Youngsters have languages under their spell
Published: 20 June 2016 at 16:30
Year 7 pupils will show off their skills at national final at Anglia Ruskin University
The crème de la crème of young language students will descend on Anglia Ruskin University on Friday, 1 July for the national final of a Spelling Bee competition.This year over 75,000 Year 7 pupils from 580 schools across the country have taken part in the Routes into Languages National Spelling Bee.
The pupils have been given 200 words to learn in their chosen language, either French, German or Spanish. After winning through school and regional heats, the 108 finalists will compete at Anglia Ruskin’s Cambridge campus to see who can correctly translate and then spell the most words in 60 seconds.
Sarah Schechter, Project Manager for Routes into Languages East at Anglia Ruskin University, said:
“We’re very excited to be able to give these talented youngsters a chance to show their flair for languages here at Anglia Ruskin University.
“Evidence suggests the benefits of learning languages stretch far beyond the practicalities of being a useful tool when living, working or travelling abroad and it is very encouraging that we have had so many entries to this year’s competition.
“We look forward to welcoming all the children on 1 July and hope the academic ambience of Cambridge can give them all that extra ‘je ne sais quoi’.”
For more information about Routes into Languages, visit www.routesintolanguages.ac.uk