Spelling Bee

  On October 3, 2019, the English Club, in cooperation with the Advising and Guidance Unit, held the Fall 2019 Spelling Bee Competition. Nearly two dozen students at varying levels of study participated in the event, which was monitored by Academic Guidance Counselor, Dr. Dawood Mahdi. The event featured cash prizes from Jarir Bookstore. 500 SR in gift certificates were distributed to the top 3 finishers (300 for 1st, 150 for 2nd and 50 for 3rd).   This year's spelling bee was conducted differently, and the newly styled competition was more challenging. In the first level, competitors were given a word scramble that they had to revise into a cogent sentence. The purpose of this is to ensure that students understand the definition and proper usage of their ever-expanding vocabulary. In the second level, the number of syllables in each word given increased commensurately with each round. The final authority and sole source for selecting the words for the spelling bee was the Merriam-Webster Unabridged dictionary, which is available at https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com   The competition was intense and exciting, lasting more than an hour and a half. Well into the 4th grueling round, the first and second place winners emerged victoriously: Abdulrahim Ali (1st Place) and Hamad Ghanam (2nd Place). Both performed magnificently. Then the competition took an unexpected turn. A fierce battle for third place among Faisal Al-Dosary, Abdulrahim Qahtani, Abdullah Ali and Othman Shamsi ensued in a 'sudden death' lightning round. The pages in the dictionary rustled loudly as the remaining contestants successfully dispatched word after word. English Club Director and Spelling Bee Judge Faisal Alfadhil could hardly contain his excitement. "This year's competition really brought the best out of the competitors," he said. Finally, after many additional rounds Abdulrahim Al-Qahtani claimed third place.   The Spelling Bee is an important activity for the Faculty of Languages and Translation. It allows all students at the university to test their limits and showcase their skills. The friendly competition and prizes associated with 'The Bee' adds an element of excitement. Director Alfadhil said: "The Spelling Bee is great in so many ways. In preparation for the competition, the students increase their English vocabulary. The event itself gives the contestants valuable experience in performing under pressure and speaking in public. We are so proud of everyone who participated."   The English language is important in many career fields. One can practice language skills in a variety of ways. It is worth noting that all of our top 3 finishers in the Spelling Bee are avid readers of English language books and articles. Both scientific research and anecdotal evidence indicate that reading is a critical skill in language proficiency expansion. It is also worth noting that Hamad Ghanam and Abdulrahim Al-Qahtani regularly attend the FLT's Language Enhancement Program (LEP). This program helps students improve all of their English language skills through informal practice. The LEP is open Sunday through Thursday and all students from every college/department are welcome.   The Faculty of Languages and Translation is dedicated to sponsoring events and programs that benefit students and encourages increased participation in the English Club. From making language learning fun to bridging the gap between theoretical and practical language usage, the FLT is focused on providing the necessary language tools to all students. Under the vision and tutelage of Dean Abdullah Al-Melhi, extracurricular activities and competitive events that promote learning and enhance engagement are always expanding.   The FLT congratulates all of those who participated in the Fall 2019 Spelling Bee Competition and offers its highest praise to the winners. Date: 10/4/2019 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation

