Expectations of Pachas’ BEO Team 2016
Claudia Sofía Tamayo Torres 10B
With the mission to encourage students, not only to improve their English skills, but also to get to know different cultures, to work hard and passionately in order to accomplish their dreams and motivations, to acquire experience in exposing opinions in front of huge audiences, and to let themselves venture into new territories and cultures, our school is one of the more than one hundred institutions competing in the British English Olympics that will take place in the city of London in April of the present year. Our school has participated in the last two editions of the competition, and, since, certainly, the Santa Francisca Romana BEO teams of 2014 and 2015 made us feel proud with their outstanding results; we have great expectations of our current team. But, what are the team member’s expectations?
The following interview will surely answer the incognita. (Interviewer: Claudia Sofía Tamayo Torres)
Surely, the team’s effort, preparation, commitment and, most importantly, its positive attitude towards the British English Olympics 2016, and their consciousness about it being more than an academic experience, will bring them success and enjoyment in their trip. Best wishes for the team!
Our Spelling Bee champions
Gabriela Rincón Montaña 10A
Imagine you were placed in front of an audience and asked to spell Czechoslovakia. Could you do it? Or would your shaky breath betray you into saying the first letter wrong? Probably you would have just given up the very moment the word was spoken or maybe you would have taken in a deep breath and given it a shot.
Now you must be thinking that the second option is totally unrealistic, yet you would be surprised to know that this was exactly what happened to our Spelling Bee contestants at the Abraham Lincoln school. Our girls did not only overcome their anxiousness and coped with stress but also did an amazing job. Ever since their arrival they were ready to participate and give their best. We even won first place in one of the highest categories! Can you guess who it was?
“Seeing all the people from different schools and institutions was nerve-wrecking. Since there were six categories and I was in the last one, a long time passed before it was my turn to get on stage” Stated our champion.
Six rounds of spelling?! Imagine yourself waiting for what seems like forever, while cheering for the others. Then suddenly time goes swiftly by, you are finally next and the competition begins; “When it was finally my turn, I was extremely anxious” confessed our winner as she shared with us more about her experience.
Who wouldn't be! Specially if the guy who pronounced the words was British and happened to be asking for words which were not on the list.
That’s right! After just two rounds, the list the girls were given was no longer useful, instead of those there were new words. Now picture all the confused faces on stage; this was a complete surprise!
“As soon as I got up on the stage and got around to pronouncing the first words my nerves faded away. As the competition went on and participants got disqualified, I felt myself getting closer and closer to the last round. In the end it was just me and a guy from the Andino school and, as they made us spell the last couple of words, I ended up winning”
Did you guess who it was? Well, if you couldn’t decide as to who it could possibly be, it was our contestant from the sixth and highest category of the spelling bee: Maria Camila Bonilla from 10th grade. Thank you for your hard work and positive attitude, it's been a while since we had spelling bee champions. Thank you once again Cami!
EF Challenge 2016 Videos of Some of our best participants
- Do you believe nothing is impossible?
10TH Grade
Catalina Martínez Rodríguez 10B