The teenager has had a lot of time to train for the event.
When she was just a kindergartener her father, Krishnarao Nandipati, would have her spell out sign names on the way to school.
Krishnarao Nandipati was so impressed he began entering his daughter in competitions when she was just a 3rd grader.
Indian Americans have had a lock on the competition in recent years, winning the bee five times in a row and 10 of the last 14 years.
Vocabulary
had a lock - dominated an event
Conversation Practice
Sometimes letters in other languages can give us trouble. The Spanish "R" can be difficult for English speakers and the letters "j and "y" can confuse Spanish speakers. Asian speakers may experience trouble with he letters "l" and "r," and "v" and "b."
Are you a good speller? What letters give you the most difficulty?
"Spell" idioms
spell out something - explain something
spell trouble - cause trouble
under one's spell - to be captivated by someone
