More than 500 learners, their teachers and educators came together in Stellenbosch on September 28 for the national final of the biggest spelling festival in South Africa – the Sanlam WOW Spelling Festival.
Learners in the following grades and language groups participated:
- Afrikaans: grades 1 to 10
- isiXhosa: grades 6 to 8
- English: grades 5 to 9
“I have been working for this since grade 1, so I’m very proud of myself,,” says Michelle Fourie, the grade 8 winner (Afrikaans) from Hoërskool Trio in the Free State.
‘Words literally open worlds’
Prince Albert Primary fared particularly well with three learners who medaled, including two gold and one silver.These word magicians are Benjamin Berdien (gr. 4 winner), Rania Fransen (gr. 5 winner) en Rahkeem Wagenaar (gr. 6, second place).
“We WOW in capital letters here in Prince Albert! I have been involved with WOW since 2017,” says Diana Koorts, a grade 3 teacher who accompanied four learners from this school on the long journey to Stellenbosch.
“For the learners it is such a wonderful thing. Their schoolwork and even writing is absolutely brilliant – writing with no mistakes! The spelling festival broadens their vocabularies and their general knowledge along with it. Words literally open worlds for them.”
The teachers at this school ensure that the each participant learns at least four grades’s words – “an enormous amount of words to which they wouldn’t have been exposed to otherwise”, says Ms. Koorts.
She says the learners also get a huge boost in confidence, echoing the words of Fiona van Kerwel, WOW manager.
“Learners are asked to stand up and spell or sound the words out loud. In so doing, we build their self-confidence so that they can communicate with confidence and express themselves.
“Empowerment is central to the spelling festival and WOW’s mission. We must make sure our children have a strong foundation for their vocabulary as well as their understanding and use of words. If not, we are doing them an injustice. Many thanks to all our learners, teachers and parents for your ceaseless dedication, preparation and absolute passion for WOW and all our projects – it belongs to you as much as it is ours. We are now handing over the key to you to unlock your own potential and carry our children to a bright future together.”
The young wordsmiths and their teachers and parents have free access to excellent language resources on the WOW website, with word lists, 10- and 50-point spelling tests, difficult words, explanatory phrasebooks, and more. Visit wow.woordfees.co.za.
We’d also like to thank all our sponsors, including Sanlam, Stellenbosch University (SU) and their corporate communications and marketing department, Millennium Trust, Trust for Afrikaans Education, NB Publishers, and Mr Sibongile Maputi of Tanci Publishers who sponsored our isiXhosa book prizes .
Words Open Worlds, commonly known as WOW for the dedicated work this empowerment initiative of SU does, is coming of age in 2024. For the past 21 years, we have been broadening the horizons of learners and educators at underserved schools through creative programs focused on language skills and the arts.
Our annual WOW Festival is currently in full swing at the Stellenbosch Woordfees, with many of our project actions being offered throughout the year, such as the paint and verse sharpening school, debate festival, speakers, a special concert for grade 11 learners and much more. The WOW Festival runs until October 6.
