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Learning English through Debating

Despite the lack of debate competitions this year due to COVID19, our debate team continued to practice and hone in their e the lack of debate competitions this year due to COVID19, our debate team continued to practice and hone in their
Despit
skills.
skills. They diligently participated in online workshops in order to develop their English speaking skills and build confidence They diligently participated in online workshops in order to develop their English speaking skills and build confidence
in delivering ideas publicly.
Sophia Woo (Debate Team Captain)

This
This is my first time to join the school debate team. Honestly, it’s very challenging for me to be the leader is my first time to join the school debate team. Honestly, it’s very challenging for me to be the leader
b
because I am a rookie. The main reason why I joined the team is that I wanted to practise expressing ecause I am a rookie. The main reason why I joined the team is that I wanted to practise expressing
m
my thoughts in a formal way. We usually learn English through writing and reading, but rarely speaking, y thoughts in a formal way. We usually learn English through writing and reading, but rarely speaking,
especially through formal forums. Debate can provide me chances to do so.
This year is an unfortunate year for us due to the outbreak of the coronavirus in the second term of
This year is an unfortunate year for us due to the outbreak of the coronavirus in the second term of
the school year. No school in the second term means that we didn’t have a chance to compete
the school year. No school in the second term means that we didn’t have a chance to compete
in a debate. It is quite disappointing that we didn’t get the opportunity to go head to head
in a debate. It is quite disappointing that we didn’t get the opportunity to go head to head
with another school. However, crisis creates opportunities, and we had online lessons
with another school. However, crisis creates opportunities, and we had online lessons
during the school suspension period. The lessons really helped me a lot and I’m sure they
during the school suspension period. The lessons really helped me a lot and I’m sure they
helped everyone in our team. Although we could not join a competition, we did have a elped everyone in our team. Although we could not join a competition, we did have a
helped everyone in our team. Although we could not join a competition, we did have a
h
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competitive online debate between our team members. We also got Raphael, a senior ompetitive online debate between our team members. We also got Raphael, a senior
competitive online debate between our team members. We also got Raphael, a senior
deba
debater, to teach us useful skills which I really benefited from. It is a blessing that I had
debater, to teach us useful skills which I really benefited from. It is a blessing that I had ter, to teach us useful skills which I really benefited from. It is a blessing that I had
the opportunity to be in the debate team this year!
the opportunity to be in the debate team this year!

Fifi Liu (Debate Team Vice-Captain)

I am so glad to be the Vice-Captain of this year’s debate team. In the debate training
lessons, I learnt a lot of useful skills for not only debate, but also everyday speaking.
Our coach usually put us into groups of two or three to discuss a motion and try
to have a debate. I think it could strengthen our self-confidence and facilitate the
exploration of different topics, which can be very useful for debaters.
Despite the coronavirus stopping us from joining any debate competitions
this year, we still had online debate training lessons and workshops to enable
our members to perform better in future competitions. We continued to do
individual presentations and hold debate competitions within our team, and it
was really stimulating when we were delivering rebuttals. Furthermore, I could
see a big improvement in our team and also myself. This really was a great
learning experience and I am so glad to be a leader in our school Debate Team.

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