Spellers has increased four-fold and been validated by schools of various boards all over the country. The competition is also expected to go international in the next five years.
The finals of the competition are held among the top 10 finalists in each group. The winner in each group is declared the Master Speller of the Year. Master Spellers then appear for a final spelling round and exhibit their prowess of spelling and vocabulary to reach their winning word.