A man from New Zealand named Nigel Richards has achieved something amazing by winning the world title for Spanish-language Scrabble, even though he doesn’t speak Spanish. This impressive win happened during his first-ever competitive game in Spanish, which took place in Granada, Spain. He won 23 out of 24 games, showing off his incredible skills. Richards is already well-known in the Scrabble community, having won five world titles in English Scrabble before this.

To prepare for this competition, Richards spent a whole year memorizing the Spanish Scrabble word list. His friend Liz Fagerlund, who is also a Scrabble official in New Zealand, says that Richards has a special talent for visualizing words as pictures, which helps him remember them easily. This unique ability has helped him succeed in many language competitions, making people wonder how he can do so well without knowing the language.

The player who came in second place was Benjamín Olaizola from Argentina, who won 18 games but couldn’t beat Richards. Alejandro Terenzani, one of the organizers of the tournament, was amazed by Richards’ success, saying that nothing like this had ever happened in Spanish Scrabble before. Many people in the Scrabble community were surprised and impressed by how well Richards played, as they expected him to do well but not to dominate the competition like he did.

Richards is used to competing in languages he doesn’t speak. In 2015, he won the French Scrabble world championship after studying the word list for just nine weeks, and he defended his title in 2018. His ability to adapt to different languages and strategies has made him one of the best Scrabble players ever. However, Spanish presented new challenges, like longer words that required a different way of playing. Despite his success, Richards prefers to keep a low profile and doesn’t seek out media attention, which adds to the mystery of his amazing achievements in 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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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Each team will take turns acting out words related to Scrabble or language learning without speaking, while their teammates guess the word. This will help students improve their vocabulary and understanding of related terms.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Create a list of statements related to language learning and competition (e.g., “Anyone can learn a new language in a year,” “Competing in a language you don’t speak is impressive”). Students will walk around the classroom, asking their classmates whether they agree or disagree with each statement, fostering conversation and critical thinking.

– THINK-PAIR-SHARE
Instructions: Pose a question to the class, such as “What do you think are the biggest challenges of learning a language through memorization?” Students will think about their answers individually, then pair up to discuss their thoughts before sharing with the whole class. This encourages speaking and listening skills.

– SKETCH IT
Instructions: Students will work in pairs. Each pair will choose a key term or concept from the article (e.g., “Scrabble,” “competition,” “memorization”) and create a simple sketch of it on a piece of paper. Afterward, they will present their drawings to the class and explain how it relates to the article.

– FUTURE PREDICTIONS
Instructions: Students will write down their predictions about future language competitions inspired by Richards’ achievement and how language learning might change in the future. They will share their predictions in small groups, allowing for discussion about potential trends and innovations in language learning.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What did Nigel Richards achieve in the world of Scrabble, and where did this event take place?

2. How many games did Richards win during the Spanish Scrabble competition?

3. What preparation did Richards undertake to compete in Spanish Scrabble?

4. How does Liz Fagerlund describe Nigel Richards’ special talent when it comes to playing Scrabble?

5. Who finished in second place at the tournament, and how many games did he win?

6. What was Alejandro Terenzani’s reaction to Richards’ success in the Spanish Scrabble championship?

7. What previous language competitions has Richards participated in before the Spanish Scrabble championship?

8. What challenges did Richards face while playing in Spanish Scrabble compared to other languages?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A man from New Zealand named Nigel Richards has achieved something amazing by winning the world title for Spanish-language Scrabble, even though he doesn’t speak Spanish. This (1)______ win happened during his first-ever (2)______ game in Spanish, which took place in Granada, Spain. He won 23 out of 24 games, showing off his (3)______ skills. Richards is already well-known in the Scrabble (4)______, having won five world titles in English Scrabble before this.

To prepare for this competition, (5)______ spent a whole year memorizing the Spanish Scrabble word list. His friend Liz Fagerlund, who is also a Scrabble official in New Zealand, says that Richards has a special talent for visualizing (6)______ as (7)______, which helps him remember them easily. This unique ability has helped him succeed in many language competitions, making people wonder how he can do so well without knowing the language.

