Oral Skills- Debating

Throughout my time at Laguna de Joatzel a favorite thing I have done with students (and I think they enjoy it too) is to do some debates. These are great because you can pick any topic that the students believe in and that is relevant and it can last a couple of classes. Here is the outline that I have followed. You can also work on writing pro/con lists of topics, here are some:

Bullfighting
Cosmetic surgery/tattoos for teenagers
Giving teenagers a curfew
CCTV cameras in classrooms
Animal testing
Uniforms in schools
or anything else that interests your students!

Here is an outline for debate:

Team A: For
Team B: Against
5 minutes (11:35-11:40)- organize and explain the debate
-make teams (I don´t care if you agree or not)
-time periods and process
10 minutes (11:40-11:50)- writing opening statements (meeting with other group members, writing arguments down)
-write down main arguments for your position
-consider counter arguments that the other side will make
10 minutes (11:50-12)- presenting opening statements (one person from A, one from B, A, B)
-one from A makes one point, one from B makes one point
-no counter arguing! Take notes about how you can counter your opponent in the next part
10 minutes (12-12:10)- rebuttals (new arguments? questions?)
-argue against what your opponent has said in the previous section
-question what they said
10 minutes (12:10-12:20)- closing statements

5 minutes (12:15-12:20)- debriefing

This gets students to talk in small groups, use vocabulary related to opinions, and also to think about what others have said to you and think of a counter-argument. These are all great skills that the students will not only use academically but also in life. 

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