  On October 3, 2019, the English Club, in cooperation with the Advising and Guidance Unit, held the Fall 2019 Spelling Bee Competition. Nearly two dozen students at varying levels of study participated in the event, which was monitored by Academic Guidance Counselor, Dr. Dawood Mahdi. The event featured cash prizes from Jarir Bookstore. 500 SR in gift certificates were distributed to the top 3 finishers (300 for 1st, 150 for 2nd and 50 for 3rd).   This year's spelling bee was conducted differently, and the newly styled competition was more challenging. In the first level, competitors were given a word scramble that they had to revise into a cogent sentence. The purpose of this is to ensure that students understand the definition and proper usage of their ever-expanding vocabulary. In the second level, the number of syllables in each word given increased commensurately with each round. The final authority and sole source for selecting the words for the spelling bee was the Merriam-Webster Unabridged dictionary, which is available at https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com   The competition was intense and exciting, lasting more than an hour and a half. Well into the 4th grueling round, the first and second place winners emerged victoriously: Abdulrahim Ali (1st Place) and Hamad Ghanam (2nd Place). Both performed magnificently. Then the competition took an unexpected turn. A fierce battle for third place among Faisal Al-Dosary, Abdulrahim Qahtani, Abdullah Ali and Othman Shamsi ensued in a 'sudden death' lightning round. The pages in the dictionary rustled loudly as the remaining contestants successfully dispatched word after word. English Club Director and Spelling Bee Judge Faisal Alfadhil could hardly contain his excitement. "This year's competition really brought the best out of the competitors," he said. Finally, after many additional rounds Abdulrahim Al-Qahtani claimed third place.   The Spelling Bee is an important activity for the Faculty of Languages and Translation. It allows all students at the university to test their limits and showcase their skills. The friendly competition and prizes associated with 'The Bee' adds an element of excitement. Director Alfadhil said: "The Spelling Bee is great in so many ways. In preparation for the competition, the students increase their English vocabulary. The event itself gives the contestants valuable experience in performing under pressure and speaking in public. We are so proud of everyone who participated."   The English language is important in many career fields. One can practice language skills in a variety of ways. It is worth noting that all of our top 3 finishers in the Spelling Bee are avid readers of English language books and articles. Both scientific research and anecdotal evidence indicate that reading is a critical skill in language proficiency expansion. It is also worth noting that Hamad Ghanam and Abdulrahim Al-Qahtani regularly attend the FLT's Language Enhancement Program (LEP). This program helps students improve all of their English language skills through informal practice. The LEP is open Sunday through Thursday and all students from every college/department are welcome.   The Faculty of Languages and Translation is dedicated to sponsoring events and programs that benefit students and encourages increased participation in the English Club. From making language learning fun to bridging the gap between theoretical and practical language usage, the FLT is focused on providing the necessary language tools to all students. Under the vision and tutelage of Dean Abdullah Al-Melhi, extracurricular activities and competitive events that promote learning and enhance engagement are always expanding.   The FLT congratulates all of those who participated in the Fall 2019 Spelling Bee Competition and offers its highest praise to the winners. Date: 10/4/2019 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation

On November 25, 2018, the English Club in collaboration with the Reading Club held the Annual Spelling Bee Competition. More than 20 students representing various levels, colleges, and countries participated. The event required an intense amount of preparation by both the organizers and the participants. The vocabulary was derived from a rather lengthy fictional story that was provided in advance. The event was highly competitive and this was reflected by the charged atmosphere in the room. The spelling bee involved three full rounds of elimination, all of which came down to 1 or 2 points between and among competitors. The event lasted nearly 3 hours and involved hundreds of vocabulary words. Event Judge, Mahmudul Haque, managed to keep order in often spirited and contentious competition. Director of the English Club, Khalid Al-Qasemi, said: “I’m so pleased with the large turn out and the seriousness with which the participants approached this event.” The event featured cash prizes. First place went to Mohammed Al-Yami, a level 1 FLT student. Second place went to Firas Al-Hajj, an engineering student. Third place went to Mohammed Ahmed, a university student. Event Wordsmith, Dr. Charles Forman, congratulated all of the competitors, noting 'While we all appreciate the competitive spirit of this competition, the participants achieved an even greater objective than bragging rights and monetary prizes – they all learned a great deal from the experience'. Date: 11-29-18 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation

On November 25, 2018, the English Club in collaboration with the Reading Club held the Annual Spelling Bee Competition. More than 20 students representing various levels, colleges, and countries participated. The event required an intense amount of preparation by both the organizers and the participants. The vocabulary was derived from a rather lengthy fictional story that was provided in advance. The event was highly competitive and this was reflected by the charged atmosphere in the room. The spelling bee involved three full rounds of elimination, all of which came down to 1 or 2 points between and among competitors. The event lasted nearly 3 hours and involved hundreds of vocabulary words. Event Judge, Mahmudul Haque, managed to keep order in often spirited and contentious competition. Director of the English Club, Khalid Al-Qasemi, said: 'I am so pleased with the large turnout and the seriousness with which the participants approached this event'. The event featured cash prizes. First place went to Mohammed Al-Yami, a level 1 FLT student. Second place went to Firas Al-Hajj, an engineering student. Third place went to Mohammed Ahmed, a university student. Event Wordsmith, Dr. Charles Forman, congratulated all of the competitors, noting 'While we all appreciate the competitive spirit of this competition, the participants achieved an even greater objective than bragging rights and monetary prizes – they all learned a great deal from the experience'. Date: 11-29-18 Source: Faculty of Languages and Translation

