Debate & Public Speaking Summer School

Course Description:

This dynamic 4-week course is designed to build students’ confidence, critical thinking, and English fluency through the art of debate. Using a variety of accessible and engaging debate formats, students will learn to research, structure, and express arguments on meaningful 21st-century topics. Throughout the course, students will develop essential communication skills, including persuasive speaking, active listening, and respectful disagreement, while expanding their vocabulary and mastering real-world applications of English.

Lessons are interactive and student-centered, with activities ranging from warm-up games and team debates to rhetorical strategy workshops. Students will gain experience in multiple styles of debate and receive supportive feedback as they grow as speakers and collaborators.

The course culminates in a live debate competition where students will showcase their growth by presenting formal arguments in front of their peers and families.

Skills Developed:

- English fluency and academic vocabulary

- Persuasive speaking using structure and evidence

- Team collaboration and respectful discourse

- Critical thinking on global and social issues

Final Project:
A public debate competition to demonstrate student learning and progress.