By: Jeremy Liu
At Marrickville Public School in Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese launched the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee on July 23, 2023: “In our ever-evolving* digital world, words are key to opening up opportunity,” he said. “Improving your confidence with words and vocabulary means being able to better express yourself – inside and outside of the classroom.”
The event will bring together the best spellers from across Australia and the UK to compete for the coveted prize. The competition is open to children aged between the ages of 8 and 16 and will be held in London. Contestants will need to pass through regional and then national heats before reaching the final round.
“I am thrilled to see young people from all parts of Britain participating in this competition,” said the Prime Minister. “It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our young people and their parents and teachers. I wish them all the best of luck” (Kids News, 2023).
One young contestant, 12-year-old Alice, said, “I’m really excited to take part in the Spelling Bee next year. I’ve been practicing a lot, and I hope to make it all the way to the final” (Kids News, 2023).
Another participant, 14-year-old Marcus, said, “I’ve been participating in Spelling Bees for a few years now, and I’m really looking forward to the national competition. It’s always a great experience to meet other talented spellers and to challenge myself” (Kids News, 2023). These few quotes show how much the kids really love the PM spelling bee.
Spelling bees have become an increasingly popular event in recent years, with more and more young people wanting to test their spelling skills against their peers. Competition is seen as a way to encourage children to develop and improve their language skills.
“Spelling bees help to improve children’s literacy skills while also providing them with an opportunity to showcase their talents,” said Margaret Spellings. “We fully support the Spelling Bee and are excited to see the talent that will be on display in 2023” (Kids News, 2023)
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