9/23/2014

SPELL-IT-RIGHT CHALLENGE: Magical spells | New Straits Times

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SPELL-IT-RIGHT CHALLENGE:
Magical spells
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ANOTHER ASPECT: Spelling contests are a way to savour a formal layer of

the English language
KENNETH Wu Min Jin, 17, is at it again spelling away in an attempt at
clinching the RHB-NST Spell-It -Right (SIR) Challenge national champion
title for the sixth consecutive year.

Sports

(http://www.nst.com.my/mh17

The fifth former from SMK King George V, Seremban is once again headed
for the national challenge after he won the Negeri Sembilan state
championship last week.
This year will be his last stab at winning the contest which is open to those
aged below 18.
Some say that knowing how to spell anthropopsychism or festschrift
two of Wus winning words, among many more that he could spell last year
is a useless talent that has no real-life application outside of contests.
The importance of spelling has been questioned in recent years because of
the use of spellcheck in word processing programs.
Some teachers and academic researchers say that a focus on spelling holds
back the creative writing process and students will naturally develop
spelling skills through reading.

(http://www.nst.com.my/node/28382)

Man United reach agreement to sign Blind

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FOLLOW US

LONDON: Manchester United announced on Saturday that

they have reached an agreement to sign versatile
Netherlands international Daley Blind from Ajax.

Im one of worlds best at number 10 - Ozil

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9/23/2014

SPELL-IT-RIGHT CHALLENGE: Magical spells | New Straits Times

In many classrooms, teachers are doing away with spelling tests. Setting a
spelling test on Friday, based on a list of words given to pupils on Monday,
does not constitute teaching nor does writing the words,10 times each.

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(http://www.nst.com.my/node/28329)

If knowing how to spell is part of literacy skills, how should it be taught?

Wan Mohamed Faris Wan Yusoff, an English language teacher at SK
Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur integrates the teaching of spelling while
imparting the four main skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing).

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He said: I introduce my 9- and 10-year-old pupils to phonics so that they

can associate the sounds and corresponding letters to help them to spell.
NSTP FAMILY SITES

I teach them to spell in untraditional ways I engage them in games and

form words using uncooked spaghetti.
He conducts spelling tests before he starts teaching a new class to assess
pupils language proficiency.
I do not compile a list but they have to spell at least 10 English words that
they know instead. Sometimes I conduct spelling tests as part of exam
revision.
Dr Zaira Abu Hassan Shaari, a Teaching English as a Second Language
lecturer at Institut Pendidikan Guru, said the importance of spelling is
stipulated in the Kurikulum Standard Sekolah Rendah to build a strong
foundation of competencies in basic literacy skills.
I do not feel that teachers are testing spelling more than the other literacy
skills.Spelling is often corrected in written work or in classroom tasks.
Tests are administered for the purpose of assessing learning but they are
not the only way of doing it. Current trends (in assessment) include
alternative ways like peer feedback and observation checklist.
Zaira added that learning to spell is not always cognitively demanding. To
be able to spell, students need to familiarise themselves with spelling
patterns and, most importantly, practise writing. Many students often find
English spelling confusing because it is not a direct spelling-sound
correspondence like Bahasa Malaysia.
Exposure to the language and reading extensively will help in this process.
KEEPING IT IN PERSPECTIVE
There are no spelling competitions for languages such as Bahasa Malaysia
where the written word corresponds with its pronunciation. Spelling
contests are typically held only in languages like English and French, which
have awkward and random spelling systems.
Many tend to see spelling competitions as a throwback to the dreary days of
rote learning instead of celebrating academic achievement and promoting
awareness of spelling correctly. The argument is that those who memorise
lists of words will not make use of them in a sentence even if they can spell
them.
But as the trend focuses on the informal texting and tweeting encourage
creative use of informal language spelling competitions do help to develop
vocabulary and an understanding of the English language.

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administration would provide legal aid to the
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A spelling contest should then translate into getting a winner who knows
the words instead of the one with the best memory.
For the SIR contests, success will not depend solely on whether participants
were lucky enough to have memorised a particular word. The process of
getting a winner is not quite so straightforward. Many skills are involved
before a speller is declared a winner.
The early rounds of the SIR contest incorporate a spelling test that requires
each contestant to spell the same list of 30 words on paper, with the top 100
scorers advancing to the state challenge.

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9/23/2014

SPELL-IT-RIGHT CHALLENGE: Magical spells | New Straits Times

At the state challenge, spellers are given clues the definition and usage in
a sentence on the word to spell.

World

So the speller must retain the word in his short-term memory to perform
well at the state challenge. While remembering the word and its parts, he
must attach letters that represent each of the sounds and syllables. He must
also say each letter of the word in the correct order and do this while all eyes
are on him.
MORE THAN JUST LETTERS
NSTP brand activation head Zahid Johan Lani said: The top scorer in the
early written test for SIR in each state does not necessarily end up as
champion of the state challenge. He will perform well but his confidence and
the ability to focus on spelling on stage will determine his performance at
the end of the day.

(http://www.nst.com.my/node/28380)

Maldives media raise nearly USD$2 million

for Gaza victims
(http://www.nst.com.my/node/28380)

Super spelling skills may not come in all that handy in the real world but it
may instil discipline and self-confidence. Contestants develop poise on
stage.

COLOMBO: Media outlets in the Maldives have raised

nearly $2 million to help Gaza residents affected by
massive destruction caused in the 50-day war between
Israel and Hamas, a fundraising organiser said Saturday.

Nurul Nadiah Nordin, who has participated in the SIR Challenges since she
was 14, said: Spelling on stage forces you to think on your feet. You need to
be knowledgeable and confident at the same time.

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(http://www.nst.com.my/node/28378)

Nurul Nadiah won the Pahang secondary title in 2008. After two years of
disappointment, she returned as state champion in 2011 and later clinched
third place at the National Challenge.

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Korea (http://www.nst.com.my/node/28367)

Now 20 years old and in her third year of studying chemical engineering at
Vanderbilt University in the United States, she said the experience boosted
her confidence and has served her well in life so far.

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Streets

I kept a journal of words and their meanings to prepare for the 2011
contest. The journal also included the pronunciation and usage example.
The list of words did not only help me in the competition but I also found
the need to use them in writing or in conversations.
She believes writing things down cements information more firmly as it
makes one use the senses to stimulate memory.
As they say, there are good writers who are bad spellers, but behind those
writers there are also good editors who know the difference between lose
and loose, its and its or theyre and their.
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AIDILFITRI AT UNITAR
(http://www.nst.com.my/node/28240)
KELANA JAYA: UNITAR International University hosted an
Aidilfitri Open House at its main campus recently.

Street machine festival

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Business

Nurul Nadiah Nordin was the state champion for Pahang in 2011.

Congratulations are in order for Wu (centre) who will be competing in the SIR
national challenge for the sixth

Wu winning the state champion for the sixth time.

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(http://www.nst.com.my/node/28150)

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9/23/2014

SPELL-IT-RIGHT CHALLENGE: Magical spells | New Straits Times

(http://www.nst.com.my/node/25743)

Capital injection for MAS

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