The player who came in second (8)______ was Benjamín Olaizola from Argentina, who won 18 games but couldn’t beat Richards. Alejandro Terenzani, one of the (9)______ of the tournament, was (10)______ by Richards’ (11)______, saying that nothing like this had ever happened in Spanish (12)______ before. Many people in the Scrabble community were surprised and impressed by how well Richards played, as they expected him to do well but not to dominate the competition like he did.

Richards is used to competing in languages he doesn’t speak. In 2015, he won the French Scrabble world championship after studying the word list for just nine (13)______, and he defended his title in 2018. His ability to adapt to different languages and strategies has made him one of the best Scrabble players ever. However, Spanish presented new challenges, like longer words that required a different way of (14)______. Despite his success, Richards prefers to keep a low profile and doesn’t seek out (15)______ attention, which adds to the mystery of his (16)______ achievements in 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 someone winning a championship in a language they don’t speak?

2. How would you feel if you had to compete in a game using a language you didn’t know at all?

3. Do you think it’s possible to be successful in a competition without knowing the language? Why or why not?

4. What is a skill you have that you think could help you succeed in a competition?

5. Have you ever tried to learn a new language? What was your experience like?

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

7. How do you think memorizing a word list for a whole year would feel?

8. What is a challenge you faced when learning something new? How did you overcome it?

9. Do you think having a special talent, like visualizing words, is more important than hard work? Why or why not?

10. How would you feel if you were in a competition and everyone expected you to lose but you won instead?

11. What do you think makes someone a great competitor in games like Scrabble?

12. Have you ever surprised yourself by achieving something you thought was impossible? What was it?

13. Do you think it’s important for champions to seek media attention? Why or why not?

14. How would you prepare for a competition if you had to learn a new skill or language?

15. Do you think more people should try learning games in different languages? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. achieved
2. competitive
3. memorizing
4. visualizing
5. succeed
6. dominate
7. adapt
8. strategies
9. challenges
10. profile
11. mystery
12. impressive
13. official
14. community
15. tournament

Meanings:
(A) Something that is not fully understood or explained
(B) To change or adjust to new conditions
(C) A person with a position of authority
(D) Involving a contest or rivalry
(E) Plans or methods to achieve a goal
(F) A group of people with a common interest
(G) To do well or accomplish a goal
(H) Forming a mental image of something
(I) Difficulties or obstacles to overcome
(J) The public image or reputation of a person
(K) Learning something by heart
(L) A series of contests in a competition
(M) To have control or power over others
(N) Causing admiration due to skill or ability
(O) Successfully reached a goal or completed something
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) 23
(c) 24
(d) 20

3. In which city did the Spanish-language Scrabble competition take place?
(a) Madrid
(b) Granada
(c) Barcelona
(d) Seville

4. How long did Nigel Richards spend memorizing the Spanish Scrabble word list?
(a) One year
(b) Nine weeks
(c) Six months
(d) Three years

5. What unique talent does Nigel Richards have that helps him in Scrabble?
(a) Speaking multiple languages fluently
(b) Quick calculation skills
(c) Visualizing words as pictures
(d) Exceptional memory for numbers

6. Who came in second place in the tournament?
(a) Alejandro Terenzani
(b) Liz Fagerlund
(c) Benjamín Olaizola
(d) A mystery player

7. What did Alejandro Terenzani say about Richards’ success?
(a) It was expected based on his past performances
(b) It was a fluke
(c) It was disappointing
(d) It was unprecedented in Spanish Scrabble

8. What is Nigel Richards’ approach to media attention?
(a) He actively seeks it out
(b) He enjoys giving interviews
(c) He has a publicist handle all requests
(d) He prefers to keep a low profile

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Nigel Richards is not from Australia and won the world title for Spanish-language Scrabble.
2. Richards also won the French Scrabble national championship in 2015 after studying for just nine months.
3. The second-place finisher in the tournament was Benjamín Olaizola from Argentina.
4. Richards won 23 out of 24 games during the tournament in Granada, Spain.
5. He achieved this defeat without being able to speak Spanish.
6. To prepare for the competition, Richards spent a year memorizing the Spanish Scrabble word list.
7. He had previously won five world titles in English Scrabble before this Spanish title.
8. His friend Liz Fagerlund believes Richards has a talent for visualizing words, which helps him remember them.
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 manage to win the world title for Spanish-language Scrabble without speaking Spanish?
2. What special talent does Nigel Richards have that helps him remember words?
3. Who came in second place in the tournament, and how many games did he win?
4. What challenges did Richards face while playing Scrabble in Spanish compared to other languages?
5. Why does Nigel Richards prefer to keep a low profile despite his amazing achievements in Scrabble?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What did Nigel Richards achieve in the world of Scrabble, and where did this event take place?
Nigel Richards won the world title for Spanish-language Scrabble during his first-ever competitive game in Spanish, which took place in Granada, Spain.

