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From the Hong Kong legisla� ve council elec� on forum to the school’s student union elec� on or even a family discussion about where
to have dinner includes debate elements. Debates are all around us.
There are altogether 11 members in our debate team. We have debate mee� ngs every week. We discuss controversial social issues
and split into groups of four, taking affi rma� ve and nega� ve sides. Our duty is to make our points to persuade the judges to believe
our stance. When we have no inter-school compe� � on, we hold mini debates among our group for prac� ce.
Deba� ng is never easy. If we are not familiar with the topic, we won’t be able to explain our points. At the fi rst mee� ng, everyone felt
super nervous, so we barely talked. We didn’t know anything about deba� ng – not even the format of scripts or how a match works.
There is no doubt that a lot of improvements will need to be made, but a� er many hours of prac� ce, we learnt from the others and
our own mistakes and made a big improvement.
our own mistakes and made a big improvement.

Jessica: Kate:

I have been in the English Debate Team This year I was lucky enough to have the op- Cody:
for a year, during which I have learnt portunity to join the English debate team. I’ve
a lot of things which improved my learnt so much about debating throughout Hello, I am Cody from 2A. I gained
English speaking skills. Moreover, I’ve the year such as how a debate works, how a lot through joining this team.
learnt the structure of wri� ng a script. to write a debate script and how to do a re- I came across many words that
For example, as the fi rst speaker of the bu� al. Joining the English debate team really I didn’t know before and I lost
team, we need to introduce the jobs of boosted my confidence and made me more matches with my teammates. But
the whole team first and start to give comfortable speaking in front of a crowd. I it made my English improve a lot.
evidence. Lastly, we can use a ques� on am very thankful to our debate coach, Ra- I believe that my eff orts were not
to end the script. phael and Ms. Heidi Lam for giving me the
chance to compete in inter-school debates. wasted.
I am incredibly proud to be a part of the En-
glish debate team.

Gemma:
Gemma:
Gemma:
Gemma:
Gemma:
Gemma:
Gemma:
K Gemma:
Kelly:elly:
Vanessa: anessa:anessa:anessa:
Th
Th
Over this year, I learnt a lot from my V V V This is my second year of being a debater, is is my second year of being a debater, is is my second year of being a debater,
teammates, like leadership and how to it’s my honour to be the vice chair of the
manage my emo� ons. The process of writ- team. I have learnt so much over the last
ing a script and making a rebu� al are the I have been in the debate team for 1 two years. Being in the team has improved
most challenging tasks in debate, but we year learning how to cooperate with my English, especially script-writing skills
were able to meet these challenges. others. In the debate, it’s a must to and argumenta� ve wri� ng. It has also given
To win a debate, you need to work as a communicate with teammate to share me a chance to learn more about society
team, so communication is very import- your ideas, to improve your weak- and what is happening in the world when I
ant. During the competition we have our nesses, and to allocate the work. This do research. I hope I can join this meaning-
different roles, and some members are process made me realise how import- ful ac� vity next year too.
new to deba� ng so our responsibility is to ant teamwork is. I know I could not
guide them and help with their rebuttal, succeed without the others’ help. We
but that’s really not an easy job! work as a team. We fight as a team.
We win as a team!
Kyra: Ms Heidi Lam
There was this one time when we were so
This is my first year taking part in the Noelle: close to getting into the next round of the
debate team. The most important thing competition but eventually we lost by 4
I’ve learnt this year is how to write a good I am so glad that I have had the points. The near miss crushed the team, be-
script. We often miss the development opportunity to join the English cause we had been preparing for days and
when we’re writing an argumentative debate team. During this year, nights and our morale was high. As the team’s
essay. Yet, this is indispensable for a com- I’ve learnt a lot such as how to teacher advisor, I feared the failure would
plete essay. Developing the points step elaborate points more clearly. This undermine their confidence and passion for
by step will help the markers understand is useful not only in debating but debate but the team, being as resilient as
your points easily. So remember don’t also in wri� ng. Besides, l’ve learnt ever, refused to be beaten. After crying and
jump this part next � me when you’re writ- the format and rules of a debate sobbing for some � me, they decided to come
ing an argumenta� ve essay! compe� � on. This has been a help- back stronger. I was moved by their determi-
ful experience. na� on and swore I would muster my strength
to build a stronger team next year.