Day Two at Qatar Debate Academy

Alfred Snider, correspondent

With the very successful first day of the Qatar Debate Academy fresh in their memories, participants geared up for the second day of the training event for teachers and youth from twelve countries and from Qatar. The second day featured activities at three locations, including Amna Bint Wahab Girls Preparatory School, where the hoist was principal Hassa Hamed, Doha Independent Prep School for Boys, where the host was Gholoum A. Abdoulla, and the Marriott Hotel Doha. In the morning half of the visiting students went to each of the two schools for lectures, exercises, lunch and then a critiqued practice debate with an opportunity for students from each school to mix with them and debate with and against them. In the afternoon Qatar students came to the Marriott for lecture, exercises and preparation for future debates, while the visiting students used the time to prep for future motions, especially the motions that had been announced for the Mini-WSDC tournament that would be held at the end of the program. Visiting teachers received extension instruction at the schools in debate curriculum as well as training for judging. At the Marriott in the evening many Qatar judges came to judge training in the hope of judging at WSDC in February 2010, where 50 countries will be competing.

Everyone loaded up in the morning and headed out across Doha to their destinations. The ride made it clear that the country is experiencing a building and development boom in terms of highways, commercial establishments and many beautiful new homes. This country, which is very much in the “process of becoming” may have a few roads not directly corrected and there is some traffic snarls, it is clear that there is a master plan at work for the country. Both schools were fairly new, beautiful and well equipped. The students were there to welcome the visitors from so many different countries and the teachers and administrators were proud to share their schools as well as their many intelligent and articulate students. At Doha Independent the students participated actively in the lectures and exercises, and then debated against the visitors after lunch. At Amna Bint Wahab it was the same story, but a little different as it is an all-girls school and so there was some separation to make sure that normal classes were not disturbed. At Doha Independent there was a marvelous display of hunting falcons, and many had a chance to hold them and stroke the chests of these marvelous and beautiful creatures, as well as understand their role in traditional Qatar culture. The end of the sessions at the schools was a debate about banning gambling that features students from three different nations in almost every room, with the widely dispersed international faculty judging and critiquing the debates.

It was back in the buses and back to the Marriot. By the time people returned from the schools the training at the Marriott had already begun, with Rhydian Morgan lecturing on proposition case construction followed by extensive exercises in smaller groups. The previous day had been a success, obviously, because more students asked questions and posed issues, but another indicator of success is that more Qatar students showed up than had been there the day before. Qatar teachers at the same time received instruction from world champion coaches Debbie Newman of England and Bojana Skrt of Slovenia in organizing a debate club and training debaters. The visiting students got a brief time free (many took advantage of the pool) before they had organized preparation for the announced motions at the upcoming tournament.

There was another fantastic meal by the pool with good fellowship and an increased level of social mixing of the many different nationalities and customs who are at this event.

Bojana Skrt of Slovenia, one of the major organizers, called the beginning of the event quite a success. “People are anxious to learn,” she said, “and now some of their shyness has gone and there are more questions, more seeking of knowledge and assistance from the amazing faculty and a high level of enthusiasm among all the participants.”

Stayed tuned for the events of day three.