2. How many games did Richards win during the Spanish Scrabble competition?
Richards won 23 out of 24 games during the competition.

3. What preparation did Richards undertake to compete in Spanish Scrabble?
Richards spent a whole year memorizing the Spanish Scrabble word list to prepare for the competition.

4. How does Liz Fagerlund describe Nigel Richards’ special talent when it comes to playing Scrabble?
Liz Fagerlund describes Richards as having a special talent for visualizing words as pictures, which helps him remember them easily.

5. Who finished in second place at the tournament, and how many games did he win?
Benjamín Olaizola from Argentina finished in second place, winning 18 games.

6. What was Alejandro Terenzani’s reaction to Richards’ success in the Spanish Scrabble championship?
Alejandro Terenzani was amazed by Richards’ success, saying that nothing like this had ever happened in Spanish Scrabble before.

7. What previous language competitions has Richards participated in before the Spanish Scrabble championship?
Before the Spanish Scrabble championship, Richards won the French Scrabble world championship in 2015 and defended his title in 2018.

8. What challenges did Richards face while playing in Spanish Scrabble compared to other languages?
Richards faced challenges like longer words in Spanish that required a different way of playing compared to other languages.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) impressive
(2) competitive
(3) incredible
(4) community
(5) Richards
(6) words
(7) pictures
(8) place
(9) organizers
(10) amazed
(11) success
(12) Scrabble
(13) weeks
(14) playing
(15) media
(16) amazing
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. achieved
Answer: (O) Successfully reached a goal or completed something

2. competitive
Answer: (D) Involving a contest or rivalry

3. memorizing
Answer: (K) Learning something by heart

4. visualizing
Answer: (H) Forming a mental image of something

5. succeed
Answer: (G) To do well or accomplish a goal

6. dominate
Answer: (M) To have control or power over others

7. adapt
Answer: (B) To change or adjust to new conditions

8. strategies
Answer: (E) Plans or methods to achieve a goal

9. challenges
Answer: (I) Difficulties or obstacles to overcome

10. profile
Answer: (J) The public image or reputation of a person

11. mystery
Answer: (A) Something that is not fully understood or explained

12. impressive
Answer: (N) Causing admiration due to skill or ability

13. official
Answer: (C) A person with a position of authority

14. community
Answer: (F) A group of people with a common interest

15. tournament
Answer: (L) A series of contests in a competition
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: (b) 23

3. In which city did the Spanish-language Scrabble competition take place?
Answer: (b) Granada

4. How long did Nigel Richards spend memorizing the Spanish Scrabble word list?
Answer: (a) One year

5. What unique talent does Nigel Richards have that helps him in Scrabble?
Answer: (c) Visualizing words as pictures

6. Who came in second place in the tournament?
Answer: (c) Benjamín Olaizola

7. What did Alejandro Terenzani say about Richards’ success?
Answer: (d) It was unprecedented in Spanish Scrabble

8. What is Nigel Richards’ approach to media attention?
Answer: (d) He prefers to keep a low profile
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Nigel Richards is not from Australia and won the world title for Spanish-language Scrabble. (Answer: False)
2. Richards also won the French Scrabble national championship in 2015 after studying for just nine months. (Answer: False)
3. The second-place finisher in the tournament was Benjamín Olaizola from Argentina. (Answer: True)
4. Richards won 23 out of 24 games during the tournament in Granada, Spain. (Answer: True)
5. He achieved this defeat without being able to speak Spanish. (Answer: False)
6. To prepare for the competition, Richards spent a year memorizing the Spanish Scrabble word list. (Answer: False)
7. He had previously won five world titles in English Scrabble before this Spanish title. (Answer: True)
8. His friend Liz Fagerlund believes Richards has a talent for visualizing words, which helps him remember them. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