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Nigel Richards Wins Spanish Scrabble Title Without Speaking Spanish

Nigel Richards wins Spanish Scrabble title without speaking the language, showcasing extraordinary memorization skills.

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In a remarkable achievement, a New Zealand man named Nigel Richards has won the world title for Spanish-language Scrabble, despite not speaking Spanish. This victory took place during his first competitive game in the language, held in Granada, Spain, where he managed to win 23 out of 24 games. Richards is already an accomplished player, holding five world titles in English Scrabble, and his latest triumph has drawn significant attention within the Scrabble community.

Richards prepared for this competition by dedicating a year to memorizing the Spanish Scrabble word list. According to his friend Liz Fagerlund, who is also a Scrabble official in New Zealand, Richards possesses an extraordinary ability to visualize words as images, which allows him to recall them with ease. This unique skill has led him to success in various language competitions, raising questions about how he can achieve such feats without understanding the language itself.

The runner-up in the tournament was Benjamín Olaizola from Argentina, who won 18 games but could not surpass Richards’ performance. Alejandro Terenzani, one of the contest organizers, expressed his astonishment at Richards’ achievement, noting that nothing like this had ever occurred in Spanish Scrabble before. The unexpected nature of Richards’ success left many in the community both amazed and impressed, as they had anticipated a strong performance but did not foresee such dominance.

Richards is no stranger to competing in languages he does not speak. In 2015, he won the French Scrabble world championship after studying the word list for just nine weeks, and he successfully defended his title in 2018. His ability to adapt to different languages and their respective strategies has solidified his reputation as one of the greatest Scrabble players of all time. However, the Spanish language presented new challenges, including a greater number of longer words that required a different approach to gameplay.

Despite his fame in the Scrabble world, Richards remains a private individual who shies away from media attention. His mother has mentioned that he did not excel in English during his school years and has a mathematical approach to the game rather than a linguistic one. While he enjoys the game and engages with fans at events, he prefers to maintain a low profile and does not seek out interviews. This enigmatic nature adds to the intrigue surrounding his extraordinary accomplishments in the world of competitive Scrabble.

Original news source: A New Zealander studied for a year to win the Spanish world Scrabble title. He doesn’t speak Spanish (AP News)

🎧 Listen:

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Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

1remarkableWorthy of attention; striking
2triumphA great victory or achievement
3accomplishedHighly skilled or proficient
4extraordinaryVery unusual or remarkable
5visualizeForm a mental image of something
6astonishmentGreat surprise or amazement
7unexpectedNot anticipated or predicted
8dominanceThe state of having power or influence over others
9adaptMake suitable for a new use or purpose
10respectiveBelonging or relating separately to each of two or more people or things
11solidifiedMade secure or stable
12reputationThe beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something
13challengesDifficulties that require effort to overcome
14enigmaticMysterious or difficult to understand
15accomplishmentsThings that have been achieved successfully

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out key terms or concepts from the article without using words. The other groups will guess the term being acted out. Terms can include “Scrabble,” “Spanish,” “competition,” “memorizing,” etc.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Pose a question related to the article, such as “Do you think it’s possible to excel in a language without speaking it?” Students will walk around the classroom and ask at least three classmates for their opinions, then share the most common responses with the class.

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Ask students to create a catchy headline for the article that captures its essence. They can work in pairs or small groups to come up with different options and then share their headlines with the class for discussion.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: In groups, students will create a mind map based on the article. They should include key themes such as “language learning,” “competitive Scrabble,” and “Nigel Richards.” Each group will present their mind map to the class, explaining their connections.

– SPEED SUMMARIZING
Instructions: Provide each student with a few minutes to read the article. After reading, they will have 30 seconds to summarize it to a partner. After they have shared, they will switch partners and summarize again, encouraging them to refine their summaries with each round.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What remarkable achievement did Nigel Richards accomplish in the world of Scrabble?
2. How did Nigel Richards prepare for the Spanish-language Scrabble competition?
3. What unique ability does Nigel Richards possess that aids his success in Scrabble?
4. Who was the runner-up in the tournament, and how many games did he win?
5. What was Alejandro Terenzani’s reaction to Richards’ achievement in the Spanish Scrabble tournament?
6. How did Richards’ previous experiences in language competitions contribute to his success in Spanish Scrabble?
7. What challenges did Richards face when competing in Spanish Scrabble compared to other languages?
8. How does Nigel Richards’ personality and approach to media differ from his accomplishments in Scrabble?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a remarkable achievement, a New Zealand man named Nigel Richards has won the world (1)______ for Spanish-language Scrabble, despite not speaking Spanish. This victory took place during his first competitive game in the language, held in Granada, Spain, where he managed to win 23 out of 24 games. Richards is already an (2)______ player, holding five world (3)______ in English Scrabble, and his latest triumph has (4)______ significant attention within the Scrabble community.

