Rules of the Game: There are 2 rounds of the game.  The game will be conducted in writing via chat. Round 1 1. Language Links is responsible for selecting the word lists that will be used. These lists will include only words that appear in the Oxford Dictionary. 2.  The pronouncer will make every effort to pronounce the words in Canadian English.  3. The Canadian Oxford Dictionary shall serve as the final authority for the spelling of words. If more than one spelling is listed for a word, any of these spellings will be accepted as correct if the word either matches the pronunciation and definition provided by the pronouncer or it is clearly identified as being a standard variant of the word that the speller has been asked to spell. 4. In competition, after the pronouncer shows the speller the flashcard of the vocabulary word, the speller is expected to identify the word and may be encouraged to pronounce the word both before and after spelling it, but the judges shall not disqualify a speller for failing to pronounce the word correctly.  6. The speller may ask the pronouncer to repeat the word, define the word or give a sentence including the word. The pronouncer shall accede to these requests unless the judges agree that the word has been made reasonably clear to the speller, in which case the judges will request the speller to start spelling.  7. If a word has one or more homonyms, the pronouncer will indicate which word is to be spelled. If the listed word is not properly identified, either by defining it or distinguishing the homonyms, any correct spelling of any homonym of the word will be accepted. 8. A maximum of one minute will be allowed for requests in accordance with rule six (6).  A maximum of one minute will be allowed for spelling each word. The time begins when the pronouncer has pronounced the word or has replied to a request and ends when the speller has spelt the word.  9. (i) The role of the pronouncer is: (1) to correctly pronounce the word;  (2) to repeat a word, define it or use it in a sentence if the speller so requests. (ii) The role of the judges is to determine whether the speller has spelled the word correctly. (iii) The role of the speller is:  (1) to gather as much information as possible in order to spell the word correctly;   (2) to spell the word correctly The judges may not disqualify a speller for asking a question.  10. A speller, having started to spell a word, may not stop and start again by retracing the spelling from the beginning. If letters or their sequence are changed in the respelling, the speller will be eliminated. Once a speller has started to spell a word, he / she cannot ask the pronouncer to repeat the word, define the word or give a sentence including the word. 11. The speller shall not be disqualified for failing to note that a word is capitalized. 12. (a) A competition will be conducted in as many rounds as may be necessary to produce the required number of qualifiers for the final or the winner of the final. (b) In a round, a speller is eliminated if he misspells a word and the next word on the pronouncer’s list is given to the next speller, except as otherwise provided in Rule 13. (c) In any round, the judges may require all the participants to spell the same word in writing.  13. (a) Notwithstanding Rule 12, if all the spellers in a round fail to spell a word correctly, they will all remain in the competition and a fresh round shall take place. (b) The process of elimination is determined as hereunder by Language Links.  14. The judges’ decision shall be final on all issues. Round 2 The pronouncer asks the speller to state an interesting fact regarding the vocabulary word shown on the flashcard.  The pronouncer will request the participant to state one (1) to five (5) interesting facts about the vocabulary word as deemed appropriate according to English language level.  Process of Elimination (i) A competition will be conducted in as many rounds as may be necessary to produce either the required number of qualifiers for the final or a winner at the final. (ii) In each round, each speller will be required, in turn, to spell one word, or to state an interesting fact. Round 1: Spelling Bee (iii) If none of the spellers remaining in the Round 1: Spelling Bee game at the start of a round spells a word correctly during that round, all will remain in the competition. (iv) All spellers eliminated in the same round will be tied for the same place. (v) If in any round where there are three or more spellers still in the competition, only one of them remains in the competition after having spelled a word correctly, a new round shall begin and that remaining speller shall be given the opportunity to spell the next word on the list. If the speller succeeds incorrectly spelling the new word, the speller will be declared the winner. Otherwise, all the spellers remaining in the competition at the start of the previous round will remain in the competition. A new round will begin, with these spellers spelling in the original order. (vi) If, at the end of a round, only two spellers remain in the competition, the winner will be determined in the following manner: (a) the pronouncer will give the first speller a word and, if the word is correctly spelled, the pronouncer will give the second speller a word and, so on; (b) where a speller misspells a word, the other speller will be given the chance to correct the error; but if that word is misspelled again, the pronouncer will give another word to the first speller and so on; (c) if a speller is able to correct an error, he will at once be given another word and, if he spells that second word correctly, he will be declared the winner. ​ Round 2: Interesting Facts ​ (i) If, at the end of a round, only two spellers remain in the competition, the winner will be determined in the following manner: (a) the pronouncer will give the first speller a true or false trivia question based on the category of the vocabulary words. The speller who accurately answers the question and is able to correct the phrase;  the pronouncer will give the second speller a true or false trivia question and, so on; (b) where a speller incorrectly answers the questions, the other speller will be given the chance to correct the error; but if that question is misspelled again, the pronouncer will give another question to the first speller and so on; (c) if a speller is able to correct an error, he will at once be given another word and, if he answers that second question correctly, (s)he will be declared the winner.