Every year, the best young English language spellers from around the world gather in Washington, D.C. for the National Spelling Bee. They spell complex words that most English speakers have never even heard of. The National Spelling Bee takes place over two intense days of competition in a large hotel meeting room. The spellers sit together in front of several judges. Each speller stands when it is his or her turn. When the judge calls out the word, spellers can ask for help. They can ask for the definition of the word or for it to be used in a sentence. They can also ask which language the word came from. This can often help them decide how it is spelled. Students who spell the word correctly remain in the competition. But if the speller makes a mistake, a bell rings and the child must leave the group