Year 7 Languages Spelling Bee 2024

Our Year 7s completed their first half term at Chiswick School with the Spelling Bee finals of the Languages department. After much practice and revision, all pupils were engaged in a mini-whiteboard challenge on their spelling knowledge of newly learned vocabulary, such as greetings, numbers or colours in either French or German.

The semi-finals a week later involved spelling out a word read out by a teacher, with the additional challenge of spelling them in the alphabet of their target language. We were really impressed with how they were able to juggle these recently acquired skills so naturally. After a close call, Lara, Maha, Gabriel and Hafsa (French) and Dolly, George, Orla, Charlotte (German) made it to the final round.

In the build up to the finals, all forms were given time to prepare banners in the target language to support their tutor group representative. With the hall being dominated by cheering and chanting in French and German, the football stadium-like atmosphere we encountered on the day showed us how seriously they took the competition. After just half a term, they demonstrated unity they had developed so quickly in their tutor groups.

After a close call, the two winners of the eight finalists were Charlotte F (German) representing Paxton and Hafsa A (French) representing Grove who received prizes of chocolates, notebooks and bouncy bee-feeler headbands which the Languages department had worn with pride before them.

As a department, we look forward to continuing the language learning journey of such an enthusiastic year group.