Richards prepared for this competition by dedicating a year to memorizing the Spanish Scrabble word list. According to his friend Liz Fagerlund, who is also a Scrabble official in New Zealand, Richards possesses an extraordinary ability to visualize words as images, which allows him to recall them with ease. This unique skill has led him to success in various (5)______ competitions, raising (6)______ about how he can achieve such feats without understanding the language itself.

The runner-up in the tournament was Benjamín Olaizola from Argentina, who won 18 games but could not surpass Richards’ (7)______. Alejandro Terenzani, one of the contest organizers, expressed his astonishment at Richards’ achievement, noting that nothing like this had ever (8)______ in Spanish Scrabble before. The unexpected nature of Richards’ success left many in the community both amazed and impressed, as they had anticipated a (9)______ performance but did not foresee such dominance.

Richards is no stranger to competing in (10)______ he does not speak. In 2015, he won the French Scrabble world (11)______ after (12)______ the word list for just nine weeks, and he successfully defended his title in 2018. His ability to adapt to different languages and their respective strategies has solidified his reputation as one of the greatest Scrabble players of all time. However, the Spanish language presented new challenges, (13)______ a greater number of longer words that required a different approach to gameplay.

Despite his fame in the Scrabble world, Richards remains a private individual who shies away from media attention. His mother has mentioned that he did not (14)______ in (15)______ during his school years and has a mathematical approach to the game rather than a linguistic one. While he enjoys the game and engages with fans at events, he prefers to maintain a low profile and does not seek out interviews. This (16)______ nature adds to the intrigue surrounding his extraordinary accomplishments in the world of competitive Scrabble.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on the idea of someone winning a language-based competition without speaking the language?

2. How would you feel if you had to prepare for a competition in a language you didn’t speak?

3. Do you think memorizing words alone is enough to succeed in a language-based game? Why or why not?

4. What is a skill you believe is essential for success in competitive games like Scrabble?

5. How do you think cultural understanding plays a role in language-based competitions?

6. Do you like playing word games such as Scrabble? Why or why not?

7. What is your experience with learning a new language, and how does it compare to learning vocabulary for a game?

8. How would you approach learning a new language for a competition?

9. Do you think it is possible to excel in a language without understanding its grammar or nuances? Why or why not?

10. What is a challenge you have faced when trying to learn a new skill or hobby?

11. How do you think Nigel Richards’ unique approach to visualization contributes to his success in Scrabble?

12. Do you think competitive games like Scrabble can help improve language skills? Why or why not?

13. How would you feel if you were in the position of the runner-up, having lost to someone who doesn’t speak the language?

14. What is your opinion on the balance between natural talent and hard work in achieving success?

15. How do you think Richards’ preference for privacy affects public perception of his achievements?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. remarkable
2. triumph
3. accomplished
4. extraordinary
5. visualize
6. astonishment
7. unexpected
8. dominance
9. adapt
10. respective
11. solidified
12. reputation
13. challenges
14. enigmatic
15. accomplishments

Meanings:
(A) Difficulties that require effort to overcome
(B) Mysterious or difficult to understand
(C) Not anticipated or predicted
(D) Make suitable for a new use or purpose
(E) The state of having power or influence over others
(F) Highly skilled or proficient
(G) Worthy of attention; striking
(H) Great surprise or amazement
(I) The beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something
(J) Form a mental image of something
(K) Things that have been achieved successfully
(L) Very unusual or remarkable
(M) Belonging or relating separately to each of two or more people or things
(N) Made secure or stable
(O) A great victory or achievement
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who won the world title for Spanish-language Scrabble?
(a) Nigel Richards
(b) Benjamín Olaizola
(c) Alejandro Terenzani
(d) Liz Fagerlund

2. How many games did Nigel Richards win during the tournament?
(a) 18
(b) 24
(c) 20
(d) 23

3. What unique ability does Nigel Richards possess that aids his Scrabble success?
(a) Fluent in multiple languages
(b) Exceptional memory for numbers
(c) Quick reflexes
(d) Visualization of words as images

4. Who was the runner-up in the Spanish Scrabble tournament?
(a) Benjamín Olaizola
(b) Nigel Richards
(c) Alejandro Terenzani
(d) Liz Fagerlund

5. How long did Richards prepare for the Spanish Scrabble competition?
(a) Nine weeks
(b) One year
(c) Six months
(d) Two years

6. In which year did Nigel Richards win the French Scrabble world championship?
(a) 2018
(b) 2020
(c) 2015
(d) 2012

7. What aspect of the Spanish language posed new challenges for Richards during the competition?
(a) Different alphabet
(b) Longer words
(c) Complex grammar
(d) Regional dialects

8. How does Nigel Richards prefer to engage with the media?
(a) He actively seeks interviews
(b) He enjoys giving public speeches
(c) He shies away from media attention
(d) He writes articles for Scrabble magazines

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Despite his success, Richards prefers to seek media attention and avoid a low profile.
2. Richards previously won the French Scrabble world championship in 2015 after studying the word list for nine weeks.
3. He spent a year memorizing the Spanish Scrabble word list in preparation for the competition.
4. He won 23 out of 24 games during his first competitive game in Spanish.
5. Nigel Richards lost the world title for Spanish-language Scrabble despite not speaking Spanish.
6. Richards has previously won five world titles in English Scrabble.
7. The winner of the tournament was Benjamín Olaizola from Argentina.
8. Alejandro Terenzani, one of the contest organizers, was unimpressed by Richards’ achievement.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!




Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. How did Nigel Richards prepare for the Spanish-language Scrabble competition despite not speaking Spanish?
2. What unique ability does Nigel Richards possess that contributes to his success in Scrabble competitions?
3. How did the Scrabble community react to Richards’ unexpected victory in the Spanish-language tournament?
4. What challenges did Richards face when competing in Spanish Scrabble compared to other languages?
5. How does Richards’ approach to the game differ from traditional linguistic strategies, according to his background?

Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What remarkable achievement did Nigel Richards accomplish in the world of Scrabble?
Nigel Richards won the world title for Spanish-language Scrabble despite not speaking Spanish, winning 23 out of 24 games in his first competitive game in the language.

2. How did Nigel Richards prepare for the Spanish-language Scrabble competition?
Richards dedicated a year to memorizing the Spanish Scrabble word list.

3. What unique ability does Nigel Richards possess that aids his success in Scrabble?
He has an extraordinary ability to visualize words as images, which allows him to recall them with ease.

4. Who was the runner-up in the tournament, and how many games did he win?
The runner-up was Benjamín Olaizola from Argentina, who won 18 games.

5. What was Alejandro Terenzani’s reaction to Richards’ achievement in the Spanish Scrabble tournament?
Alejandro Terenzani expressed astonishment at Richards’ achievement, noting that nothing like this had ever occurred in Spanish Scrabble before.

6. How did Richards’ previous experiences in language competitions contribute to his success in Spanish Scrabble?
Richards is no stranger to competing in languages he does not speak, having previously won the French Scrabble world championship after studying the word list for just nine weeks.

7. What challenges did Richards face when competing in Spanish Scrabble compared to other languages?
The Spanish language presented new challenges, including a greater number of longer words that required a different approach to gameplay.

8. How does Nigel Richards’ personality and approach to media differ from his accomplishments in Scrabble?
Despite his fame in the Scrabble world, Richards remains a private individual who shies away from media attention and prefers to maintain a low profile, not seeking out interviews.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) title
(2) accomplished
(3) titles
(4) drawn
(5) language
(6) questions
(7) performance
(8) occurred
(9) strong
(10) languages
(11) championship
(12) studying
(13) including
(14) excel
(15) English
(16) enigmatic
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. remarkable
Answer: (G) Worthy of attention; striking

2. triumph
Answer: (O) A great victory or achievement

3. accomplished
Answer: (F) Highly skilled or proficient

4. extraordinary
Answer: (L) Very unusual or remarkable

5. visualize
Answer: (J) Form a mental image of something

6. astonishment
Answer: (H) Great surprise or amazement

7. unexpected
Answer: (C) Not anticipated or predicted

8. dominance
Answer: (E) The state of having power or influence over others

9. adapt
Answer: (D) Make suitable for a new use or purpose

10. respective
Answer: (M) Belonging or relating separately to each of two or more people or things

11. solidified
Answer: (N) Made secure or stable

12. reputation
Answer: (I) The beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something

13. challenges
Answer: (A) Difficulties that require effort to overcome

14. enigmatic
Answer: (B) Mysterious or difficult to understand

15. accomplishments
Answer: (K) Things that have been achieved successfully
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who won the world title for Spanish-language Scrabble?
Answer: (a) Nigel Richards

2. How many games did Nigel Richards win during the tournament?
Answer: (d) 23

3. What unique ability does Nigel Richards possess that aids his Scrabble success?
Answer: (d) Visualization of words as images

4. Who was the runner-up in the Spanish Scrabble tournament?
Answer: (a) Benjamín Olaizola

5. How long did Richards prepare for the Spanish Scrabble competition?
Answer: (b) One year

6. In which year did Nigel Richards win the French Scrabble world championship?
Answer: (c) 2015

7. What aspect of the Spanish language posed new challenges for Richards during the competition?
Answer: (b) Longer words

8. How does Nigel Richards prefer to engage with the media?
Answer: (c) He shies away from media attention
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Despite his success, Richards prefers to seek media attention and avoid a low profile. (Answer: False)
2. Richards previously won the French Scrabble world championship in 2015 after studying the word list for nine weeks. (Answer: True)
3. He spent a year memorizing the Spanish Scrabble word list in preparation for the competition. (Answer: True)
4. He won 23 out of 24 games during his first competitive game in Spanish. (Answer: True)
5. Nigel Richards lost the world title for Spanish-language Scrabble despite not speaking Spanish. (Answer: False)
6. Richards has previously won five world titles in English Scrabble. (Answer: True)
7. The winner of the tournament was Benjamín Olaizola from Argentina. (Answer: False)
8. Alejandro Terenzani, one of the contest organizers, was unimpressed by Richards’ achievement. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

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