Encouragement in a Spelling Competition
Katie Kerwin McCrimmon: [commentating on TV]
Several of the kids placed very high in last year's bee, especially Dylan Chiu. He's come in second two years in a row.
Derrick-T:
Kick his butt, Akeelah! B-U-T-T, butt!
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The Weight of Spelling Bees
Akeelah:
This is all starting to sound heavy.
Boy: [throws the ball, but misses the hoop]
It is heavy. Spelling bees are serious. I think I'll take a shot. On second thought, can I spell the word?
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Defining a Word in Competition
Male judge:
If you spell this correctly, you'll be our 10th and last finalist.
Female judge: [the boy looks to his mom, who gives him a thumbs up]
Carmagnole.
Cheating boy:
Could I get a definition, please?
Female judge:
A lively song and street dance.
Cheating boy: [Kiana, watching through the door's window, sees the boy's mom mouth out the letter, "G"]
Um... C... A... R... M... A... G... N... O-L-E, carmagnole.
Male judge: [a thunderous applause erupts, especially from the boy's mom. Akeelah is devastated]
That's correct, and that means you are our 10th and last finalist for the district bee.
Kiana: [bursts through the door, outraged]
THEY CHEATED!!! THEY CHEATED!! I saw them! That boy's mama helped him out!
Male judge:
What...? Excuse me... Who are you?
Kiana:
I'm Akeelah's sister. I was standing right back there, and I saw that boy's mama give him the letter "G." She was saying, "geeeee.
Cheating boy's mom:
He knew the word. I-I mean, it's one we studied. He knew it.
Male judge: [the boy's mom shakes her head]
Ma'am, did you help your child spell the word? Ma'am, this is serious business.
Cheating boy's mom:
OH, YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT IT'S SERIOUS! You know, you are gonna give these kids ulcers! Do you know how long he has studied for this?! He knew that word!
Cheating boy: [embarrassed]
No. I didn't.
Male judge:
I'm sorry, number 62, you are disqualified from competition.
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The Importance of Preparation in Spelling Bees
Akeelah:
Okay. But when I'm at the bee, and they tell me to spell some little fish from Australia or some weird bacteria on the Moon, we're going to wish we'd done a little bit more "rote-morizing" and not so much essay reading. If you don't mind me saying.
Dr. Larabee:
Bacteria don't exist on the Moon.
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The Origin of Big Words
Dr. Larabee:
Where do you think big words come from?
Akeelah:
People with big brains?
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Inquisitiveness vs. Obnoxiousness in Learning
Akeelah:
I'm naturally inquisitive.
Dr. Larabee:
Yes, which is also sometimes confused with being naturally obnoxious.
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Embracing Personal Power and Potential
Akeelah: [quoting [[Marianne Williamson]
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
Dr. Larabee:
Does that mean anything to you?
Akeelah:
I don't know.
Dr. Larabee:
It's written in plain English. What does it mean?
Akeelah:
That I'm not supposed to be afraid?
Dr. Larabee:
Afraid of what?
Akeelah:
Afraid of... me?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Misunderstanding the Meaning of "Grovel
Ms. Cross:
Now, we're gonna start things off with "grovel.
Chuckie:
Gravel? Like little rocks?
Ms. Cross:
No, grovel, like "get down on your knees and grovel.
Chuckie: [shocked]
Get down on my knees? What?!
Ms. Cross:
Just spell the word.
Chuckie:
Uh, G-R-A-V-E-L.
Ms. Cross:
No, Chuckie, you spelled "gravel." I meant "grovel", G-R-O-V-E-L. You weren't listening. Sorry, Chuckie.
Chuckie:
Who cares?
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The Pressure of Representing a Struggling School
Mr. Welch:
So whoever wins the school bee today gets to represent Crenshaw at the district bee next month.
Akeelah:
Why would anybody want to represent a school where they can't even put doors on the toilet stalls?
Mr. Welch:
Akeelah, if we can't show students can perform, we're not going to have money for books, let alone bathroom doors. Now, I want you to do the bee today, okay?
Akeelah:
So everyone can call me a freak and a brainiac? No, I ain't down for no spelling bee.
Mr. Welch:
Well, maybe you'd be down for spending the rest of the semester in detention for all your absences?
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Perception of Language and Identity
Terrence:
Man, that's a white word if I ever heard one. It's a trick. Stop playing!
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The Meaning of Love and Safety
Akeelah Anderson:
You know that feeling where everything feels right? Where you don't have to worry about tomorrow or yesterday, where you feel safe and know you're doing the best you can? There's a word for that, it's called love. L-O-V-E.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
