EXPERIENCES ABROAD

During my time as a spelling coach, some amazing opportunities to travel and teach have presented themselves to me! Below is a brief description of my experience teaching, judging, and volunteering at the North America Spelling Championship Challenge and the Global Champions Spelling Challenge of China.

NASCC

In July of 2018, I had the opportunity to travel to Towson, Maryland, for the North American Spelling Championship Challenge, a week-long event held in partnership with the Spelling Bee of China on the campus of Towson University. This camp and competition allows aspiring Chinese spellers to learn about English spelling in the United States and compete against some of America’s most formidable spelling bee contestants. I served as a teacher for the camp’s top spellers, a group of seven brilliant Chinese students, and taught them about language mechanics and patterns for three hours each morning. I also volunteered as the social media director for the event, managing NASCC’s Instagram, Twitter and Facebook throughout the week, as well as facilitating a live online video stream of the two days of spelling competition. All in all, my week spent working with the NASCC crew and the fantastic Chinese spellers allowed me to gain more experience teaching and make connections globally!

GCSCC

Following my week spent in Maryland in July, I traveled all the way to Beijing, China, in August of 2018 to teach English spelling at the Global Champions Spelling Challenge of China, another week-long camp sponsored by the Spelling Bee of China. Much like at NASCC, I taught language patterns and spelling tips and tricks to two classes of about fifteen Chinese students each every day of the week. At the end of the camp, I served as the master of ceremonies for the closing ceremony and head judge for the semifinal and final competitions. I also had the amazing opportunity to speak about the long-term benefits of participating in spelling bees at the Spelling Bee of China’s 2018-19 season kickoff media conference. GCSCC was a spectacular chance for me to visit another country and experience another culture, all while pursuing my passions for language and teaching.