The 3rd Annual Spanglish Bee Competition, organized by the Ministry of Education’s Migrant Education Support Unit (MESU) in partnership with the National Literacy Department, continues to highlight the importance of bilingualism in Guyana. This year’s event saw participation from students representing Regions Three, Four, Five, Seven and Georgetown, as they demonstrated their proficiency in both Spanish and English in a celebration of linguistic diversity.
The Spanglish Bee is a unique competition that tests students’ literacy in two of the world’s most widely spoken languages—English and Spanish. Designed to challenge participants in areas like Vocabulary, Spelling, Grammar, and Reading and Writing Comprehension, the event reflects the growing use of Spanglish in bilingual communities, blending English and Spanish into a dynamic hybrid language.
In the Vocabulary segment, students showcased their ability to navigate both languages, while the Spelling category required them to adapt to the complexities of spelling in English, Spanish, and their Spanglish combination. The Grammar section saw participants applying the structural rules of both languages and understanding how Spanglish plays with these norms. Finally, in Reading and Writing Comprehension, competitors fluently switched between languages in real-time, demonstrating their mastery of bilingual communication.
The competition is more than just an academic exercise—it’s a cultural celebration of bilingualism and biculturalism. It allows migrant students to take pride in their identities and linguistic skills, reinforcing their confidence while breaking down barriers. This event aligns with the Ministry of Education’s goal to promote inclusivity, ensuring that students from all linguistic backgrounds have the opportunity to thrive in the classroom.
Region 3 took home the top honors, excelling in all four categories of the competition—Spelling, Vocabulary, Listening Comprehension, and Reading Comprehension. Region 4 followed closely in second place, while Georgetown secured third, marking another successful year of the competition.
Now a cornerstone of MESU’s mission to create an inclusive educational environment, the Spanglish Bee continues to grow in scope. It plays a crucial role in raising awareness of the value of bilingualism in education, helping prepare students for a globalized world where fluency in multiple languages is increasingly essential.
As the competition looks to expand its reach, it remains a beacon of linguistic celebration and a testament to the Ministry of Education’s commitment to inclusivity and excellence in education.
