Debate like a World Champion: Two-day debating courses
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Learning to speak your mind: The art of debate
“In a perfect world, Red Bull would be sponsoring this globally. Debating, it would appear, gives your mind wings.” – Lewis Iwu, World Universities Debating Champion 2008, OUSU President 2008-9
Most of us have learned to write. Most of us have learned to read. But how many of us have learned to speak? Not to talk…but to speak? What’s the point of having strong opinions if you don’t know how to deliver them? Indeed, how can you know what your opinions are until you’ve tested them on those who disagree with you?
Debate Mate is an organisation which has had extraordinary results training school students in deprived areas to argue and debate, and for the second year running, Intelligence Squared are joining forces with them to create a two-day workshop for 11-18 year olds that will give young people the edge.
Last October, we brought together more than 60 of them over two days: they practised public speaking skills in small groups, learned to craft their arguments and took part in interactive lectures that expanded their knowledge of human rights, criminal law, and the crisis in our economy. Once the two days of training were up, they battled it out and selected their debating winners in the grand finale. To see more images of 2011′s programme, click here.
Whether you’re a beginner or already a master debater, come along to learn new skills and techniques, speak persuasively and defend your opinions. Debating develops confidence and skills in analysis and critical thinking, it can improve exam results and taking part looks excellent on university applications. Most of all, it’s fun!
“I have an Oxford degree, an MBA and a PhD in business strategy but nothing prepared me for the world of work like debating at school.” – Mrs Moneypenny, Financial Times columnist
“Debate Mate is a wonderful organisation which inspires young people. The debating groups and training programmes are first class…” – Sir Michael Wilshaw – Ofsted chief inspector
Details
- Join us for a two-day course on Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th October from 09.30 – 17.00
- Venue: St Paul’s Girls’ School, Brook Green, Hammersmith, London, W6 7BS
- Tailored courses available for 11-18 year olds
- Courses are open to those with any level of debating experience
- Classes with a maximum 12 to 1 participant to tutor ratio
- To see images from our workshops in October 2011, click here
Why debate?
- Develop communication and public speaking skills in a structured and competitive environment
- Develop your skills in analysis and critical thinking to improve your grades and get into good Universities
- Build confidence, work as part of a team and articulate your thoughts amongst your peers
- Transform attitudes and opinions by having your say
- Enhance your CV and add something different to your University Personal Statements
- Most importantly, it’s fun!
About the tutors
Richard Robinson
Richard has been a mentor with DebateMate since 2009 and has been heavily involved with the programme in Birmingham and Manchester during his studies. Within debate he has conducted workshops in Speech and Debate all over the world. Having coached the England Development Squad over the Summer, Richard has taken up a coaching position at Eton College. In competitive debate he has been involved in a number of illustrious finals including the Semi-Finals of the European University Debating Championships and Finals of the Oxford Inter-Varsity Debating Championships. Richard has recently completed a Law Degree at the University of Manchester, graduating with First Class Honors. He is currently completing his Legal Practice’ Course and will start on a Training Contract with Clifford Chance in February 2013.
Benedict Sarhangian
Benedict has been a mentor with Debate Mate since its first year and has taught the programme in over a dozen schools. He won a scholarship to read for a Masters’ in International History at the LSE, having previously read International Relations & History at the same university. At LSE, Benedict founded and edited The London Globalist, an international affairs magazine with chapters across the world. In 2011, Benedict took part in Debate Mate Israel, and before joining the team in 2012, spent a month teaching as part of the Debate Mate Jamaica programme.
Kriti Upadhyay
Kriti graduated from the University of Oxford with bachelor’s degree in law. She was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2011 and has recently completed an LLM in medical law from King’s College London. She started debating at the age of 14 and, whilst at Oxford, decided to combine her love of debating with law and took up mooting. In 2011 her team came third in the United Kingdom in the Jessup International Law Mooting Competition. Whilst studying for her LLM Kriti worked as a Mentor with Debate Mate at two schools in London.
* All mentors are CRB checked (Enhanced Disclosure) and are fully trained.
Parental Feedback from 2011
Just to let you know Edward and George enjoyed the day enormously. George who I was a bit concerned about said it was the best day of the holidays!! Looking forward to hearing about future courses!
Joanne Barnett
I am the parent of Cameron and Alex. They both really enjoyed the debating course and appear to have got a lot out of it judging by the quality of their daily arguments! In fact Cameron is teaching younger children debating skills as part of his community service. I know that what he learnt with you will be invaluable. Thanks again for an inspiring few days.
Rene Macdonald
I know that Lily and Alice absolutely loved the two days and found them so valuable. We would definitely be interested in other courses and will tell our friends.
Victoria Fuller
About Debate Mate
Debate Mate provides world-class debating and public speaking coaching in schools across the country. They are the single largest debating organisation in the UK, working with over 2000 young people every week, in over 150 schools. They use top university undergraduate debaters to run their programmes and all mentors have had extensive experience teaching students the art of debate and public speaking. Since its inception in 2007, Debate Mate has trained thousands of young people: the majority of their work is done in inner-city schools, working with 2000 pupils a week in over 150 schools across the UK. What’s more they have an increasing international presence with workshops held in places such as Nepal, Israel/Palestine, the UAE, Hong Kong and the USA. To see Debate Mate in action, visit their YouTube channel.
For more information about Debate Mate and their schools programme visit www.debatemate.com.
Debate Mate Ltd. is a registered UK charity. no. 1121222
Intelligence Squared in education
Intelligence Squared occupies a unique position in London’s social and intellectual calendar. It is the only institution in town – aside from parliament – to provide a regular forum for debate on the crucial issues of the day. But unlike parliament, its debates are exciting, vibrant and engaging. Via our ‘Learning Through Debate’ initiatives, we hope to bring the thrill of our live debates into the classroom. We aim to do this via the institutional live-streaming of our events and through the development of online teaching tools and learning resources. Our holiday debate programme aims to encourage students to have fun with debate, to develop skills in verbal reasoning and public speaking and to actively engage with the important issues and concerns of the day.
Info
For more information and any questions, contact Caroline Wells at caroline.wells
@intelligencesquared.com or call 0207 221 1177
Venue
TBC