The Spelling Bee for English major students for levels one and two was held on Tuesday, November 3rd in Auditorium 5. Attendance at the event was excellent, and the auditorium was filled almost to capacity.  Nearly 30 students started out in round 1, and in every successive round candidates were eliminated, gradually whittling the number down to only three. The words were taken from a pre-chosen, pre-distributed list of 275 words consisting of one-syllable, two-syllable and three-syllable words respectively. Words during the initial rounds were chosen from the one-syllable words but got progressively more difficulty during the subsequent rounds. The students acquitted themselves remarkably well, and the audience got swept up by the drama as the battle intensified. Ultimately, only three contestants remained, and elimination questions placed them as follows: First place and prize: Omar Mohammad Ahmed Jama   Second place and prize: Mudawi Salem   Third place and prize: Hatim Ibrahim  In his opening address, the Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Translation, Dr. Abdullah Al Melhi, stressed the importance of making use of every opportunity to improve spelling since the English language is notorious for its spelling inconsistencies. In his closing address, Dr. Abdulkhaleq Al Qahtani, Vice Dean of Academic Development and Quality, reiterated the importance of events which illicit the use of the target language, English. The next, and final, spelling bee for the semester and academic year, will be held on Tuesday, November 10th, also in Auditorium 5. This time the contestants will be drawn from levels 3 and 4. The prize giving ceremony covering both competitions will take place at this event.  ORGANIZERS  Committee members Dr. Mohammad Nurul Islam Dr. Mohammad Osman Dr. Nisar Ahmed Koka Mr. Erich Beer Mr. Mohammad Adil   Graphic Designer Mr. Salahuddin Abdulrab   Judges and Pronouncers Dr. Sorin Ciutacu Mr. Matthew Paul Dr. Rafiq Shamiry   Event Management Mr. Ibrahim Alasmari Date: 11/03/2015 Source: The Faculty of Languages and Translation Multimedia Contribution: MD Sirajul Islam

The Spelling Bee for English major students from levels one and two was held on Tuesday, November 3rd in Auditorium 5. Attendance at the event was excellent, and the auditorium was filled almost to capacity.  Nearly 30 students started out in round 1, and in every successive round candidates were eliminated, gradually whittling the number down to only three. The words were taken from a pre-chosen, pre-distributed list of 275 words consisting of one-syllable, two-syllable and three-syllable words respectively. Words during the initial rounds were chosen from the one-syllable words but got progressively more difficulty during the subsequent rounds. The students acquitted themselves remarkably well, and the audience got swept up by the drama as the battle intensified. Ultimately, only three contestants remained, and elimination questions placed them as follows: First place and prize: Omar Mohammad Ahmed Jama   Second place and prize: Mudawi Salem   Third place and prize: Hatim Ibrahim  In his opening address, the Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Translation, Dr. Abdullah Al Melhi, stressed the importance of making use of every opportunity to improve spelling since the English language is notorious for its spelling inconsistencies. In his closing address, Dr. Abdulkhaleq Al Qahtani, Vice Dean of Academic Development and Quality, reiterated the importance of events which illicit the use of the target language, English. The next, and final, spelling bee for the semester and academic year, will be held on Tuesday, November 10th, also in Auditorium 5. This time the contestants will be drawn from levels 3 and 4. The prize giving ceremony covering both competitions will take place at this event.  ORGANIZERS  Committee members Dr. Mohammad Nurul Islam Dr. Mohammad Osman Dr. Nisar Ahmed Koka Mr. Erich Beer Mr. Mohammad Adil   Graphic Designer Mr. Salahuddin Abdulrab   Judges and Pronouncers Dr. Sorin Ciutacu Mr. Matthew Paul Dr. Rafiq Shamiry   Event Management Mr. Ibrahim Alasmari Date: 11/03/2015 Source: The Faculty of Languages and Translation Multimedia Contribution: MD Sirajul Islam