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YOUTH
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Mandarin spelling bee a first for youngsters
BY ALEX GALLAGHER
Foothills Focus Staff Writer
Contestants across three schools will compete in Arizona Language Preparatory’s first Mandarin spelling bee on May 17.
Students from Arizona Language Preparatory will compete against children from Gavilan Peak School in Anthem and Glendale’s Desert Sage Elementary in front of six judges via Zoom.
“I’m nervous because we’ll be competing with three other schools,” said Vienna Chuang, a Gavilan Peak School fourth grader.
Chuang will have strong competition as she, along with many of the other contestants, have been learning Mandarin since they were as young as kindergarteners.
“I started speaking Mandarin when I was in kindergarten, but my brother first started teaching me when I was still in preschool,” said Emily Martin, a Gavilan Peak School sixth grader.
Others were taught at an even younger age.
“I went to a preschool that taught Chinese,” said Ender Cotty, a fifthgrade student at the Arizona Language Preparatory. Cotty lives in Cave Creek.
However, it was at the school he has called home for the past six years where Cotty has found a love for the language.
“At this school, I have found that I can connect to more people this way and I can talk to people I never could have prior and learn their culture,” Cotty said.
Other contestants have found ways to take their language skills outside of the classroom.
“My parents wanted me to learn Chinese so we could travel a lot and go to places where they speak it,” said Cora Goates-Glau, a fourth grader at Arizona Language Preparatory.
Cotty said he feels the same way.
“I can now go to Chinese restaurants, order food and hold a conversation with the staff there,” Cotty said.
Students have displayed their skills to high-ranking officials.
“I’ve been able to speak in front of the government on Chinese TV,” said Stanley Rosinski, a sixth grader at Arizona Language Preparatory. “One time when I was in China, I was able to join a card game with some people and speak full Chinese.”
Like many other contestants, Rosinski has been learning Mandarin to prepare for future endeavors.
“Mainly, I’m learning Chinese because it will pay for college,” Rosinski said. “It’ll give me a better job and I’ll be able to travel a lot to China.”
Others are learning the language because they like a good challenge.
“I wanted to learn Mandarin because I knew it would be hard and I like facing challenges,” said Alex Luedke, a Desert Sage Elementary School sixth grader.
Students will display their linguistic talents at the Mandarin spelling bee. They’ve been spending the past few weeks learning new words and honing their character writing.
“I’m mainly memorizing the strokes of each character and also working very hard on the words that I’m struggling with,” Cotty said.
The kids have been adding up to five words per day to their vocabulary list.
“I’m always practicing the hardest words,” said Kiki Gerity, an Arizona Language Preparatory sixth grader.
Preparation doesn’t stop there.
“I’ve been preparing by going online, finding the list of words and writing down the characters,” said Sophie Peterson, a Desert Sage Elementary School fourth grader.
Reputation is a good way to build memory, but nerves still plague contestants.
“As I go into the spelling bee, I feel a little nervous because I never know how it’s going to turn out or what it’s going to be like,” Martin said. “While we are practicing in class and doing little quizzes, it’s not the same as on the day of the competition.”
Partnering with fellow contestants has helped, too.
“What Kiki and I will do is he’ll say a word and I’ll write it on a board and then we’ll put an X on the words I got wrong and spend 5 minutes reviewing it,” Rosinski said.
Partnering has been effective, but instruction is the key.
“Our Mandarin teacher used this story that tells us about the character that means cold and has a story
YOUTH
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refresh her Mandarin. “I’m excited to get to review some that’s easy to remember and helps of those words again,” said Curtis, a us remember it,” said Krista Faulk, a Gavilan Peak School fourth grader. Gavilan Peak School fourth grader. There’s only one winner, but the
The story was sung in unison by children are competing for more than Faulk and Chuang, and goes, “You’re just themselves. in a house with a front porch, a bench “I would feel proud and hope that and a bush. Then inside, there’s a TV I could grow the school and more and a couch with your family sitting people could learn Chinese, I would on it watching you.” also feel proud that I would bring the
Gavilan Peak School sixth grader school honor,” Cotty said. Emma Beall said her teacher taught Luedke added, “It would mean a her class 10 words a day. YOU lot to me because this is the first-ev-
“I will practice writing them a lot TO BE er Mandarin spelling bee and we so that I can get comfortable writing have all worked so hard and if all them in the classroom,” Beall said. that hard work paid off that would “We also get time to practice with a mean a lot.” partner.” Martin said she agreed. However, YOU You Deserve to be ComfortableYou Deserve to be ComfortableYou Deserve to be Comfortable You Deserve to be Comfortable You Deserve to be Comfortable You Deserve to be Comfortable You Deserve to be Comfortable Although they’re nervous, the kids are excited. “It would mean a lot to me to represent my school and my family,” GoatesGlau said. “I have a little cousin who has cancer right now and I think it would mean a lot to my family.” Genevieve-Hope Curtis spent time in Dongguan, China, and is thrilled to she struggled at first with Mandarin but wants to show off her progress. “If we were able to win it right off the bat it would be pretty special,” she said. Beall added, “It would definitely build up my confidence and help me learn new words to use when I speak as well.” TO BE
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