Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: The preparation
• Method 2 of 3: Practice yourself
• Method 3 of 3: Enlist the help of friends
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Spelling competitions have a long history of healthy competition and academic excellence. If you've been dreaming of entering a spelling contest, seen one on TV, or simply want to get better at spelling and memorization, it's time to dive into the books. Spelling competitions are organized through schools, regional and national organizations. Preparing and learning is serious business as the competition can be quite fierce!

To step

Method 1 of 3: The preparation

1. Make sure you have the spelling contest glossary. From this list you can determine the level of difficulty and the type of words of the match. The list forms the basis for your own personal list of words to learn. However, be aware that the list does not necessarily contain the exact words you will be tested on.
   • Your school or the organizers of the spelling contest (for example, the National Spelling Contest) should make one available to you.
   • Memorizing this list is not sufficient because the list is intended as a guideline and not as a learning material. It is best to also write down difficult words that you find elsewhere because later in the match you will also have to spell words that are not on the list.
2. Set aside the words from the list that you don't know. Keeping these words separate from the others will give you an idea of ​​how much you need to learn. If you already know most of the words on the list, a higher level match might suit you better.
3. Buy the 15th edition of the Van Dale's Great Dictionary of the Dutch Language. Most of your preparation will consist of reading the dictionary, looking up words, and memorizing the official pronunciation.
   • If you don't want to buy a dictionary, you can borrow one from the library (although it may not be the most recent edition) or check the online dictionary.

Method 2 of 3: Practice yourself

1. Pretend to write the words on your palm. This technique activates muscle memory for words that are difficult to remember. As with writing on paper, writing on your hand can be a helpful incentive to remember the spelling of words when you come across them during a match.
   • This technique is especially useful because it is allowed to "write" words with your finger in your hand during the match.
2. Learn the building blocks of words. Knowledge of etymology is extremely important to understand how Dutch words work. If you don't know a word, you can often make a good guess about its spelling if you know which basic words make up the more difficult word.
   • For example, if you don't know the word "antebellum", you might recognize "ante" and be able to guess the rest. "Ante" means "before" and "bellum" means "war". So although you may not have known what "bellum" means, you could still conclude that antebellum means for-something. Pre-war, in this case.
   • It is important to ask yourself what the origin of a word is. It can give you clues as to the words from which it is derived - unless it is an eponym.
3. Read the dictionary. This sounds like a daunting task, but reading a dictionary as if it were a novel is a great help in learning to recognize how basic words transform as you progress alphabetically. You will also be exposed to unfamiliar words to the maximum by reading the dictionary.
   • Randomly choose five consecutive pages at a time to read. See how words build on the words that precede them and see how spelling consists of connecting words and the basic words that make them up.
   • Pick three difficult words from any page and try to use them in a sentence after you've spelled them. This makes the words easier to remember. You can also do this exercise with the words in your glossary.
   • Reading a dictionary is more useful than reading a relaxing book because, in the former case, your brain is completely focused on learning words and their definitions rather than complex or literary concepts.
4. Learn the diacritics used in the dictionary to indicate pronunciation. Diacritics are the small symbols above or below the words in the dictionary. By studying these you can better learn how a word should be pronounced officially. A word may be pronounced differently than you might think, so you may have memorized the spelling of a word, but if the contest host pronounces it differently than you would, you may think you don't know the word .
   • For example, the pronunciation of "diacritic" is clarified in two ways in the dictionary. First the syllables are indicated: di-a-critical, and then the pronunciation: / di¬ja¬kriti¬¬s /. The dash below the second i indicates that the emphasis is there.
5. Read, recite, and write alone. Read the dictionary, recite the words out loud to yourself and write the words out yourself. This way, your learning experience is all yours and you are not distracted by the ideas and associations of others. Ultimately, you'll have to do it all by yourself on stage, so it's a good idea to practice techniques that will best help you prepare for the big day. Try to integrate the words into your everyday language instead of just memorizing them. This strategy helps in both the short and long term.
6. Keep your glossary up to date. Once a week, delete the words you have successfully learned. This way you can add new words to the list, and avoid wasting study time on words you already know by heart.
7. Post memos with difficult words all over the house. The more you see a word, the better you will remember it. Change the post-it memos after they've been hanging for a week. Spell the word out loud whenever you come across the memo.

Method 3 of 3: Enlist the help of friends

1. Practice for a friend or family member. This prepares you for the performance-oriented nature of spelling competitions. If you're nervous you get confused easily, so if you're struggling with a large audience, this exercise is very important.
   • Spelling out loud is important anyway, even if you practice alone. Listen to your own voice as you play to gain confidence in your abilities.
2. Have a friend test you. For example, a friend or family member can test you once in a while with words they come up with themselves. This keeps your mind alert and is a good test to see if you can use the stem or pronunciation of a word to spell words you don't know yet.
3. Go to a spelling contest with someone. This will give you an idea of ​​what to expect during the spelling contest in which you participate yourself. Friends and family members may see things you might not notice yourself, so it's always good to bring an extra pair of eyes and ears.
   • If you can't attend a spelling contest, there are always plenty of videos to be found online.
4. Take breaks every 30 minutes. If you study too hard, you will notice that your concentration decreases or that you start to get bored. Stretch, talk to friends, or take a short walk between study periods.

Tips

• Make use of the permitted aids. You can ask about the alternative pronunciation of a word (if any), its definition, its origin, the use of the word in a sentence, and of course you can always ask the speaker to repeat the word.
• Spell about 10-15 words at a time. You don't have to rush, it's not a race!
• If you hear a homophone, don't ask for the definition. If you then choose the wrong word, you are wrong, but if you don't ask for the definition, you can spell both words.
• Even if you already know the answer to a question, it may be good to ask it anyway because it gives you more time to process the word.
• Put on a perfume or other scent while studying. Use that same scent on the day of the spelling contest. The scent triggers memories and helps you recall the words you have studied.

Warnings

• Don't try to learn every word from the dictionary: you will always miss one. It's a lot easier if you know a lot of basic words and roots and are guided by the context and pronunciation.

Necessities

• The Van Dale's Great Dictionary of the Dutch Language
• Lots of memos and paper to write words down