PROGRAMME SYNOPSIS

Our introduction to debate course, and our trainers, will further develop and enhance students’ lateral thinking abilities, agility in thinking and debating skills. Students will learn and use the basic skills of Debate (delivery, volume, clarity, style, speed, tone and use of notes). The coaching sessions will be highly interactive with brainstorming and team discussions, as well as ‘sparring sessions’ to build their confidence.

Students will learn to develop a central theme, draft their script and make effective arguments using persuasive as well as expository speaking skills. At the same time, they will acquire skills in how arguments and rebuttals are structured using analysis and critical thinking skills. Hence, this would in turn heighten their awareness about both their and the audience’s emotions, and use non-verbal elements of delivery in terms of body language and eye contact.

The course aims to teach pupils to stand in front of an audience and deliver an effective speech or even put on an engaging theatrical production. In each session, students will also be given skill practice time to improve techniques of preparation, rehearsing and speaking. Pupils will also acquire the skills to listen critically, effectively and efficiently, how to conduct basic but meaningful research on approved topics as well as to organize and present materials in a logical and coherent fashion.

The workshop aims to build pupils’ competency in communicating effectively and presenting ideas coherently, persuasively and confidently in front of an audience. It also aims to instill in the students an interest in speech and drama and an appreciation for the arts.

At the end of the course, students will be familiar with:

• ways to read and present with purpose, audience and context in mind
• ways to expand vocabulary in spoken interaction
• ways to respond effectively to visual stimuli using sound pedagogic framework
• ways to elaborate on responses meaningfully
• ways to structure persuasive and discursive topics in an organized way
• ways to sustain spoken interaction intelligibly and effectively